Theater Watch: Wartime Musical or Shakespeare

This week Count Basie hosts the award winning play South Pacific, performed by Red Bank’s own Phoenix Productions. 

The play will run for two consecutive weekends beginning with opening night on Friday, Sept. 16. The performance is presented by Phoenix Productions, a community theater company based in Red Bank. 

A nonprofit community theater formed in 1987, Phoenix Productions specializes in producing Broadway revivals at a modest cost so that families can attend and introduce children to the theater.

For performers, Phoenix provides an opportunity to work in a full scale production at a renowned theater. The company has produced more than 100 revivals of Broadway musicals over the past two decades.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific is considered to be one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time. The original first wowed audiences in 1949, and has continued to charm audiences of many generations for decades.

This classic production is set on a tropical island during World War ll. It paints a picture of what it is like to be an American stationed in a different culture during war time.

The musical combines all of the elements needed for a timeless story: romance, war, race, and, of course, love. The story gives us a peek into the lives of two ordinary couples and how life as they know it is changed by the realities of war and prejudice.

The play’s score is one of the most popular, with memorable songs such as Some Enchanged Evening, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair, Younger Than Springtime and This Nearly Was Mine, among others. 

Considered one of the finest musicals ever written, South Pacific earned the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950.  The original Broadway production won ten Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score.

It also holds the distinction as being the only musical production ever to win all four Tony Awards for acting.  The production spawned many revivals, including a film version in 1958.

The Phoenix Productions revival features a cast of 36 local performers led by Samantha Penick, of North Brunswick, as Nellie Forbush, and Martin Grubman, of Monmouth Beach, as Emile de Becque, the charming French man with a dark past.

The supporting cast includes Brielle Cotelo, of Toms River, as Liat, Anthony Marone, of Freehold, as Lieutenant Cable, Todd Aikens, of Long Branch, as Billis, and Tammy McKillip, of West Allenhurst, as Bloody Mary. This production also features a complete set, full costumes, and a live orchestra. 

Performances will be held at Count Basie on Sept. 16, 17 and 18. If you can’t make it any of these days, fear not. South Pacific will be back for round two Sept. 23, 24 and 25.

If Shakespeare is more your style, then head over to Two River Theater and catch their production of Much Ado About Nothing. The play, directed by Sam Buntrock, is scheduled to run from Sept. 10 through Oct. 2.

Much Ado About Nothing takes place in Sicily, where a group of soldiers have just returned from war. Upon their return, however, they come face to face with a new battle: the battle between the sexes, undoubtedly a tough battle to win.

Known to be one of Shakespeare's funniest works, Much Ado About Nothing launches Two River Theater’s fall season. Directed by Tony Award nominee Sam Buntrok, the play stars two of the country’s most acclaimed Shakespeare actors, Michael Cumpsty, as Benedick, and Kathryn Meisle as Beatrice.

For tickets and show times, please visit http://www.trtc.org

Schedule:

Friday, Sept. 16: South Pacific, Count Basie, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 17: South Pacific, Count Basie, 8 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 18:  South Pacific, Count Basie, 3 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 10 through Sunday, Oct. 2: Much Ado About Nothing, Two River Theater — check Web site for tickets and showtimes.