South Pacific confirmed for Adelaide

CONFIRMED: Opera Australia’s acclaimed production of South Pacific is heading to Adelaide in December 2013 as part of the Adelaide Festival Centre’s 40th anniversary celebrations.

South Pacific 2012. Lisa McCune and Teddy Tahu Rhodes. Image by Kurt Sneddon
South Pacific 2012. Lisa McCune and Teddy Tahu Rhodes. Image by Kurt Sneddon

In the heat of summer, from December 29 (with a gala opening scheduled for December 31), Bartlett Sher’s Tony Award winning production of South Pacific will be steaming up the Festival Theatre stage for a limited season.

After breaking box office records at the Sydney Opera House and playing successful seasons in Melbourne and Brisbane, Opera Australia is bringing this enchanting production to the rest of the country.

At a special launch on stage at the Festival Theatre this afternoon, Executive Producer Alex Budd confirmed the show’s stars Lisa McCune and Teddy Tahu Rhodes will be remaining with the company for the Adelaide season. By the time the show reaches the Adelaide stage, Rhodes and McCune will have performed the coveted roles of Emile de Becque and Nellie Forbush in Sydney (twice), Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

Rhodes captivated those attending the media call this afternoon with a live performance of ‘Some Enchanted Evening’, eliciting swoons of delight from the females in the crowd. 

Rhodes, who is performing with Kate Ceberano at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival this weekend, is thrilled to be returning to Adelaide for a New Year’s Eve opening night.

“The great thing about South Pacific is that it is such a great, ever-enduring love story, and within that love story there are these incredible tunes. The show is so charming, it just gets you”, he said.

While a full cast announcement is yet to be made, it was also confirmed today that Christine Anu will be reprising her role as the Tonkinese trader Bloody Mary during the Adelaide season.

Tickets are on sale from Monday 24 June at bass.net.au

For more information, visit www.southpacificmusical.com.au 

Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).

Erin James

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