MEDIA RELEASE - Opera Australia

MEDIA RELEASE
An all-star cast looks forward to bringing SOUTH PACIFIC to Sydney and Perth in 2013
After the critical and box office success of the breathtaking and lavish Rodgers & Hammerstein musical SOUTH PACIFIC in
2012, an extended season will see it continue its Australian tour, playing from coast-to-coast this year. On the east coast, the
return season at Sydney Opera House will run from 8 September – 2 November. It then moves to the west coast for a Perth
season at Crown Theatre, from 10 November – 8 December.
Stars of stage and screen join the cast for the 2013 season of SOUTH PACIFIC: Lisa McCune, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Christine
Anu and Gyton Grantley. Acclaimed opera star Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Australia’s best loved and four time Gold Logie awardwinning
actress Lisa McCune head the stellar cast as Emile de Beque and Nellie Forebush. Sensational performer Christine
Anu will play the role of Bloody Mary, following her highly successful appearances in the recent Brisbane season. Popular TV
personality Gyton Grantley (House Husbands, Underbelly) will also return for the Sydney season (only).
Moving from hit TV show ‘House Husbands’ to the live performances of SOUTH PACIFIC, Gyton Grantley said, “The cast
and ensemble of SOUTH PACIFIC are a lot larger, the whole production is significantly bigger, and with that comes lots of
people, lots of personalities, lots of fun to be had, lots of great conversations and people to meet! In terms of performance
and entertainment there are all those extra elements to deliver the story. When you’ve got forty people in the cast, and an
orchestra, and an incredible stage crew, there’s a lot of energy to work with!”
Lisa McCune relished her role in SOUTH PACIFIC in 2012 and is looking forward to her return season. “The way it’s been
received around the country has been fantastic” she said after the Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane tour. “It was especially
glorious to perform at the Sydney Opera House. That was on my bucket list! Doing theatre is such a different discipline -
sustaining a performance for three hours on stage is like a freight train that doesn’t stop!
It’s scary but I love it.”
Christine Anu had just two weeks to prepare for her debut as Bloody Mary ahead of the
Brisbane season last December, but she relished the challenge and was a smash hit.
“I have to become Bloody Mary and there is not a trace of me that anybody can see
on stage. My hair is transformed, my face is transformed, my teeth are absolutely
transformed.... I love the fact I get to be someone completely different every night!”
SOUTH PACIFIC directed by Broadway dynamo Bartlett Sher, swept the 2008 Tony Awards
and played to sold-out houses in New York for two and a half years before commencing a
tour of the USA that continues today. A sell-out London Season was followed by a UK tour,

MEDIA RELEASE
before reaching Australian shores where it became a smash hit. The first Sydney season last winter, became the
highest selling show ever performed at the Sydney Opera House.
Set on a tropical island during World War II, SOUTH PACIFIC is the sweeping romantic story of two couples,
threatened by the realities of war. Nellie (Lisa McCune) is an American nurse on a US naval base on a remote island
somewhere in the Pacific. Emile (Teddy Tahu Rhodes) is a French plantation owner. They fall in love but as Emile’s colourful
past emerges, Nellie loses her nerve. It may be paradise but their world is still full of prejudice and racism.
The musical was written by Rodgers & Hammerstein and first performed on Broadway in 1949, based on the Pulitzer-winning
novel Tales of the SOUTH PACIFIC by James Michener. Throughout its 63 year history, the musical production of
SOUTH PACIFIC has been performed almost continuously in theatres around the world, including Australia.
CAST & CREATIVE TEAM
Director Sound Designer Emile de Becque
Bartlett Sher Scott Lehrer Teddy Tahu Rhodes
Musical Staging Music Supervisor Nellie Forbush
Christopher Gattelli Ted Sperling Lisa McCune
Set Designer
Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer
Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer
Donald Holder
Bloody Mary
Christine Anu
Billis
Gyton Grantley (Sydney only)

MEDIA RELEASE
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION - SYDNEY
Evenings at 7.30pm
10 September to 2 November
Matinees at 1pm (TUES, Wed & Sat)
11 September to 2 November
Matinees at 1 & 6pm (Sundays)
Sept 8
Matinees at 3pm (Sundays)
Sept: 15, 22, 29
Oct: 6, 13 and 27
BOOKINGS - SYDNEY
Tickets
From $ 49
Opera Australia Box Office (02) 9318 8200
www.opera.org.au
OPERA THEATRE, SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE • Official Opening NighT TUES 17 SEPTEMBER
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION - PERTH
Tuesday Evenings at 6.30PM
12 November to 3 December
Wed to Sat Evenings at 7.30 pm
13 November to 7 December
Matinees: Wednesdays at 1 pm
13 November to 4 December
Matinees: Saturdays at 2PM
16 November to 7 December
Sundays at 3pm
Nov: 10 (4pm) to 8 December
BOOKINGS - PERTH
tickets
From $74.90*
Ticketek 1300 795 012
Save with Groups 12+ 1300 364 001
*Processing and CC Fees may apply.
Crown Theatre • Official Opening Night Thurs 14 November
This production of SOUTH PACIFIC is based on the Lincoln Center Theater production first performed in New York on 1 March 2008
Media Enquiries
SYDNEY Imogen Corlette, Opera Australia T: +61 2 9318 8327 E: imogen.corlette@opera-australia.org.au
Sarah Wilson, Opera Australia T: +61 2 9318 8332 M: 0405 364 643 E: sarah.wilson@opera-australia.org.au
PERTH Marie Gee T: +61 8 9271 7889 M: 0419 943 353 E: mariegpublicity@bigpond.com