RIALTO CHATTER: Lincoln Center Terminates Contract of Accused 'PACIFIC' Stage Manager

CBS News reports that Lincoln Center has terminated the contract of Michael Brunner, the stage manager for the Tony Winning SOUTH PACIFIC, that was accused of recording a video of an actress disrobing in a dressing room.

Authorities arraigned the suspect Friday night in Manhattan Supreme Court on a charge of unlawful surveillance after he turned himself in for questioning. Brunner was released without bail. 

The suspect has a long list of stage-managing credits including "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels," "Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical," "Rent," and "Inherit the Wind."

Now in its first Broadway revival, South Pacific won seven 2008 Tonys and has been playing to sold-out houses since the first preview in March 2008. A marvelous cast of 40 directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher.

Although well known for its extraordinary score -- the songs include Some Enchanted Evening, Younger Than Springtime, Bali Ha'i, There Is Nothin' Like A Dame, and A Wonderful Guy -- South Pacific is also a deeply felt drama. Its portrayal of Americans stationed in an alien culture in wartime is as relevant today as when it first thrilled audiences in 1949.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific also features Danny Burstein as Luther Billis, Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary, Andrew Samonsky as Lt. Joe Cable, Eric Anderson, Matt Caplan, Sean Cullen, Murphy Guyer, Luka Kain, Li Jun Li, Laurissa Romain and Michael Arnold, Becca Ayers, Wendy Bergamini, Genson Blimline, Charlie Brady, Christian Carter, Eric L. Christian, Helmar Augustus Cooper, Margot de la Barre, Christian Delcroix, Laura Marie Duncan, Mike Evariste, Julie Foldesi, Rob Gallagher, MaryAnn Hu, Zachary James, Robert Lenzi, Deborah Lew, William Michals, George Merrick, Kimber Monroe, George Psomas, Greg Roderick and Jerold E. Solomon.

Tickets to Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, priced $75 to $125, are available at the Vivian Beaumont Theater box office (150 W. 65 Street), at telecharge.com, or by visiting www.lct.org.