Photos: SOUTH PACIFIC Opens At Paramount Theatre
Performances run through June 14 at the Paramount Aurora.
Performances of Paramount’s 2025-26 Broadway Series finale, South Pacific, are April 29-June 14, 2026, with their opening night of Friday, May 8. Set in a tropical paradise with warm sea breezes, breathless sunsets and B-29 Bombers, South Pacific is one of the most romantic musical of all time, and also an uplifting tale that reminds us all of the importance of celebrating cultural differences. Check out the photos below!
The story follows World War II armed services personnel through spy missions, war-time drama and romance. While balancing duties to their country with island expectations, U.S. Navy nurse Nellie Forbush and lieutenant Joseph Cable each suddenly find themselves irresistibly falling in love on foreign soil. But will that love translate back in the States?
This production promises a talented cast of 36 actors/singers/dancers – one of Paramount’s largest ever – performing Rodgers and Hammerstein’s lush score played by a 15-piece orchestra, which even includes a harp. Add costumes hand crafted by Paramount artisans, and a tropical scenic design anchored by 20-foot palm trees with elements hewn from a half a mile of bamboo, 18,000-square-feet of netting and 10,000-square-feet of hand-painted muslin.
“South Pacific holds such beauty - in the setting, in the romance, and especially in the score. What’s special to me, however, is the way that this iconic musical also brings a complex story about love, war and race to the stage,” said Devon Hayakawa, co-director of South Pacific. “As a daughter to an Asian American dad and a Caucasian mom, this show means an awful lot to me. When I saw South Pacific growing up, it marked the first time I saw myself truly represented onstage - in the most accurate way, with Ngana and Jerome, but also in seeing Asian and Pacific Islander bodies on stage at all. What Trent and I are particularly excited about is to utilize the text, along with the excellent historical work of our dramaturgy team, to really deepen the characters of Bloody Mary and Liat.”
“I'm beyond excited to have South Pacific on Paramount’s stage. For one, it has some of the best music in all of musical theater history, the show's genre defining, and there's not a bad song in the entire show,” said co-director Trent Stork. “South Pacific also has a profound story full of complex characters. We’ve got Nellie Forbush, who joins the Navy to get away from her mother, see the world, and meet different kinds of people even though she’s unprepared for what that will ask of her. We have Emile de Becque with his two children from a previous marriage, falling in love again. Bloody Mary is actually the smartest person on the island, using the war to make money, get ahead, and provide a life for her daughter.”
Photo Credit: Boris Martin
Ticket Information
Performances run through June 14 at the Paramount Aurora located at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora. Performance schedule is as follows: Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are $31-$106, prices listed when tickets are purchased in-person. Additional fees apply for phone and online orders. Tickets can be purchased at the Paramount Aurora website, by calling 630-723-2461 or purchasing in person at the box office Monday through Saturday 10am - 6pm, or until show times on show days.
Bloody Mary (Cindy Chang, center) sells shrunken heads and grass skirts to U.S. Navy Seabees stationed on a tropical island during World War II.
It's love at first sight for Lt. Joseph Cable (Anthony Maggio, left) and Liat (Louisa Darr).
Emile De Becque (Devin Archer, left) dazzles Nellie Forbush (Allsun O'Malley).
Bloody Mary (Cindy Chang, right) sells shrunken heads to U.S. Navy Seabees stationed on a tropical island during World War II.
"Bloody Mary (Cindy Chang) is the girl I love" sing World War II U.S. Navy Seabees as she rides on their burly shoulders.
Chris Khoshaba (center) is Stewpot, the biggest World War II Navy seabee with the deepest bass, stationed on a tropical island.
Strong pecs are de rigueur for a troop of World War II U.S. Navy seabees stationed on a tropical island.
Luther Billis (Matthew Michael Janisse, center, with belly tattoo) is the crafty ring leader of a group of U.S. Navy stationed on a tropical island.
Nellie Forbush (Allsun O'Malley) assures her fellow nurses she's gonna wash that man right out of her hair.
Nellie Forbush (Allsun O'Malley) assures her fellow nurses she's gonna wash that man right out of her hair.
Emile De Becque (Devin Archer, left) surprises Nellie Forbush (Allsun O'Malley) after she swore she's gonna wash him right out of her hair.
Emile De Becque (Devin Archer, left) sweeps Nellie Forbush (Allsun O'Malley) off her feet.
Emile De Becque (Devin Archer, left) sweeps Nellie Forbush (Allsun O'Malley) off her feet.
Nellie Forbush (Allsun O'Malley) admits to her fellow nurses she's in love with a wonderful guy.
Bloody Mary (Cindy Chang, center) and Liat (Louisa Darr, right) share their Asian culture by inviting Liat's new love Lt. Joseph Cable (Anthony Maggio) to sing "Happy Talk."
World War II nurses entertain the troops with an amateur song and dance number.
Nellie Forbush (Allsun O'Malley) fears for the life of the man she loves.
U.S. Navy Capt. George Bracket (Joshua L. Green, left) gives flak to Seabee Luther Billis (Matthew Michael Janisse) for going AWOL.
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