Drury Lane Announces SOUTH PACIFIC Event With Author Todd S. Purdum

Drury Lane Theatre announces a one-night-only event with celebrated author Todd S. Purdum, in connection with its acclaimed production of the Tony Award-winning musical South Pacific. Purdum is the author of the new book SOMETHING WONDERFUL: A Rogers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution. During the evening, Purdum will read excerpts from his new book and answer questions about the famed duo and their works. Guests will receive a signed copy of SOMETHING WONDERFUL and enjoy dinner at Lucille Restaurant, followed by a performance of South Pacific. Tickets for the May 4 event begin at $55 and are available through the Drury Lane box office at 630.530.0111, Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000, or online at www.DruryLaneTheatre.com. Drury Lane Theatre is located at 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II's first musical, Oklahoma! (now marking its 75th anniversary), along with Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music firmly established Rodgers and Hammerstein at the apex of the great age of the American Songbook. The two men had previously written dozens of Broadway shows with other collaborators, but together they pioneered a new art form: the serious musical play. Their songs and dance numbers served to advance the drama and reveal character, a sharp break from the past and the template on which all future musicals would be built.

Todd S. Purdum's portrait of these artistic partners, SOMETHING WONDERFUL: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway Revolution offers a fresh and revelatory look at the personalities of these legendary figures, their relationship with each other, their creative process, and their groundbreaking innovations. The book is full of illuminating anecdotes about the biggest stars of the day, including Ethel Merman, Yul Brynner, Mary Martin, and Julie Andrews as well as Stephen Sondheim and Irving Berlin, both of whose work benefited from their association with Rodgers and Hammerstein. SOMETHING WONDERFUL is a vivid celebration of the lives and legacy of one of the most iconic partnerships in artistic history, sure to please anyone who loves musical theater.

Todd S. Purdum is the author of An Idea Whose Time Has Come and A Time of Our Choosing. He is a contributing editor at Vanity Fair and a senior writer at Politico, having previously worked at The New York Times for more than twenty years, where he served as White House correspondent, diplomatic correspondent, and Los Angeles bureau chief. Purdum, a native of Macomb, Illinois, is a graduate of Princeton University and currently resides in Los Angeles.

For more information, visit www.DruryLaneTheatre.com.

South Pacific Ticket Information

Drury Lane opens its 2018/2019 season with the Tony Award-winning Rodgers & Hammerstein landmark musical South Pacific, with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Josh Logan, and adapted from Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener. This production is directed by Victor Malana Maog with choreography by Otis Sallid and musical direction by Roberta Duchak. South Pacific runs April 5 - June 17, 2018, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

Timelier than ever, this Rodgers & Hammerstein landmark musical proves that even the backdrop of a tropical paradise cannot shelter its residents from the prejudices of World War II. South Pacific is the winner of the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and ten Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Tickets, priced $47-$62, are available at the Drury Lane Theatre box office, 630.530.0111, Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000 or online at DruryLaneTheatre.com. Dinner and show packages are also available.

South Pacific is recommended for ages 10 and up. Parental guidance is suggested.

2018/2019 Season and Subscription Information

Currently on stage is the Tony Award-winning Rodgers & Hammerstein landmark musical South Pacific (April 5 - June 17, 2018). The season continues with Tennessee Williams' sultry family drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (July 5 - August 26, 2018) followed by the darkly comedic musical Little Shop of Horrors (September 6 - October 28, 2018). For the holiday season, Drury Lane brings to life the treasured story of Belle with Disney's Beauty and the Beast (November 9, 2018 - January 27, 2019) and then closes its 18/19 season with the global smash-hit Mamma Mia! featuring the music of ABBA (February 7 - April 14, 2019). The 2018/2019 season runs April 5, 2018, through April 14, 2019, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.

Subscriptions for the 2018/2019 Season are priced from $157 to $187 and are currently on sale. Subscribers receive special offers on dining, flexible ticket exchanges, and early notification and priority seating for added events and concerts. For more information, visit DruryLaneTheatre.com.

The performance schedule for all productions is as follows: Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Student group tickets start as low as $30 and Senior Citizens start at $40 for matinees. Dinner and show packages are also available. For individual ticket on-sale dates and ticket reservations, call the Drury Lane Theatre box office at 630.530.0111 or TicketMaster at 800.745.3000 or visit DruryLaneTheatre.com.

About Drury Lane Theatre

Under the leadership of President Kyle DeSantis and Artistic Director William Osetek, Drury Lane Theatre is a major force in the Chicagoland theatre scene, presenting world-class productions in collaboration with some of the nation's leading actors, artists, writers, and directors. Over the past 30 years, Drury Lane has staged more than 2,000 productions and has been nominated for more than 360 Joseph Jefferson Awards. Drury Lane is committed to breathing new life into beloved classics and introducing audiences to exciting new works.

Throughout its 30-year history, Drury Lane has employed more than 7,500 actors and 10,000 musicians, designers, and crew members to entertain upwards of nine million audience members. Originally founded by Anthony DeSantis, Drury Lane Theatre remains a family-run organization known for producing breathtaking Broadway classics, top-rated musicals, bold new works, hilarious comedies, and unforgettable concert events.