SOUTH PACIFIC Makes Its Houston Debut 3/9-21

Lincoln Center Theater, in association with Bob Boyett and NETworks Presentations, presents a new production of Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein's prize-winning musical SOUTH PACIFIC, directed by Bartlett Sher. Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC makes its Houston debut presented by Theatre Under The Stars at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts March 9 - 21, 2010. For more information on the production, please visit www.SouthPacificOnTour.com. For tickets visit www.TUTS.com.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC swept the 2008 Tony Awards®, winning seven honors including Best Musical Revival and Best Director for Bartlett Sher. This breathtaking new production has created a sold-out sensation on Broadway, lauded by the critics as "Simply Wonderful! Beguiling Theatrical Magic!" (New York Post), "Ravishing and Overwhelming" (Variety) and "Rapturous and Revelatory!" (The New York Times). The Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC continues its record breaking run on Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). Visit www.SouthPacificMusical.com.

Based on James Michener's Pulitzer Prize winning book Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan.

Set on a tropical island during World War II, the musical tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples -- US Navy nurse Nellie Forbush and French plantation owner Emile de Becque and Navy Airman Joe Cable and a young local native girl Liat -- and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. Considered by many the finest musical ever written, the score's songs include such classics as "Some Enchanted Evening," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair," "Younger Than Springtime," "Bali Ha'i," "There is Nothin' Like A Dame," "This Nearly Was Mine" and "A Wonderful Guy."

The lavish new production features a cast of 34, musical staging by Christopher Gattelli, sets by Michael Yeargan (winner of the 2008 Tony Award®), costumes by Catherine Zuber (winner of the 2008 Tony Award®), lighting by Donald Holder (winner of the 2008 Tony Award®), sound by Scott Lehrer (winner of the 2008 Tony Award®) and music direction by Ted Sperling. A full orchestra of 26 members - the largest orchestra of any touring Broadway production - will perform the original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett (winner of a Special 2008 Tony Award®) and dance and incidental music arranged by Trude Rittmann.

In celebration of South Pacific, Theatre Under The Stars offers a number of special events and opportunities. For more information visit TUTS.com/events.

´ TUTS Film Series: South Pacific on the Big Screen
-Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 7 PM
-TUTS partners with Angelika Theatre downtown for a special screening of the classic movie musical, South Pacific.

Bloody Mary Cocktail Contest:
Calling all cocktail connoisseurs! Celebrating Theatre Under The Stars' presentation of South Pacific, TUTS is partnering with local hot-spots and My Table Magazine in a Bloody Mary Cocktail Contest! We love Bloody Mary's performance in the show and we're looking for an equally spectacular cocktail in her honor! Try your taste buds at the selected restaurants February 15 - March 7, then vote on www.tuts.com for the best Bloody Mary. The winning restaurant will be awarded tickets to the show! One lucky voter will also win 4 tickets. South Pacific lights up the stage at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts, March 9-21. Visit TUTS.com for more information. Participating Restaurants Include: Mockingbird Bistro, Canopy, Hard Rock Cafà, Ouisie's Table, Backstreet Cafà, Artista, and the Cadillac Bar.

´ Kids Night on Broadway
-Wednesday, March 10, 2010
-TUTS spreads the love of musical theatre to the next generation with Kids Night On Broadway! Any adult who purchases a full price ticket can bring a child under 18 for FREE!

´ Dinner & Theatre Package: TUTS and Damian's All-Inclusive Dinner Package
-Wednesday, March 10 and March 17, 2010

´ First Thursday Cabaret: Thurs, March 11, 2010
-A post-show event with OUT@TUTS (our GLBT friends) at Artista Restaurant.

´ The South Pacific VIP Experience
-Sunday, March 14, 2010
-Get the VIP treatment with a premier seat to the show, a post-show exclusive talk-back with members of the cast, a souvenir program and a complimentary beverage! Buy your tickets today for the March 14 VIP Experience.

Tickets (starting at $24) are available on-line at TUTS.com, by phone at (713) 558-TUTS (8887,) outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882, or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, (800 Bagby at Walker, Mon-Fri 10a.m.- 6p.m., Sat-Sun 11a.m.- 4p.m.) An audio described performance is available Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 2 p.m.; open captioning Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 7:30p.m. The Hobby Center is wheelchair accessible. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more and may be purchased by calling (713) 558-8888 or via email at groupsales@tuts.com.

TUTS' presentation of South Pacific is made possible by the generosity of Total and Ballard Exploration Company, Inc..

For all of Theatre Under The Stars' 2009-2010 shows, air transportation is provided by Continental Airlines, the official airline of Theatre Under The Stars. St. Luke's Episcopal Health System is the Official Healthcare Partner of Theatre Under The Stars. Media sponsors include ABC-13 and Houston Chronicle. Season support is funded in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Theater District Association and the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Founded in 1968, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is Houston's acclaimed non-profit musical theatre company and is currently under the direction of President and CEO John C. Breckenridge. TUTS was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public in 1968 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, and is the only Houston arts organization that has performed there free to the public every year since the building opened. Since its founding by Frank M. Young, TUTS has produced more than 300 musicals including many local, national and world premieres such as Kopit and Yeston's Phantom, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Jekyll & Hyde, and Irving Berlin's White Christmas. TUTS has also produced international tours including Debbie Reynolds in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Juliet Prowse in Mame, Robert Goulet in Man of La Mancha, as well as critically acclaimed local re-inventions of classics such as Cabaret and Les Miserables. As a way to continue the tradition of musical theatre, TUTS' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre provides instruction and stage experience for more than 1,700 students annually through both The Academy and The Studio, which allow students to flourish in a year-round schedule of classes. Housed in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, TUTS also annually presents the Tommy Tune Awards, honoring the best and brightest in Houston's high school musical theatre programs.

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