Music by: Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by: Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by: Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan
Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Tale of the South Pacific by: James A. Michener
Produced by Special Arrangement with Concord Theatricals, NY
Producer/Director: Kevin F. Harrington
Artistic Director: Bruce Rebold
Musical Director: Alex V. Harrington
Choreography: Merete Muenter
Casting Director: Jamibeth Margolies, CSA
Costume Design: Barbara Kirby
Lighting Design: Glen S. Davis
Scenic Design: Brett Martinez
Scenic Construction: Plaza Scenic
Sound Design: Richard Flake
Properties: Michael Canestraro and Brianna Selesky
Performance Schedule
Elmont Memorial Library Theatre
BEHIND THE SCENES
Cast
Jordan Bell
Tierney Rose Bent
Andrew Brewer
Eriel Millan Brown
Sarah Colt
Patrick Elizalde
Claudia Lilith Fabella
Caleb Funk
Lydia Gaston
Michael Gerbase
Derek Hough
Katherine Leidlein
Kodee Martin
Peter McClung
Lauren Ann O’Brien
Madison Claire Parks
Kurt Perry
Ray Robinson
Michael Santora
James D. Sasser
Caleb Wilson Schaaf
Kate Wesler
Micheline Wu
Junko Yasuda
Jordan Bell
(Luther Billis) is so happy to be back on stage! Selected credits include: Stratford Festival (Canada – three seasons); The Wizard of Oz (National Tour); every Jet – including Tony, West Side Story (Vancouver Opera, Orlando Shakespeare, Rainbow Stage, Stratford Festival); Dear Evan Hansen (Toronto); Brian, Between the Sea and Sky (NYMF); Francis Fryer, Calamity Jane (Musicals Tonight); Tommy, From Here To Eternity (Rev Theatre); Malcolm, The Full Monty (Charlottetown Festival). TV: Law & Order. Thank you for supporting live theatre!
Tierney Rose Bent
(Ensign Bessie Noonan) is from Burbank, CA. Tierney Rose most recently performed on Disney Cruise Line, where she donned the gown of nearly every princess in the Disney rep (but it was playing a Jedi that made her cry). Other favorite roles include Jane in Tarzan and Cosette in Les Misérables. Avid gamer with a mean R2-D2 scream. All the love to Mark, Steph,
Andrew Brewer
(Lt. Joseph Cable) is so excited that live theatre is back! Broadway/1st National Tour: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Gerry Goffin) NYC: Cole Porter’s Nymph Errant, Cougar the Musical, Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. Love and thanks to my family and The Mine.
Eriel Millan Brown
(Ensign Lt. Genevieve Marshall/Ensemble) is an artist based in NYC, and is grateful to be making her debut with Plaza Theatricals this fall! Her favorite recent credits include The Pajama Game (Babe), Little Shop of Horrors (Ronnette), and Legally Blonde (Serena). Eriel graduated from the University of California Irvine with a BFA in Musical Theatre. She is incredibly thankful for her family and friends’ continued support.
Sarah Colt
(Ensign Janet McGregor) is thrilled to be making her Plaza Theatrical Productions debut! Recent credits include Beauty and the Beast (Moonlight Amphitheater), A Christmas Carol (Westchester Broadway), Cats (Post Playhouse), and Vanya and Sonya and Masha and Spike (Weathervane Playhouse). BFA/Marymount Manhattan College. Endless gratitude to the entire Plaza team for this wonderful opportunity. All my love to mom and dad!
Patrick Elizalde
(Swing) is a NYbased actor and recent graduate of Brown University. Recent roles include Devin in The Catamite (Broadway Bound Theatre Festival), himself in Left & Right (Brown Arts Initiative), and YOU in a river, its mouths (Writing is Live Festival at Brown University). A Glen Cove native, he is excited to be part of a Long Island production and thankful for the opportunity.
Claudia Lilith Fabella
(Ngana) is thrilled to join the cast of South Pacific. Select prior credits: Dining With Ploetz, Theater for the New City, NYC; A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Secret Theatre, NYC; Sesame Street on HBO Max; Shimmer and Shine on Nickelodeon; Sprout Kids and Saturday Night Live on NBC. Member of TADA! Resident Youth Ensemble in NYC. Big thanks to Bonnie Shumofsky Bloom at Stewart Talent, Jason Bercy and Plaza Theatrical. Thank you to family, friends, teachers and coaches, Erin Wilson and Michelle Aravena. Much love to Mom, Dad and Rebekah.
Caleb Funk
(Professor) is thrilled and grateful to be back under the stage lights. Recent credits include: Disney Cruise Line, How The Grinch Stole Christmas: National Tour, Evita (Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival), Jesus Christ Superstar (Bristol Riverside Theatre), and Rocktopia (Broadway Theatre). Caleb is also a licensed real estate agent with Bond New York. Much love to his mom and Opa!
Lydia Gaston
(Bloody Mary). Broadway credits: Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Miss Saigon, The King and I (1996, Lady Thiang u/s and performed; Lincoln Center 2015 revival), Shogun and The Red Shoes. Off-Broadway productions with: Ma-Yi Theatre Group, National Asian-American Theatre (NAATCO), Pan Asian Rep, and The Public Theatre. TV credits: The Blacklist, The Path, Late Night With Seth Meyers, The Sopranos. Education: MA in Applied Theatre, CUNY Graduate Center. Upcoming feature film: Easter Sunday, starring Fil-Am comedian JoKoy, in wide release April 1, 2022.
Michael Gerbase
(Cmdr. Harbison). With stage credits spanning over 35 years, this is the first time Michael has the pleasure of taking part in a production of South Pacific. He is thankful for this opportunity and proud to share the stage with many talented actors. Michael is forever grateful to Kevin, Alex, Merete and Lisa for their patience and divine guidance. As always, love to CK, CM and SJ – you are my everything. Keep Live Music Alive!
Derek Hough
(Jerome) is thrilled to be performing as Jerome in this production of South Pacific. Recent favorite roles include Archie in 13 the Musical, Rudolph in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Benny in Guys and Dolls and Pigeon in Don’t let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. He would like to thank the rest of the cast, directors, and staff for this amazing experience.
Katherine Leidlein
(Ensign Lisa Manelli) is ecstatic to be a part of South Pacific, after performing alone in their living room all year. Favorite roles include Laurie in The Tender Land (Seattle Opera Academy), Lily in The Secret Garden (The Playhouse SA), Adele in Die Fledermaus (UTSA), Meg in Little Women (The Public SA), and Lena in One Starry Night (China tour). Leidlein has sung on NPR’s From The Top, starred in Evil Lives Here, and has appeared in several national commercials.
Kodee Martin
(Henri/Sailor/Ensemble) is thrilled to be making his musical debut in New York City with Plaza Theatricals and their production of South Pacific. KoDee’s most recent work was Ferdinand in Hudson Classical Theatre Company’s production of Love’s Labour’s Lost. Other favorite roles include Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing), Duke Orsino (Twelfth Night), Henry (Next to Normal), Courier (1776), Johnny Goto (Allegiance), and Mordred (Camelot). He is honored to be doing live theatre once again.
Peter McClung
(Captain Brackett) Off-Broadway: BABY, Tours, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma, The Sound of Music The Fulton Theatre / Sweeney Todd, Hunchback of Notre Dame, 42nd Street. Maine State Summer Theatre / The Music Man The Music Theatre of CT, Gypsy, Jekyll and Hyde, Buddy : The Buddy Holly Story, Little Shop of Horrors. Toured with The Capitol Steps. It’s a Wonderful Life / The John Engemen, and many others. As always for Paulette and the children.
Lauren Ann O’Brien
(Ensign Sue Yaeger) is thrilled to be stepping back on stage after such a turbulent year without live theatre. She was most recently seen touring North America as Liesl in The Sound of Music. Buffalo native. BFA musical theatre graduate from SUNY Fredonia. Thank you to her family both at home and here in Manhattan for grounding and supporting her through the ups and downs.
Madison Claire Parks
(Ensign Nelli Forbush). Off-Broadway: The Fantastiks (Luisa, 400+ performances), The Day Before Spring (Katherine). Select Regional: Guys & Dolls (Sarah Brown; TUTS), Kiss Me Kate (Lilli/Kate; Arts Center), South Pacific (Nellie Forbush; Rubicon Theatre Company, Harrisburg Symphony, SoCal Symphony), Oklahoma (Laurey; NSMT, MTW), Something Rotten! (Portia; MTW *Regional Premiere). Select Concerts: Rochester Philharmonic, Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Thanks to cast and crew, family and friends, and Professional Artists.
Kurt Perry
(Stewpot). Favorite regional credits include Amadeus (Cook, U/S Count Orsini, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), HAIR (Margaret Mead/Ensemble, Maine State Music Theater), Avenue Q (Brian, Bristol Valley Theater), Hairspray (Edna Turnblad, Jenny Wiley Theatre), and 1776 (Robert Livingston, Biddeford City Theater). Kurt has appeared on Bull (CBS) and in several nationwide commercials. Thank you to Penny Luedtke and my friends and family for their unconditional support.
Ray Robinson
(Radio Operator Bob McCaffrey) is thrilled to be doing his first show with Plaza Theatricals. He is originally from Maryland and a recent graduate from CAP21/Molloy College. He’s been in many shows at the Madison Theatre in Rockville Centre (Across the Universe (Jude), Little Shop of Horrors (Orin), Hit The Deck (Bunny). Along with being an actor, he’s also a passionate writer and musician. Enjoy the show!
Michael Santora
(Buzz Adams/Ensemble) is from New Orleans, LA, and graduated from Tulane University with a BFA in Theatre. National Tours: Annie (Rooster), Flashdance (Joe). Off Broadway: The Office! A Musical Parody (Dwight), The Imbible: A Spirited History of Drinking (Narrator). Favorite roles include Harold Hill (The Music Man), Sam Phillips (Million Dollar Quartet) and Will Rogers (The Will Rogers Follies). All my love to Kim, Ronald, and my Mom, who always holds a special place in my heart.
James D. Sasser
(Emile de Becque). Actor: Jesus Christ Superstar (Pilate), A Little Night Music (Fredrik), Riverdance on Broadway, Forbidden Broadway, The Curious Incident (Ed) and many more; Recent TV: The Good Fight, Madam Secretary. Writer of Musicals: Bottle Shock! (based on the wine movie), CUBAMOR, Le Comte Noir, and Looking For Christmas with country legend Clint Black. Producer: The Great Comet. MSM/Voice, NYU-GMTWP/MFA. For Mom & Pops, and my love, Sarah. Brooklyn based. Internationally sourced.
Caleb Wilson Schaaf
(Marine Corporal Hamilton Steeves). Select Theatre: Jim Hardy in Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn (Prather Productions); Featured Male Ensemble in The Producers (John W. Engeman Theater, Dir. Igor Goldin); Sir Sagramore, Lancelot Understudy in Camelot (Prather Productions); Male Swing in Kinky Boots (Prather Productions); 41 Joel in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Arizona Broadway Theater). Select Film/TV: Jaime in Triple Threat (Besties Make Movies Productions, Dir. Stacey Maltin), Jim in Stripped (PILOT, Pitch Her Productions). Black Lives Matter. Trans Lives Matter.
Kate Wesler
(Ensign Connie Walewska/Dance Captain / u/s Nellie). Recent Broadway National/International Tours: Chicago (Roxie), Pippin (Fastrada). NYC staged readings: Harmony and Chasing Rainbows. Regionally: Paper Mill Playhouse (The Producers), Westchester Broadway Theatre (An American in Paris), Music Theatre Wichita (42nd Street), Maltz Jupiter Theatre, and more. She can be seen in Amazon’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, BULL, and Billions, among others. BFA in Musical Theatre from CCM. Much love to my family. Thank you Jamibeth and Merete! AEA, SAG-AFTRA, and AGMA member.
Micheline Wu
(Swing) is thrilled to be joining Plaza Theatricals for the first time. Also a Chinese and contemporary dancer, she previously choreographed and performed in Lyric Stage Company’s Pacific Overtures (Elliot Norton Award nominee, “Outstanding Musical Production”). Theater performance credits include Allegiance (SpeakEasy Stage Company), My Fair Lady (New Bedford Festival Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing (Hub Theatre Company of Boston), and Love’s Labor’s Lost (Hub Theatre Company of Boston). MFA Musical Theater, Boston Conservatory.
Junko Yasuda
(Liat) is thrilled to be a part of amazing Plaza Theatricals cast and incredible show! Credits: Play/Metamorphoses (Eurydice), MEDEA Musical / South Pacific (Liat) at BCCPA, Avenue Q (Christmas Eve), The King and I (Simon of Legree), A Chorus Line (Connie Wong), Hisseli Harikalar Kumpanyasi at Beacon Theater, Shrek the Musical, Vocal / Sunctus, Love in The Air, Dance/Nutcracker, ACIREMA (Chor. Asst), Little Fish, YUMIKO NIIMI THEATER PERFORMANCE, Thanks, family and dear friends for your support and love!
Reviews
“Plaza Theatricals’ Production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC Was ‘Some Enchanted Evening!’ Kevin Harrington staged an exquisite production. The fantastic 16-piece orchestra, led by Alex Harrington, brought Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beautiful score to life. Plaza Theatricals’ production of South Pacific was as close to Broadway as Nassau County will ever get. I can’t wait to see what they will do with their future productions.”
-Nicholas Pontolillo, Broadwayworld.com
