`SOUTH' PASADENA; SHOW BRINGS MUSICAL THEATER BACK TO CITY'S CIVIC AUDITORIUM.Byline: Marla Matzer Staff Writer The sound of musical theater returns to the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Civic Auditorium is a name commonly used for a city's auditorium and/or arena. Canada
``For economic and other reasons, we haven't had musicals here for the past couple of years. This is an exciting new venture for us,'' said Rick Barr, general manager of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and president of the foundation. Barr explained that the soaring cost of mounting a stage show, which has pushed Broadway tickets near $100 for the best seats, has sent venues like the Civic in search of options that don't price entertainment out of reach for many people. The foundation also plans to launch a supporting ``friends'' organization later this year to solicit donations from those who can help subsidize shows for the rest of the community. Even though it's nonprofit, of course, the idea is to not lose money. That's one reason the foundation is offering the tried-and-true genre of musical theater after kicking off with a production of ``The Nutcracker'' in December and co-presenting ``Sesame Street Sesame Street is an American educational children's television series for preschoolers and is a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. Live'' in May. But Barr said the organization is also committed to offering programs from student performances to dance. ``Don't get me started about the economics of dance,'' he sighed. Barr said he'd been discussing a partnership for several years with Dallas Summer Musicals, a company that presents its own productions as well as touring Broadway shows in Dallas. This year's home-grown Dallas production is ``South Pacific,'' which opened there in early June and stopped in Atlanta before reaching Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . In its latest incarnation, ``South Pacific'' stars stage and television actor John Cullum This biographical article or section needs additional references for verification. Please help [ to improve this article] by adding additional sources. Unverifiable material about living persons must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. as French planter planter, farm or garden implement that places propagating material such as seeds or seedlings into the ground, usually in rows. Broadcasting, i.e., scattering seed in all directions, by hand followed by harrowing (see harrow) to cover the seed with soil was an early Emile De Becque, and Jodi Benson Jodi Benson (born Jodi Marzorati on October 10, 1961) is an American voice actress and singer of Greek decent, best known for providing both the singing and the speaking voice of Disney's Princess Ariel in The Little Mermaid and its sequels. , perhaps best-known as the voice of Ariel in ``The Little Mermaid little mermaid the sacrifices her own life to save her beloved prince. [Dan. Lit.: Andersen’s Fairy Tales] See : Self-Sacrifice ,'' as Nellie, the nurse who must confront her stereotypes about age and race halfway around the world from her hometown of Little Rock, Ark. Cullum, in an interview from Dallas, said he thought both the play's story and its songs combined to explain the musical's staying power. The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and James A. Michener's book from which it is adapted both won the Pulitzer Prize Pulitzer Prize Any of a series of annual prizes awarded by Columbia University for outstanding public service and achievement in American journalism, letters, and music. Fellowships are also awarded. . The show's long list of famous songs includes ``Some Enchanted en·chant tr.v. en·chant·ed, en·chant·ing, en·chants 1. To cast a spell over; bewitch. 2. To attract and delight; entrance. See Synonyms at charm. Evening'' and ``Bali Ha'i.'' ``It's got one hit tune after another and an interesting story, a good love story,'' said Cullum, who has won two Tony Awards for his stage work and played tavern owner Holling Vincouer in the hit TV series ``Northern Exposure.'' Added Cullum, ``Some might say the plot about the intermarriage in·ter·mar·ry intr.v. in·ter·mar·ried, in·ter·mar·ry·ing, in·ter·mar·ries 1. To marry a member of another group. 2. To be bound together by the marriages of members. 3. of a Frenchman and a Polynesian woman is a little bit old hat. But the essence of that particular bigotry is still with us.'' It is Cullum's first turn in ``South Pacific,'' though his recent Broadway credits include the successful revival of ``Showboat showboat. In the early 19th cent. entertainment was brought by boat to the pioneers that settled along the western rivers (especially the Mississippi and Ohio) of the United States. At first companies only traveled by boat, performing on land. .'' Benson is also performing her role for the first time; her other stage credits include ``Crazy for You'' (for which she received a Tony nomination) and Ado Annie in the L.A. Opera production of ``Oklahoma!'' ``We don't get a chance to be on stage in California that much, so we're especially looking forward to playing in Pasadena,'' said Cullum. Barr was equally excited about the return of musical theater to the Civic. ``We renovated the theater two years ago,'' Barr said, ``And it's just physically right for this theater to have these big, beautiful musicals here.'' THE FACTS What: ``South Pacific.'' Where: Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300 E. Green St. When: 8 p.m. today through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $21 to $56, available at Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone, (213) 480-3232. CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1) Jessica Hirota is Liat, and Michael Gerhart is Lt. Joseph Cable in the Pulitzer Prize-winning ``South Pacific.'' (2) A chorus of men sings to Bloody Mary (Armelia McQueen) in the Rogers and Hammerstein musical, on stage through Sunday at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium. |
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