'SOUTH PACIFIC' A TIMELY PRODUCTION MILITARY PERSONNEL TO GET FREE ADMISSION FOR MUSICAL.

Byline: Daily News

NEWHALL - The Canyon Theatre Guild's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's ``South Pacific'' will open tonight at the downtown Newhall theater, and Director Patti Finley said with so many men and women now on active duty in the armed forces, the production brings timely relevance.

Admission is free through the run of the production to service personnel as a way to honor the troops, organizers said.

``This is a musical drama with moments of hilarity and heartbreak,'' Finley said. ``It's also timely in that many of our young men and women are still far from home in the war with Iraq.''

Finley said finding a cast versed in military discipline for the World War II-era production posed a challenge. She called on her husband, Army veteran Greg Finley, and former Marines Jeff Hyde and Jim Robinson.

In time, rehearsals resembled a theatrical boot camp, with actors marching shoulder to shoulder, turning in step in the parking lot behind the theater.

The play, suitable for all ages, also features such memorable songs as ``Some Enchanted Evening,'' ``Bali Ha'i,'' ``There Is Nothing Like A Dame'' and ``Younger Than Springtime.'' The cast of ``South Pacific'' includes Annie Easterbrook as Nellie Forbush and Finley as Emile deBeque. Colin Robert, Danny Devan, Chelsea Glickman, Christen Harper and Shelby Spalione are playing Emile's children. Maxmillian Batong plays as their servant, Henry. Donna Marie Dylan is Bloody Mary and Lauren Angeles is her daughter, Liat.

Michael Collins is Luther Billis and Trevor Kimball plays Lt. Joe Cable. Frank Rock is Capt. Brackett, with Jim Robinson as his right-hand man, Cmdr. Harbison and Dan Sickafoose as Lt. Buzz Adams.

Understudies include James Warnock for Emile, Brittany Batong for Nellie and Flo Loring for Bloody Mary. Others in the cast include Julie Berlin, Jean Paletz, Gina Radogna, Musette Caing, Michelle Smith, Margo Caruso, Elizabeth Stockton and Jenni Mabrie as nurses.

Luther's assistants are Bill Quinn as the Professor and Paul Saltero as Stewpot. Jeff Hyde, Hal Barlow, Marty Gelfman, Adam Womack, Sam Hyde, Jerrold DeShong, Tim Kendall, Nathanial Dobies, Marc Steinfeld, Kristen Choi, Jakob Caruso, Madi Caruso, Lauren Barlow, Shannon Michael, Kelley Ryan and Tracy Gelfman complete the cast.

The ``South Pacific'' production team is composed of Garrett Finley as assistant director and co-sound designer with Sam Lustig, who also did orchestrations; Melanie Kimball as choreographer; Leslie Berra as vocal director; Darren Norton as producer; Carol Rock as stage manager; Jim Robinson and Frank Rock share set design; Marc Steinfeld is lighting designer and production assistant; Pat Robinson and Kathy Lively share set decoration, with Robinson also coordinating props.

Jenny Loring and Grace Rose Kimball are working props, Kamber Moen and Melanie Kimball are sound technicians and Nikki Ramage is handling lighting technician duties.

IF YOU GO

The Canyon Theater Guild's production of ``South Pacific,'' will be presented at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 7 at the Canyon Theatre Guild, 24242 San Fernando Road, Newhall. Tickets are $12-16 for adults, and $9-12 for students under 18 and seniors over 62. Tickets are available at the box office at [phone]. Admission free for military personnel with ID.

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Michael Collins as Luther Billis, center, bargains with Bloody Mary (Donna Marie Dylan) in the ``South Pacific'' production.

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IF YOU GO (see text)