Asolo Repertory Theatre sets sail toward 'South Pacific'

In the shadow of the morning light, tucked in the idyllic confines of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, a musical theater ship raised its flag.

Asolo Repertory Theatre held a press conference for their opening production of the 2014-2015 season: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s swooning island love story “South Pacific.” Running through the holiday season from Nov. 14 through Dec. 28, Asolo’s version of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical will not just be another similar entry in the league of Rodgers & Hammerstein productions produced every year across the country.

“The Asolo has a mission to take the familiar and make it feel new and of the moment,” says Michael Edwards, producing artistic director of the Asolo.

“South Pacific” will be the regional theater’s third musical entry (with “1776” in 2012 and “Showboat” in 2013) in their ongoing “American Character Project” that has been explores and wrestles with the whole notion of America. “The whole idea of what is American is still evolving,” says Edwards, “America is still a growing and unfinished project.”

The show’s young and vibrant cast and creative team reflected the unbridled energy being put in to the new production with performances by Loretta Ables Sayre (reprising her Tony-nominated role as Bloody Mary) singing the hypnotic “Bali Ha’i” and a crew of sailors pleading for some love with a spirited rendition of “There Is Nothing Like a Dame.”

That creative energy from the cast was apparent in the creative team in discussing what will make this particular production stand above the others. “It will be a much more intimate version,” says Rob Ruggiero, director. “Everyone is exposed with new sets, costumes, and orchestrations. We’re placing a magnifying lens and exposing the inherent epic qualities of the material through the characters.”

Perhaps the most striking change is in the new orchestrations arranged by Brad Haak, musical director of Broadway’s “Mary Poppins” and an upcoming musical adaptation of “An American in Paris.” “It’s going to just be an eight piece orchestra,” says William Waldrop, music director. “And for the musicians and the performers, to have a chamber type orchestra, will be really exciting.”

With three preview performances, starting on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, leading into the performance run, the ship of Asolo Repertory Theatre’s “South Pacific” is rearing and ready to set sail.