STEWPOT | The Untold Story | #SouthPacific
ADAM NELSON AS STEWPOT
THE ALGONQUIN ARTS THEATRE PRODUCTION OF SOUTH PACIFIC
MANASQUAN, NEW JERSEY

Founded in 1949 by Michaela O’Harra in association with Howard Lindsay, Richard Rodgers, Russel Crouse, Oscar Hammerstein II, John Golden, Moss Hart, Maxwell Anderson, John Wharton, Robert E. Sherwood and Elmer Rice, New Dramatists is one of the country’s leading playwright centers and a nationally recognized new play laboratory, unrivaled in the depth and duration of our commitment to writers. In the 65 years since our founding, 600 new dramatists have passed through our doors, creating work that has laid the foundation for contemporary American dramatic literature.

Our alumni include some of the most influential writers of our time: Robert Anderson, Kia Corthron, Nilo Cruz, Horton Foote, Richard Foreman, Maria Irene Fornes, John Guare, David Lindsay-Abaire, Eduardo Machado, Donald Margulies, Lynn Nottage, Suzan-Lori Parks, John Patrick Shanley, Mac Wellman, August Wilson, Doug Wright, and many more.

Current playwrights and alumni have won 16 Pulitzers (including 8 of the last 12), 24 Tonys®, 73 Obies, 17 Drama Desk Awards, 4 MacArthur Fellowships, and 12 Susan Smith Blackburn Awards.

New Dramatists itself received a Ross Wetzsteon Award for excellence at the 2005 Obies and a 2001 Tony Honor for “blessing the theatre with new and exceptional works that have assured both a rich theatrical heritage and future for the American Theatre.”

ADAM NELSON as Stewpot in Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific An Algonquin Arts Theatre Production running April 10 - April 19 Opening this Friday, April 10th 8pm, Saturday, April 11th 2pm, Saturday, April 11th 8pm, Sunday, April 12th, 3pm, Friday, April 17th 8pm, Saturday, April 18th 2pm, Saturday, April 18th 8pm, Sunday, April 19th 3pm 

Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel 'Tales of the South Pacific' by James A. Michener.

Broadway's William Michals, who played lead roles in "Beauty and the Beast" and "South Pacific," will reprise his role of Emile De Becque in Algonquin Arts Theatre's production of South Pacific from April 10 through April 19.

Michals' Broadway debut came as Beast in "Beauty and the Beast," performing opposite Andrea McArdle, Deborah Gibson and Toni Braxton. Most recently, he starred in the latest revival of "South Pacific" at Lincoln Center that closed in 2010. He first played the role of Emile "down the shore" in Spring Lake in 1981.

Michals, who split time growing up between Spring Lake and Cranford, has appeared regularly at the Algonquin to sing with The Orchestra of St. Peter by the Sea. He has appeared with symphonies in New York City, Philadelphia, Cleveland, San Francisco, Taipei, Hong Kong – and everywhere in between.

South Pacific has already set Box Office sales records for an Algonquin production. The best ticket availability is for the 8 p.m. performances on April 10 and 11. Evening performances continue the second weekend at 8 p.m. on April 17 and 18. There are Saturday matinees on April 11 and 18 at 2 p.m. Sunday matinees start at 3 p.m. The remaining seating for the matinees is extremely limited.

Tickets start at are $29 for adults, $26 for seniors and $20 for students and are available online at algonquinarts.org, by phone at 732-528-9211 or in person at the Algonquin Box Office at 173 Main Street in Manasquan from 12-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 12-4 p.m. on Saturdays. Premium seating is sold out at all performances. Each ticket subject to a $2 processing fee.

One of the greatest musicals of all time, Rodgers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific" debuted on Broadway in 1949 and remains a crowd favorite today. Winner of 10 Tony Awards during its first Broadway run, South Pacific's songs went on to have a life of their own outside of the musical, including "Some Enchanted Evening," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair," "Happy Talk," "Bali Ha'i," "Younger than Springtime," and "I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy."

Set in an island paradise during World War II, two parallel love stories are threatened by the dangers of prejudice and war. Nellie, a spunky nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with a mature French planter, Emile. Nellie learns that the mother of his children was an island native and, unable to turn her back on the prejudices with which she was raised, refuses Emile's proposal of marriage.

Meanwhile, the strapping Lt. Joe Cable denies himself the fulfillment of a future with an innocent Tonkinese girl with whom he's fallen in love out of the same fears that haunt Nellie. When Emile is recruited to accompany Joe on a dangerous mission that claims Joe's life, Nellie realizes that life is too short not to seize her own chance for happiness, thus confronting and conquering her prejudices.

This Algonquin production is produced by William Whitefield, directed by Jan Topoleski and stage managed by Gina Lupi. Jessica O'Brien is the choreographer and David Shirley is the musical director.

"South Pacific" is the fifth of six shows in the Algonquin's 2014-15 Broadway Series, which is sponsored by Manasquan Savings Bank. This year's series included "Annie Get Your Gun," "The 1940s Radio Hour," "The Glass Mengerie" and "A Life in the Theatre." The final Broadway Series production of the season, "Shrek the Musical," is currently in rehearsals and will open on May 9.

About Algonquin Arts Theatre
Algonquin Arts Theatre (AAT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1992 with the mission to provide cultural enhancement and arts education to all audiences at the Jersey Shore through high-quality performances and programs in theatre, music, film and dance. The end goal is to foster appreciation of the arts and promote lifelong learning, particularly among underserved audiences including the economically disadvantaged, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities.

Algonquin Arts Theatre's programs are made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts / Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts; by funds from the Paul F. Zito, M.D. Educational Foundation, by Simon Kaufman, Esq. & Maria Zito-Kaufman, and by Manasquan Savings Bank.

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