Dayton is known for its Arts and all that are involved in it. With that in mind DPAA has put together a production of ‘South Pacific’ that is not to be missed. The event, directed by Joe Deer, is getting all the buzz. Luckily, I was able to hear from Joe about that show and how it all came together!
937: First of all, thank you for taking a minute to share some information about the ‘SOUTH PACIFIC’ performance coming to the Schuster Center this weekend, September 21 and 22. I understand this version of the show is slightly different?
JD: This version of South Pacific was created for a concert at Carnegie Hall about 20 years ago that starred Reba McEntire and the Broadway star, Brian Stokes Mitchell. It’s adapted by David Ives, who is a terrific comic playwright on his own and who has done many adaptations of classic musicals for the New York City Center encore series. It retains virtually every note of the original score, but has trimmed the book substantially. That said, this is still a heartwarming, charming, and very moving story. I don’t think audiences are going to recognize that very much has been cut. Every storyline is still intact and every character still appears.
937: I’m intrigued. I love the idea of a faster paced show! But how and when did this all come together for Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. Sounds like it was all hands on deck!
JD: Two years ago, Kathleen Clawson , the artistic Director of Dayton Opera, and Neal Gittelman invited me to help create a concert evening celebrating the life and work of Stephen Sondheim. We used students from the musical theater, acting and vocal performance majors out at Wright State University and that was a huge success. Almost immediately, they approached me again about a collaboration on a concert musical. By that time, Wright State University administrators had met with People at the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance and created a more formal collaborative agreement. This is the first project out of that.
937: What a collaboration…and it has all fallen together well?
JD: This has been a really great collaboration. We have so many different kinds of members of the artistic community involved here. Dayton Opera. Wright State Alumni and Faculty. The production team is largely from the Dayton, the opera, and Dayton Performing Arts Alliance. With all those different groups coming together, you might expect some difficulties in making things work. But, that has not been the case.
937: I love that it seems so community focused as a production! Tell me this Joe, since the show is pared down, do we lose any songs. People love the ‘South Pacific‘ soundtrack.
JD: The score for this revolutionary musical remains very much intact. With one notable exception – you’re going to hear 46 musicians playing a score that was written for about half that number. There’s a kind of enhanced time machine quality to getting to perform a score like this with an orchestra the quality of the Dayton Philharmonic. Kathleen was very intentional about finding singers that are the quality Dayton Opera patrons are used to hearing, but who have an understanding and love for this kind of musical theater. She did a remarkable job. I will tell your readers that a number of Dayton actors who are some of their favorites are in this, including Bruce Cromer, Jake Lockwood, Josh McCabe, and a handful of others. I leave rehearsal at the end of the day feeling so happy to work with the quality of singing actor that we are fortunate to have this production.
937: This just sounds incredible!! What do you feel the audience with walk away with after seeing ‘South Pacific?’
JD: I think audiences are gonna walk away from this production surprised by how relevant it still feels. You are uplifted and awakened to the revolutionary nature of this show, which is now 75 years old. Rodgers and Hammerstein were very daring in what they set out to do. And the show won a Pulitzer Prize for drama as a result. That’s very unusual.
937: You know I’m in that musical theatre stuff myself, and my love also goes into the visual aspect. What can we expect there?
JD: We have a marriage of very traditional scenery and costumes with some very 2024 technology that helps to tell the story. But, the real stars of the show are Rodgers and Hammerstein and the remarkable performers who bring the score and story to life. This production is going to be thrilling for every audience member. Whether you have a lot of familiarity with this show or whether it’s a brand new experience for you.I am simply thrilled to be part of it.
937: ALL THE SUCCESS in the world to you Joe! Cannot wait to see this!
