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Audience members probably won鈥檛 find their true love in a stranger they see across the crowded Ataloa Theatre, but East Central University is planning several enchanted evenings when 鈥淪outh Pacific鈥� opens Thursday [FEB. 17] in the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.

Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Friday and at 2 p.m. Sunday [FEB. 20].

鈥淓veryone knows the songs,鈥� said director Vickie Reifsnider. 鈥淵ou leave singing at least one of them. They stay in your head and heart.鈥�

鈥淪ome Enchanted Evening鈥� is just one of the memorable Rodgers and Hammerstein songs that help tell the story of Americans stationed in a different culture on a Pacific island during World War II. In addition to an extraordinary score, the musical has comedy, danger, drama and an exotic locale. It also explores racial prejudices, an unusual topic for a 1949 musical.

Ensign Nellie Forbush, a na茂ve Navy nurse from Little Rock, falls in love with Emile de Becque, a French planter, until she learns he is a widower with half-Polynesian children. Also, Marine Lt. Joseph Cable falls in love with a Polynesian girl named Liat.

When Cable and de Becque go off together on a dangerous spy mission, Nellie and Liat wait and hope for their return.

The play is drawn from James Michener鈥檚 book, 鈥淭ales of the South Pacific.鈥�

Reifsnider advises parental guidance for children attending the show because of mild language.

鈥淚t鈥檚 done in humor,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut it鈥檚 still there.鈥�

The leading actors nailed their own characters during cast interviews, but did not realize Nellie and Cable were prejudiced.

鈥淭hat was the first time it dawned on them,鈥� Reifsnider said. 鈥淣ellie won鈥檛 marry Emile because his children are Tonkinese, and Lt. Cable would be embarrassed to bring Liat home to meet his mother. I鈥檓 glad in a way that students don鈥檛 have to deal with that as much today. They are taught to accept everyone. It鈥檚 not a big problem now.鈥�

The role of Nellie was double cast by an audition panel who felt seniors Brittany Trail of Ada and Natalie May of Prague were equally qualified for the part. Trail will perform in the Thursday and Saturday shows. May will take the role on Friday and Sunday.

Jonathan Van Hicks, an Oklahoma City junior who happened to run into Reifsnider in the hall during auditions and asked what she was doing, will portray Emile de Becque.

鈥淭here was only 10 minutes left,鈥� Reifsnider said. 鈥淗e asked if he could audition. I said, sure. He asked if we had an Italian aria book. We got one and he stood behind (accompanist) Rudy Lupinsky and belted out an aria. His voice is gorgeous.鈥�

Caleb Bonar of Ada, a home school senior and concurrent 成人B站 student, will play Lt. Cable. 鈥淗e鈥檚 only 17 but sings like he鈥檚 35,鈥� the director said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 a fantastic singer.鈥�

Keifer Truett, a freshman from Ada, will play Luther Billis, a con man and the sailors' leading comic relief.

鈥淗is personality, his singing voice and the character he chose for this part are fantastic,鈥� Reifsnider said.

Kaleb Gordon, a junior from Seminole, based his character, Navy Capt. George Brackett, on his Georgia grandfather. The role of Comdr. William Harbison was cast as Comdr. Wilma Harbison for Jessica Pruitt, a junior from Broken Bow.

The show has a cast of more than 40 people.

Other 鈥淪outh Pacific鈥� songs which became worldwide standards are 鈥淵ounger Than Springtime,鈥� 鈥淏ali Ha'i,鈥� 鈥淭here Is Nothin' Like A Dame,鈥� 鈥淚'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair鈥� and 鈥�(I鈥檓 in Love with) A Wonderful Guy.鈥�

鈥淭o introduce Rodgers and Hammerstein to the next generation has been an amazing ride,鈥� Reifsnider said.

The 成人B站 costumer and adjunct speech instructor said she does not like to see actors staring straight ahead, facing the audience to sing a song. She likes to add movement and a little humor.

鈥淚 put a lot of me in the show. I鈥檓 not taking away from what the author wrote, I鈥檓 just adding humor. I love that stuff,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚t just comes to me. I think the public will think it鈥檚 more enjoyable.鈥�

Tickets for the Thursday through Saturday shows may be reserved by calling 580-559-5600. They may be purchased at the door or in 成人B站鈥檚 Bursar鈥檚 Office in the Administration Building. The Sunday matinee will be general admission. The cost is $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. 成人B站 students, faculty and staff will be admitted free and all 成人B站 alums receive a $1 discount.

Rudy Lupinski is the show鈥檚 musical director and Dr. Victoria Dansby is the choreographer. Theo Peshehonoff is the technical director.

 Dr. Allen Correll will conduct the orchestra and senior Lauren Hathcoat is stage director.

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