The Renaissance Theatre kicks off its Innovation Series for the 2024-25 season with a fresh and intimate staging of the classic musical “South Pacific.” This beloved production will take place at Theatre 166, the Renaissance Black Box Theatre, offering a unique and immersive experience for audiences.
Performances are scheduled for:
• Friday, Oct. 4, at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 5, at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 6, at 2:30 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 13, at 2:30 p.m.
Doors open 30 minutes before each performance. To purchase tickets, visit the Renaissance box office at 138 Park Ave. West in Mansfield, or call 419-522-2726, open Tuesday-Friday from 12-5 p.m.
This production of “South Pacific” takes on a new life with a minimal ensemble cast, bringing an intimate and character-driven approach to the story of an island in the South Pacific during World War II. With themes of love, prejudice, and resilience set against the backdrop of war, “South Pacific” remains relevant and impactful. The reduced cast size allows for bold, creative decisions, including cross-gender casting, highlighting the show’s themes of tolerance and acceptance.
Directed by Ryan Shealy, with music direction by Jacob Poiner, the creative team includes Jason Kaufman as set designer, Linda Turske as costume designer, Paige Vick as lighting designer, Nik Demers as production stage manager and assistant director, and Matt Miper as assistant director. The cast will include Renaissance Theatre favorites and several talented newcomers, promising a powerful ensemble performance.
“Our blackbox space is all about telling stories in a different and new way. We wanted to take something that is usually a large-scale musical and create a scaled-down character piece,” said Shealy. “One of the biggest changes is how small the ensemble is. With a cast of about 11 people, everyone plays multiple characters regardless of gender or age. This casting approach underlines some of the issues with gender roles present at the time the show was written.”
The ensemble cast includes:
• Leah Gesouras
• Jacob Poiner
• Kayla Rodríguez Pérez
• Jacob Sustersic
Returning Renaissance actors include Zakari Ramos, Nikki Stitak, and MJ Irvine-Selby, along with newcomers Madison Noelle and Michael Smith.
The audience will be transported to a tropical paradise through the classic score of “South Pacific,” which features unforgettable songs such as “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Bali Ha’i,” and “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair.” The themes of love, duty, and prejudice resonate just as strongly today as they did when the show first premiered.
Submitted by Renaissance Performing Arts.
