Set sail for the “South Pacific” at Cairo High School this weekend

The Cairo High School’s School of Fine Arts will present Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” live on the CHS auditorium stage this weekend.

Admission is free and those who attend the opening night performance will be treated to a reception following the show hosted by the CHS Culinary Arts Department under the leadership of Whitney Brown.

The production is under the direction of CHS Theater Director Landrie Bock. Musical direction is by CHS Choral teacher Erikka Edwards and the choreography is by CHS Dance teacher Hannah Harrison.

“Our students have worked extremely hard preparing for this production. It involved many aspects of our new School of Fine Arts and will showcase the talents of our Cairo High School fine arts students,” Ms. Bock said.

In addition to the CHS students, the production features the talents of Eastside Elementary School third grader Sadie Chambers and fifth grader Skylar Williams, both students of choral teacher Megan Lokey.

“Eastside Elementary has an emphasis on the fine arts and we are pleased to partner with Eastside whenever possible,” Ms. Bock said.

The theater director also expressed her appreciation for the efforts of Ms. Edwards and Ms. Harrison. “We could not have done this production without them. I appreciate them both very much,” Ms. Bock added.

Show times are this Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m.; Saturday, May 4, at 7 p.m.; and a Sunday matinee, May 5, at 2:30 p.m.

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.

Cast members include: Ensign Nellie Forbush – May 3 performance – Georgia Taylor; Ensign Nellie Forbush – May 4 and May 5 performances – Olivia Woods; Emile De Becque – Truett Hendrix; Ngana – Sadie Chambers (an Eastside 3rd grader); Jerome – Skylar Williams (an Eastside 5th grader); Améile – Danashya Sanders; Bloody Mary – Kenna Anderson; Liat – Jasmine Cruz; Luther Billis – James Rodden; Stewpot – Eddie Connell; Professor – Mason Best; Lt. Joseph Cable, U.S.M.C. – Ty’keem James; Capt. George Brackett, U.S. Navy – Sanaa Augusta; Cmdr. William Harbison, U.S. Navy – Eddie Connell; Radio Operator Bob McCaffrey – Seth Lewis; Ensign Dinah Murphy. – Jacqueline Walker; Ensign Connie Walewska – Sanaa Augusta; Ensign Cora MacRae – Danashya Sanders; Ensign Lisa Minelli – Shynia Davis; Ensign Bessie Noonan – Emilee Ezell; Ensign Sue Yaeger – Iversyn Session; Ensign Rita Adams – Selena Newman; and Lt. Buzz Adams – Mason Best.

The production manager for “South Pacific” will be Austin Harrell; lighting design – Genny Wynn; set design – JT Andrews, Joshua Fortini, Andre Armstrong, and David Perez; costume coordinator – Marisol Gaspar-Orozco; and stage management and props design – Ansley Ponder.

Others working behind the scenes on this year’s production include: assistant stage manager – Hannah Barber; sound board operator – Kyle Boyett; light board operator – Quintarius Washington; spotlight operator – Jordan Perry; backstage crew – Courtney Baker, Marisol Gaspar-Orozco; build crew – Courtney Baker, Marisol Gaspar-Orozco; and house manager – Mary Harrison.

“We encourage the community to come out and enjoy this musical and show your support for the fine arts in our community,” Ms. Bock said.