EMPORIA — Emporia State University Theatre opens its season this month with musical “South Pacific.” Featuring one of the most beloved scores of the musical stage, “South Pacific” is based upon the Pulitzer-prize winning “Tales of the South Pacific” by James A. Michener. The musical was also awarded a Pulitzer in 1950.

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical romance centers on a group of American sailors and Navy nurses who are stationed in the South Pacific during World War II. Arkansas native Nellie Forbush befriends and quickly falls for Emile de Becque, a French expatriate and plantation owner. Meanwhile, Lt. Joe Cable finds himself in a passionate affair with Liat, the young daughter of Bloody Mary, the local grass skirt peddler. As the war against Japan escalates, reality sets in for both Forbush and Cable, who struggle to reconcile their unconventional love affairs with their long-held prejudices and insecurities.

Richard Rodgers composed the music with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Hammerstein and the show’s original director, Joshua Logan, wrote the book.

Students from this area with parts include:

• Dustin Bittel of Ellis, a sophomore theater major, is on the scenery construction crew.
• Rachel Muirhead of Hays, a sophomore theater education major, is playing Ensign Cora MacRae.

Proceeds from this production support scholarships for ESU students in the performing arts. “South Pacific” runs Oct. 22 through 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. in Albert Taylor Hall on the Emporia State University campus. Tickets can be reserved at the university box office in the Memorial Union or by calling (620) 341-6378.