Famous musical 'South Pacific' at Lied Feb. 25-27

The breathtaking Broadway revival production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "South Pacific" lights up the Lied Center for Performing Arts in a Nebraska exclusive showing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25, 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee performance on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m.

A stunning reinvention produced by Lincoln Center Theater, "South Pacific" swept the 2008 Tony Awards, winning seven honors, including Best Musical Revival and Best Director. The talented cast of 40, led by Laura Osnes and 2008 Tony-winner for Outstanding Actor in a Musical Paulo Szot, is directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher ("The Light in the Piazza" and "Awake and Sing!")

Hailed as "simply wonderful! Beguiling theatrical magic!" by the New York Post, this breathtaking new production has created a sold-out sensation on Broadway. "Variety" calls it "ravishing and overwhelming." Set on a tropical island during World War II, the musical tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. Considered by many the finest musical ever written, the score's songs include such classics as "Some Enchanted Evening," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair," "A Wonderful Guy" and "There is Nothin' Like a Dame."

This performance is possible in part by generous support from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska, First National Bank and Woods & Aitken, LLP.

Tickets for this performance are $59 and $49. Students at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and other participating colleges with a valid I.D., as well as youths age 18 or younger, may purchase tickets for half price. Call the Lied Ticket Office at (402) 472-4747 or (800) 432-3231 for ticket availability. Regular ticket office hours are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.liedcenter.org.

As part of the Lied Center's ongoing education programming, a pre-performance talk will be held before each performance in the Lied Center's Steinhart Room 30 minutes prior to curtain. Pre-talk speakers for the performances will be: Feb. 25: Alisa Belflower, Coordinator of Musical Theatre Studies at UNL; Feb. 26: Paul Pearson, director at the Lincoln Community Playhouse; Feb. 27 afternoon: Karen Wills, Program Coordinator for UNL's University Program Council; Feb. 27 night: Jason Weixelman, local actor and stage manager. Seating is limited in the Steinhart, and the pre-talk will begin a half hour before curtain or when the room is full. The Lied Center is located on the campus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at 301 N. 12th St.

The Lied Center 20th season is supported by Friends of Lied and grants from Association of Performing Arts Presenters; National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency; Mid-America Arts Alliance; Nebraska Arts Council; New England Foundation for the Arts; and Lincoln Arts Council. All events in the Lied Center are made possible entirely or in part by the Lied Performance Fund, which has been established in memory of Ernst F. Lied and his parents, Ernst M. and Ida K. Lied.

For more information about "South Pacific," visit http://www.lct.org/showMain.htm?id=174.