Musical Direction from Bali Hai

December 5, 2006

The orchestra, which consists of students, faculty and guest performers, rehearsing backstage

Strains of flute and harp float from backstage, communicating the mystery of Bali Hai. On stage, singers flaunt well-known rhythms. And thus this year's student musical, South Pacific, comes to life on a small Pacific island.

South Pacific poses many challenges, among them a large cast (27, including two young children) and an orchestra with unusual instruments (harp, tympanum). The production's musical director, Jean Strazdes, has enjoyed working with the students – both singers and players – on a Rodgers and Hammerstein score. "South Pacific contains some of the most beautiful music written for musical theater," she says. "The music tells you exactly what is happening in the scene. Rodgers and Hammerstein always sought a continuous flow from drama to music. They did not want to give the feeling of music being inserted into the drama. They had the music speak from the drama."

Sarah Ream, the production's director, sees the music as vibrant emotional expression, driving South Pacific's power and relevance. "People erupt into song when their depth of feeling can no longer be conveyed through language alone," she explains.

Ream watched with pleasure as the students got caught up in the musical's serious themes. "The students auditioned thinking that it would be an old Broadway chestnut," she explained. "They were delighted to discover how relevant the story is to issues of today. The play's issues revolve around the rub of different cultures. The centerpiece of the musical is the song 'You've Got To Be Carefully Taught,' sung in the moment when a man confronts the reality of the racist culture he lives in. The show also deals with the courage of people to make other choices when they wake up to what diversity can bring them."

The orchestra for South Pacific consists of five students, three faculty and three guest performers playing violin, harp, piano, flute, oboe, bass, trumpet and percussion.

"The students have been wonderful in learning and understanding the musical style and emotional context of South Pacific," says Strazdes.

And how does Bali Hai work exactly? "The orchestra will be playing from behind the set," Strazdes explains, "giving the impression to the audience that music is flowing from Bali Hai. I will be conducting, using a television monitor as a guide. This is a unique challenge in itself." 

South Pacific ranks among the most celebrated of Rodgers and Hammerstein's acclaimed musical masterpieces. First produced on Broadway in 1949, the issues of racism and diversity and war and loss remain particularly relevant today.  

        
Strazdes conducts the orchestra backstage                    The orchestra includes five student players

The production runs Friday, December 8 through Sunday, December 10. 

Learn more about the production and how to get tickets ...