South Pacific, this year’s musical at Harrison, will premier on Friday, Oct. 20. The play is based on James A. Michener’s novel Tales of the South Pacific, and is run entirely by Harrison students.

According to the director, Ilene Fins, “This play was chosen not only for it’s beautiful music but for it’s timely topics of war and racial prejudice.”

Some classic songs in the musical that have become famous around the world include Bali Ha’i, Younger than Springtime, and Some Enchanted Evening.

The cast of forty-four students and the pit orchestra, led by Matthew Davis, are working hard rehearsing every day.

“Rehearsals have been very exciting and fun and all the men in the cast have enjoyed their visits to the hair salon to receive 1940’s style haircuts!” says Fins.

Harrison will present South Pacific on October 20, 21, 27, 28 at 7:30 p.m. and October 22 and 29 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and senior citizens. You can call the box office to get tickets for South Pacific at 499-2939.

Morgan Bennett, a senior at Harrison, stars as Nellie Forbush, a Navy nurse stationed on a South Pacific island. She meets and falls in love with French planter Emile de Becque, played by Yurel Echezarreta, also a senior. However, their love is torn at the hands of racism.

In a parallel situation, the love between Lt. Joseph Cable, played by Bruce Landry, a junior, and Liat, played by senior Dominique Aulisio has come to a similar fate, because Liat is the daughter of Tokinese trader Bloody Mary (Michelle Du Charme, a senior).

Bloody Mary, however, has her own issue dealing with comical Luther Billis, played by senior Benedict Heaps, who is constantly in competition with her business on the island.

According to Fins, everything the audience loves about the classic tale will be there, in addition to some creative touches.