South Pacific

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South Pacific

musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein

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July 14, 2026

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South Pacific is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. It premiered in 1949 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1950. The musical is based on a book that emerged from World War II and was intended as a strong statement against racial prejudice. It is known for combining Rodgers and Hammerstein's signature musical style with a more serious and socially relevant story, a departure from their earlier works. The musical was a significant success, earning multiple Tony Awards for its production.12

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Oscar Hammerstein II
Prize, 1944), Carousel (1945), and South Pacific (1949; Pulitzer Prize in 1950), combining bright tunes with relatively sophisticated stories—a blend then unfamiliar to the stage but later widely adopted. Hammerstein’s lyrics are often marked by a simplicity and sensitivity perhaps best exemplified by “If I Loved You” (from Carousel).
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Prize, 1944), Carousel (1945), and South Pacific (1949; Pulitzer Prize in 1950), combining bright tunes with relatively sophisticated stories—a blend then unfamiliar to the stage but later widely adopted. Hammerstein’s lyrics are often marked by a simplicity and sensitivity perhaps best exemplified by “If I Loved You” (from Carousel).
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James Michener
…the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, which itself won a Pulitzer Prize and turned Michener’s book into a best seller.
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…the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, which itself won a Pulitzer Prize and turned Michener’s book into a best seller.
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musical
Show Boat and the golden age of musicals
(1943), Carousel (1945), and South Pacific (1949). Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe also wrote a number of highly successful musicals, notably Brigadoon (1947) and My Fair Lady (1956). They also collaborated on the motion-picture musical Gigi (1958), and four of their theatrical works were
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(1943), Carousel (1945), and South Pacific (1949). Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe also wrote a number of highly successful musicals, notably Brigadoon (1947) and My Fair Lady (1956). They also collaborated on the motion-picture musical Gigi (1958), and four of their theatrical works were
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Richard Rodgers
Oklahoma!, The Sound of Music, and other works with Oscar Hammerstein
…were somewhat less successful, but South Pacific (1949; film 1958) had a Broadway run almost as long as that of Oklahoma! and won the composers a second Pulitzer Prize (1950). Rodgers also received a Tony Award for best original musical score. Unusual in its treatment of racial prejudice and skillful…
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…were somewhat less successful, but South Pacific (1949; film 1958) had a Broadway run almost as long as that of Oklahoma! and won the composers a second Pulitzer Prize (1950). Rodgers also received a Tony Award for best original musical score. Unusual in its treatment of racial prejudice and skillful…
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