According to the Carnegie Hall website, Gemignani joins the previously announced Reba McEntire as Nellie Forbush, Brian Stokes Mitchell as Emile de Becque, Lillias White as Bloody Mary, Jason Danieley as Lt. Cable, Dylan Baker as Commander William Harbison and Conrad John Schuck as Captain Brackett. Additional casting for the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical will be announced shortly.
The concert, under the direction of Walter Bobbie, will feature an adapted script by David Ives. Paul Gemignani will conduct the Orchestra of St. Luke's for the 8 PM performance. The remainder of the creative team includes John Lee Beatty (scenic consultant), Catherine Zuber (costume consultant), Alan Adelman (lighting designer) and Acme Sound Partners (sound design).
South Pacific features songs by composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II and was drawn from James Michener's "Tales of the South Pacific." Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza co-starred in the original Broadway production, which boasted such classic songs as "Some Enchanted Evening," "Younger Than Springtime," "Bali H'ai" and "A Wonderful Guy."
Alexander Gemignani, recently seen in Lincoln Center's Passion concerts, made his Broadway debut as John Hinckley in the Tony-winning production of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins at Studio 54. Off-Broadway he was seen as Brian in Avenue Q and as Officer Duffy in Sorry, Wrong Number. He is the recipient of the Best Performer Award for his work in the 2003 NY Fringe Festival production The Trapped Family Singers. Gemignani also appeared in the Huntington Theatre's production of Marty.
A limited number of tickets — priced $34, $52 and $78 — are available by calling CarnegieCharge at (212) 247-7800. Benefit tickets, priced $850, $1,000, $1,500 and $2,500, are also available by calling (212) 903-9679. For more information, visit the Carnegie Hall website at www.carnegiehall.org.