Toledo Opera will honor veterans with complimentary tickets to its original production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved musical, South Pacific. In recognition of their service and sacrifice, 30 complimentary tickets will be available exclusively for veterans for each performance. Toledo Opera will present South Pacific on Friday, February 14, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 2 p.m. at the Valentine Theatre, 400 North Superior, Toledo, OH.
These complimentary tickets are offered as a heartfelt thank-you to veterans and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations can be made by calling 419-255-7464. This initiative reflects Toledo Opera’s commitment to celebrating the courage and dedication of those who have served our country while inviting them to enjoy an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling.
For Toledo Opera General Director, James M. Norman, this initiative will enhance the impact South Pacific will have on its audience: “We are deeply honored to offer complimentary tickets to our veterans. This timeless musical, with its themes of courage, love, and resilience, holds a special resonance for those who have served our nation. It is a privilege to share this experience with the brave people who have given so much for our freedom. This is just a small way for us to express our gratitude and to invite them to join us in celebrating the power of storytelling and music.”
“Sharing our original production of South Pacific with our local veterans is not just a privilege – it’s a civic responsibility,” added Toledo Opera Development Officer, Leah Whitaker. “At Toledo Opera, we believe in giving back to those who have given so much, and this production is a meaningful way to honor their service while reflecting on themes of sacrifice, love, and cultural understanding.”
About South Pacific: Just in time for Valentine’s Day and the 75th anniversary of its premiere, Toledo Opera presents South Pacific. Winner of 10 Tony Awards in 1950 including Best Musical and Best Original Score, South Pacific debuts to Toledo Opera audiences in a new production brought to life by conductor J. Ernest Green and stage director James M. Norman. Based on the anecdotes of a real-life U.S. Navy commander who was stationed on an island, South Pacific follows two intercultural love stories: Nellie, a spunky nurse from Arkansas, falls in love with Emile, a French plantation owner on the island who has two children from his late Polynesian wife; at the same time, U.S. Lieutenant Cable falls for a beautiful island native named Liat. Both Americans find themselves struggling to reconcile their own cultural prejudices with their amorous feelings, all the while under the dark cloud of a war that is coming ever closer to their island paradise. South Pacific stars Claire Leyden as Nellie Forbush, Metropolitan Opera Baritone Keith Phares (The Merry Widow and Cinderella) as Emile de Becque, and Mike Schwitter as Lt. Joseph Cable. South Pacific will be presented in English with English captions. South Pacific is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization.
Toledo Opera will perform South Pacific at the Valentine Theatre on Friday, February 14 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, February 16 at 2 p.m. To learn more about South Pacific cast and production team and to buy tickets, visit: toledoopera.org.