1949: South Pacific at the Majestic Theatre

Currently enjoying its first ever official revival on Broadway is the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic musical, "South Pacific." The new production opened to rave reviews on April 3, 2008 at Lincoln Center's Beaumont Theatre. Nominated for eleven Tony awards, the 2008 show was awarded with a Tony as Best Musical Revival.

"South Pacific" originally opened at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway in 1949. The show would go on to have one of the most successful runs in Broadway history with over 1900 performances to its credit. Originally cast in the stage production were Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza. Both Martin and Pinza won Tonys in their respective categories. The show won for Best Musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein won for their music and lyrics, and director Josh Logan was awarded the Best Director prize. The cast and creative team behind "South Pacific" pitched a perfect game at the 1950 Tonys, taking home all awards in each of its eleven nominated categories. In fact, "South Pacific" was, and still remains, the only show ever to win a Tony award in all four main acting categories.

In 1958, the film version of "South Pacific" was released by Twentieth Century Fox, this time with Mitzi Gaynor and Rossano Brazzi  in the lead roles. Josh Logan directed this twice Oscar nominated film which took home only one technical award.

Controversy in 1949
"South Pacific" was based on the short stories from James A. Michener's Pulitzer Prize winning book, "Tales from the South Pacific." Ahead of its time, "South Pacific" explored the theme of racial prejudice, and one particular number in the show came under extraordinary scrutiny. "Carefully Taught" is performed in Act II and deals with relationships between different ethnic groups. In 1949, this theme was considered by some (including some in the US congress) to be "inappropriate for entertainment." Amazingly, one lawmaker even said that "a song justifying interracial marriage was implicitly a threat to the American way of life."  Michener, Rodgers and Hammerstein found themselves having to defend the inclusion of "Carefully Taught" in the score of "South Pacific." In fact, Michener said at the time, "The authors [Rodgers and Hammerstein] replied stubbornly that this number represented why they had wanted to do this play, and that even if it meant the failure of the production, it was going to stay in."

You've got to be carefully taught . . .

Barbra Streisand recorded three ballads from "South Pacific": "A Cockeyed Optimist," "Carefully Taught" and "Some Enchanted Evening," the most well known number from the show. "Some Enchanted Evening" was released on "Back to Broadway" (1993). "A Cockeyed Optimist" and "Carefully Taught" are found on Barbra's "Streisand Live in 2006" concert album.

"A Cockeyed Optimist" was the newest number from "South Pacific" to be recorded by Barbra. It was first performed in Philadelphia on October 6, 2006 and repeated throughout her 2006/07 concert tour.

Barbra performed Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carefully Taught" during the 2006-7 concert tour as well, and she used the lyrics to deliver a powerful message to everyone. Performed in medley with Stephen Sondheim's "Children Will Listen" (from "Into the Woods"), Barbra's plea was strong but simple: be careful, because the actions of adults, and perhaps more importantly, their words and prejudices, can have a direct impact on developing the moral character of the children in their lives:

You've got to be taught to hate and fear,
You've got to be taught from year to year,
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear,
You've got to be carefully taught.

You've got to be taught before it's too late,
Before you are six or seven or eight,
To hate all the people your relatives hate,
You've got to be carefully taught.

Rodgers and Hammerstein

Barbra Streisand has had much success with the Rodgers and Hammerstein songbook, In all, she has recorded ten of their joint compositions from their various musicals.

Barbra recorded several additional numbers, penned by either Richard Rodgers (in collaboration with either Lorenz Hart or Sigmund Romberg), or by Oscar Hammerstein (in collaboration with Jerome Kern).

Barbra also performed "The Sweetest Sounds," with both words and lyrics by Richard Rodgers, as the finale to her television special, "Barbra Streisand... and Other Musical Instruments."