South Pacific! Where the wind comes sweeping down the...no, that's not quite right. By order summer lingers through September in...South Pacific? No, no, no. OK, so even if you're not 100 percent conversant with the classic songs of South Pacific, the underlying story and themes are familiar. Girls meets boy, girl falls for boy, boy falls for girl, girl discovers racial secret about boy and dumps him...all while a World War thunders in the background. Using musical theater to discuss racial prejudice and interracial marriage was pretty edgy in 1949, when this famous Rodgers and Hammerstein show originally premiered, and 60 years later, racial tension remains a hot issue and South Pacific remains an enjoyable evening of theater. Whether it's an old favorite or a new experience, get your own "Bali Ha'i" at Artisan Center and Theater, 420 E. Pipeline Road in Hurst, Friday through September 25. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. with an additional 3 p.m. matinee on Saturdays. Tickets are $12 to $16 for adults, or $7 to $9 for children. To purchase tickets, call 817-284-1200 or visit artisanct.com.
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 3 p.m. Starts: Aug. 13. Continues through Sept. 25, 2010