The classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical “South Pacific” comes to Northampton Community College Summer Theatre’s Lipkin Theater, June 28 to July 9.

The musical based on Bucks County’s James A. Michener’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1947 novel, “Tales of the South Pacific,” is set in an island paradise during World War II, where Nellie Forbush (Jenny Brady), a wide-eyed nurse), and Joseph Cable (Jacob Greening), a promising young Marine lieutenant, discover love and must confront their own prejudices.

“South Pacific” is composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Bucks County’s Oscar Hammerstein II, and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan.

Rodgers and Hammerstein believed they could write a musical based on Michener’s work that could be successful while sending a strong progressive message on racism.

The work premiered in 1949 on Broadway and was an immediate hit, becoming the second-longest running Broadway musical at that time. The musical won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950. Its racial theme provoked controversy for which its authors were unapologetic.

The plot centers on Americans who are stationed on a South Pacific island. Nellie falls in love with a middle-aged expatriate French plantation owner (Ken McMullen), but struggles to accept his mixed-race children.

A secondary romance between Joe Cable and a young Tonkinese woman (Jane Lui), explores his fears of the social consequences should he marry an Asian. The issue of racial prejudice is explored throughout the musical, most controversially in the lieutenant’s song, “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught.”

“We are still seeing the same themes today as in the 1940s when Rodgers and Hammerstein II wrote ‘South Pacific,’” says Head of the NCC Theatre Department and NCC Summer Music Theatre Producing Artistic Director Bill Mutimer, who is directing the musical.

“Lt. Cable sings the hauntingly beautiful ‘You Have To Be Carefully Taught,’ which talks about how children are blank slates and as adults we teach them to hate and fear.

“It is hard for Nellie to get past that Emile’s children are of mixed race. Her fear and upbringing could cause her to lose the chance for true love.“

Supporting characters, including a comic petty officer (Matthew Wainstein) and the Tonkinese girl’s strong-willed mother (Shuga Henry), tie the stories together.

Many of the show’s songs, including “Bali Ha’i,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” “There Is Nothing Like a Dame,” “Happy Talk,” “Younger Than Springtime” and “I’m in Love with a Wonderful Guy,” have become standards.

The original Broadway production, which won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Libretto, is the only musical to win Tony Awards in all four acting categories.

The show, with its original cast album a best-selling record of the 1940s, has enjoyed many revivals, as well a 1958 movie. The 2008 Broadway revival won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival.

The cast includes Justin Ferguson, Aidan King, Max Wetherhold, Mason Wold, Jim Long, Josh Crowley, Cade Kocher, Janae Gray, Lydia Walker, Michael J. Sheridan, Andy Van Antwerp, Connor Sternberg, Isaiah Ellebeby, Marcell McKenzie, Tessa DeJesus, Sieanna Rahatt, Myriam Zamy, Mina Price and Faith Stack.

For the Independence Day performance, there is a cookout, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., prior to the show .

The menu is all-you-can-eat hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers, with all of the fixings, salads and sides, plus an ice cream sundae bar. The cookout will be in the Quad, the outdoor area adjacent to Kopecek Hall. July 4 tickets are available with or without the cookout.

“In this day and age, I see that many Americans forget what sacrifices were made for our freedom and liberties,” Mutimer says. “This is a way to help us take a moment to remember and give thanks. Which makes our 4th of July presentation a little more poignant.”

“South Pacific,” 7:30 p.m. June 28-30, July 1, 5-8; 2 p.m. July 2, 9. 5;30 p.m. July 4, Lipkin Theater, Northampton Community College, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township. Tickets: 484-484-3412, https://www.northampton.edu

Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com