The Insider's Guide to the 2014 Mountain Play: South Pacific

One of Marin County's most beloved and unique events is the famous Mountain Play—an outdoor theater experience high on the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais that's been going strong for over a century! This year's 101st Mountain Play production is Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific, the Broadway classic set in a tropical paradise during World War II and based on James A. Michener's novel Tales of the South Pacific.

Featuring classic songs like "Bali Ha'i", "Younger Than Springtime", and "Some Enchanted Evening", the Mountain Play's production of South Pacific is directed by Linda Dunn and features Taylor Chalker as spunky Ensign Nellie Forbush, Peter Vlikin as French plantation owner Emile de Becque, Tyler Costin as Lieutenant Joseph Cable, and Mia Klenk as Liat. South Pacific also features Randy Nazarian as Luther Billis, Lily Tung Crystal as Bloody Mary, and James Dunn (veteran director of many Mountain Play productions) as Captain George Brackett. Musical direction is by Debra Chambliss.

Performances take place at 2 pm at Mt. Tam's Cushing Memorial Amphitheater on May 18 and 25, and June 1, 7, 8, and 15. General seating ticket prices range from $20–$40., and children 3 and under are free. Reserved seats are available for Mountain Play Fan Club members (starting at $60 for adults); higher membership levels include perks like reserved parking and special shuttle passes. Opening day, Sunday, May 18, is Kids & Family Day! All kids ages 4–13 get free general admission seating. Order tickets online here or by phone at (415) 383-1100.

Make a day of it

Of course the Mountain Play isn't just about the play—it's about the complete Mountain Play experience. This includes taking in the pre- and post-show entertainment, with puppet shows by Fratello Marionettes (at 11:30 am and 1 pm daily), face painting, fantastic preshow entertainment, a raffle with amazing prizes, and more. You can even take advantage of the Mountain Play's unique location and take a hike before the show. Check the Mountain Play's website for details on related activities and events.

Each day has its own special theme with preshow entertainment starting at 12:30 pm. In addition to Kids & Family Day on May 18, with preshow entertainment by Sharon Boucher's Future Stars of Marin, May 25 is Military Veteran Day with Singers Marin; June 1 is LGBT Day with enterainment by the Lollipop Guild, an ensemble from the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus; June 7 is Singles Day with 'Til Dawn; June 8 is GLEEK/Musical Theatre Geek Day with Marin Summer Theater; and closing day, June 15, is Luau Day, with Hawaiian music and dance.

It's also a tradition to bring your picnic lunch to the Mountain Play. Playgoers can get pretty elaborate with their gourmet picnic meals, and just checking out the gourmet fare that people bring is half the fun. There will even be a picnic contest at the last performance on Sunday, June 15, with a celebrity judge Anna Haight, food writer at the Marin IJ. If you think your picnic spread is a contender, make sure you check in when you arrive to enter the contest.

Don't want to pack your lunch? Don't worry, you can buy a wide range of food at the Mountain Play concession stands, including sandwiches, hot dogs, hamburgers, salads, ice cream, hot and cold drinks, and even beer and wine.

Here's one last insider's scoop: next year's production will be Peter Pan!

If you go

The Mountain Play box office opens at 9 am on performance days. Very limited parking is available on the mountain, and lots usually fill up by 11 am. Lots closest to the theater are reserved for members and patrons with disabilities who have reserved spots in advance. Parking is available at Rock Springs and at the old Air Force base ($5). There is a charge for parking at the Air Force base; a shuttle bus will take you to and from the amphitheater from the Air Force base parking lots. Free parking is offered at the Air Force base parking lot for all hybrid and electric vehicles.

The traditional way to get to the mountain play, however, is to take one of the free shuttle bus—otherwise known as the Mountain Play Express—up onto the mountain. The Mountain Play's fleet of eco-friendly yellow bueses will whisk you up to the Cushing Memorial Amphitheater from two locations in Mill Valley—the Manzanita Park-and-Ride Lot at the Highway 101 and Shoreline Highway junction (near the Buckeye restaurant) and at Tamalpais High School on Miller Avenue. The Mountain Play Express runs approximately every 15 minutes from 10 am to 12:45 pm, and will be there to take you back down the mountain after the play. Cars may be parked at both locations all day free of charge.

When you go, make sure you're prepared for any kind of weather. Even if it's foggy in Mill Valley, the Rock Springs and amphitheater can be sunny and hot. There are some areas of shade in the amphitheater, but they're available on a first-come, first-served basis. Hats, sunscreen, and layered clothing are a must at the Mountain Play. Make sure you bring plenty of drinking water, too. Amphitheater seats are all stone blocks, so stadium cushions, pillows, blankets, and other forms of padding are a good idea, too. Reserved seats have pads in place already, and you can rent them when you get there.

For the true Mountain Play experience, take the Mountain Play Express shuttle bus up the mountain, and then hike down after the show. The route down the Mt. Tamalpais is seven miles and takes about two to three hours to complete, so if you plan on hiking bring plenty of water and wear appropriate clothing and footwear. You can get a route map and hiking directions on the Mountain Play's website.

If you choose to hike down from the theater, the Mountain Play will transport your ice chests, blankets, picnic baskets, and other bulky items down the mountain for you; pick them up at the Depot in downtown Mill Valley, and then hop a shuttle bus for the ride back to your car. The last shuttle bus leaves downtown Mill Valley at 9 pm. Other transportation options include biking or hiking up to the amphitheater.

To order tickets or for more information on this year's production and the Mountain Play experience, visit www.mountainplay.org or call (415) 383-1100.

Photos by Ed Smith, courtesy of the Mountain Play.