Mesa Musings:

Some weeks ago, my wife, Hedy, and I were in New York City and saw the Broadway revival of my favorite all-time musical, “South Pacific.” To our great surprise, we discovered that we knew someone in the cast!

Winner of seven 2008 Tony Awards, “South Pacific” is playing at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center.

The musical’s talented cast includes Eric Anderson, a former OCC theater student. Eric plays Luther Billis’ sidekick, Stewpot.

Based on James Michener’s 1946 novel, “Tales of the South Pacific,” the show is set in the Solomon Islands during World War II. A collaborative effort by the renowned team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, the musical offers a powerful statement against bigotry and racism. Though it first opened on Broadway in 1949, it remains highly relevant.

Today’s Broadway production is stunning.

As OCC’s public relations director for 36 years, I got to know Eric in the 1990s when he was a student. He was brilliant as the malevolent John Wilkes Booth in the college’s 1995 production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical, “Assassins.” Daily Pilot critic Tom Titus lauded his performance.

Eric also had roles in campus productions of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “The Heidi Chronicles” and “Dangerous Liaisons.” He studied theater under the school’s Alex Golson, Rick Golson and David Scaglione.

Eric, who grew up in Irvine, is the product of a talented acting family. I’ve known his father, Nils Anderson, for many years.

Coincidently, Nils starred as French planter Emile de Becque in OCC’s summer production of “South Pacific” in 1993. He gave a performance that measured up in every respect to the Broadway production.

Nils also had the lead in OCC’s 1991 production of John Ferzacca’s powerful courtroom drama, “Failure to Zig Zag.” The play concerns the sinking of the Indianapolis cruiser during the final months of World War II. Nils remains active in Southern California theater circles.

I’m happy to report that the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree!

Eric possesses a reputation as an actor with chameleonic artistry. He’s portrayed a wide range of roles during his brief career. Since leaving OCC, he’s appeared in numerous stage productions, including “Ragtime,” “The Rocky Horror Show” and “The Producers.”

Last year, he played Merlyn in the national touring company production of “Camelot,” opposite Michael York and, later, Lou Diamond Phillips. His television credits are many, and he’s featured in the latest National Lampoon movie, “One, Two, Many.” After watching Eric on Broadway, I e-mailed his former OCC mentor, Alex Golson.

“I’m glad to see that the rumors I’ve heard about Eric being on Broadway are true,” Alex replied. “He’s an outstanding actor and a great inspiration to our campus.”

Though six decades ago I committed every “South Pacific” note and lyric to memory, I discovered during my recent New York City trip just why I love the show so much: I feel passionately about Rodgers’ music, and Hammerstein’s writing takes my breath away. Hammerstein, a genius, has crafted an amazing work that holds up — 60 years later.

When the curtain fell on the recent New York performance, Hedy and I went backstage to see Eric. Thrilled to spy a familiar California face, he told me that he’s been in the “South Pacific” cast since January and is loving the experience.

He’s proud of his Orange County roots and is honored beyond belief to be performing his first Broadway role. It won’t be his last.

“I’m still pinching myself,” he told me.

Hedy and I pinched ourselves and hummed Rodgers and Hammerstein songs all the way back to our mid-town Manhattan hotel that “moon-happy night” — to quote a Hammerstein lyric. Richard, Oscar and Eric had lifted our spirits.

JIM CARNETT lives in Costa Mesa. His column runs Wednesdays.