The Asolo Repertory will open its 2014-15 season in November and continue its series exploring the American Character with a production of the 1949 Tony Award-winning musical South Pacific. Known as much for its musical score and story as it is for its progressive social awareness, the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic has brought great talent to town, including Kelly Felthous, previously Glinda in the Wicked national tour, as Nellie Forbush and Anthony Festa, who recently starred in a West End production of West Side Story, as Lt. Joseph Cable.

Loretta Ables-Sayre also returns as Bloody Mary, the role she played in the Lincoln Center revival for which she received a Tony nomination.

Preceded by 1776 in 2012 and Show Boat in 2013, South Pacific brings the American Character series up to World War II and America’s struggle with racism in a changing world. Actor Ben Davis returns to the series after last season’s Show Boat, as does director Rob Ruggiero, who feels the show to be a fitting addition.

“Like any great piece of art, it holds a mirror to us as a society,” said Ruggiero. “Even though we have evolved as beings and as a civilization, these issues continue to be obstacles for us as a society.”

And though South Pacific has been performed countless times since 1949, Ruggiero promises something a little different this time. The score has been reimagined from one that would be played by a full orchestra to one more fitting to something akin to a chamber orchestra, with eight musicians including the conductor on piano.

In addition, Ruggiero says this will be one of the smallest casts he has ever seen perform the play, with a total of 19 characters and only 17 adults.

In conjunction with the performances, the Asolo will also be hosting a number of opportunities for the public to meet the people involved in the production and discuss artistic choices, hear behind-the-scenes stories and further explore the themes of the work.

The Asolo will be introducing its new pre-show presentation dubbed The Scoop, giving audience members the opportunity to meet one of the actors and hear a brief presentation and have a little Q&A session. These will be held at every performance, one hour prior to the curtain, with the exception of opening night.

Post-show presentations include Meet the Actors, occurring after both Sunday matinee shows, in which the actors will return to the stage for a Q&A, and Tuesday Talkbacks, bringing one or two guests up to the mezzanine level every Tuesday for a more intimate discussion with some of the cast and crew.

“It goes back to why we do these plays and why [producing artistic director] Michael Edwards picked some of these projects for our American Character project,” said Kathryn Moroney, education and outreach director for the Asolo. “To take the experience of what is a beautiful and profound show and have a conversation with the audience and the artists and spend some time with those questions.”

South Pacific opens Nov. 15 and runs until Dec. 28.