BROADWAY, BY WAY OF THE O.C.: In 2008, the Lincoln Center production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific cleaned up at the Tony Awards, taking home eight trophies. One of those awards went to Oak Cliff native Michael Yeargan, who also designed the Dallas Theater Center’s 1999 production. He and director Bartlett Sher talk about their approach to restaging the Broadway warhorse, which opened Tuesday night at the Winspear Opera House, in this dallasnews.com story. Tonight is the official press preview, so expect some reviews Thursday morning.

AN IRREVERENT CHRISTMAS: Theater companies all feel that need to put on a holiday show – crowds like ’em, which leads to full houses. But our local groups seem divided on whether to go the traditional route or to have a little fun with the holiday. DFW.com looks at some of the companies who have chosen the latter option. One of those companies is Stage West. The Fort Worth theater is staging A Don’t Hug Me Christmas, and Alexandra Bonifield says the musical numbers, “get funnier as they proceed along.” Even more irreverent is Scrooge’s Groovy Christmas at Ohlook Performing Arts Center in Grapevine. “Rarely does a show’s director encourage the audience to participate in a drinking game, especially at Christmas,” writes Cathy O’Neal on theaterjones.com.

BUY THE BOOK: If you’ve ever been to the Half Price Books flagship store on Northwest Highway, you’ve probably seen the dusty old books behind the glass cases on your right as you enter the store. I had always kinda wondered about them, but then my attention was always yanked away by the time I hit the magazine rack a few feet away. So thanks to Robert Wilonsky, who tracked down Half Price’s Steve Leach to ask him about the books for this Unfair Park post. It appears that this location is the quasi-clearing house for the company’s rare books.