South Pacific: Laura Osnes plays 'Nellie orbush' and David Pittsinger returns as 'Emile de becque'

Laura Osnes assumes the role of 'Ensign Nellie Forbush' replacing Kelli O�Hara and David Pittsinger will again stand in for Paulo Szot as 'Emile De Becque' from 10 Mar in Lincoln Center Theater�s Tony Award winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein�s South Pacific, directed by Bartlett Sher, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.

Kelli O�Hara, who originated the role, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award, played her last performance on 7 Mar 2009 and has left the productioin to await the birth of her first child. After her maternity leave she will return to South Pacific on 6 Oct 2009.

Osnes most recently starred on Broadway as 'Sandy' in the revival of Grease (2007), after winning a nationwide talent search to cast that role on the NBC TV series Grease: You�re The One That I Want.'

Pittsinger returns to the role of the French plantation owner for five week engagement through to 12 Apr 2009, while Szot stars in a production of 'Carmen' for Opera Toulouse, returning to the show on 15 Apr 2009.

Pittsinger made his Metropolitan Opera debut as 'Truelove' in 'The Rake�s Progress' conducted by James Levine. He went on to appear in the MET productions of 'Don Carlo,' 'La Boheme,' 'Die Zauberflote' and 'Giulio Cesare.' Later this season he will also appear in the New York City Opera�s concert performance of 'Antony and Cleopatra' at Carnegie Hall.

Szot won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of 'Emile de Becque.'

The cast for the Broadway revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein�s South Pacific now features Laura Osnes (Ensign Nellie Forbush), David Pittsinger (Emile de Becque), Loretta Ables Sayre (Bloody Mary), Andrew Samonsky (Lt. Joseph Cable), Danny Burstein (Luther Billis), Sean Cullen (Cmdr. William Harbison), Eric Anderson (Stewpot), Luka Kain (Jerome), Li Jun Li (Liat), Laurissa Romain (Ngana), Skipp Sudduth (Capt. George Brackett), Matt Caplan (Professor) and Becca Ayers (Ensign Cora MacRae).

South Pacific opened on 3 Apr 2008, following prveiews from 1 Mar, and was orginally scheduled to play a limited engagement ending on the 22 Jun 2008. The musical received critical acclaim, and on 4 Apr 2008, just one day after it opened the Lincoln Center announced the show would play an open run, and is currently booking through to 5 Jul 2009 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.

The musical received rave reviews: "Great entertainment. Don�t miss it." (New York Theatre Guide); "Simply wonderful!" (New York Post); "A masterpiece." (Star-Ledger); "It soars" (USA Today); "This is ravishing theater." (Variety).

South Pacific won seven 2008 Tony Awards: Best Musical Revival, Best Director (Bartlett Sher), Best Actor in a Musical (Paulo Szot), Best Scenic Design (Michael Yeargan), Best Costume Design (Catherine Zuber), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder) and Best Sound Design (Scott Lehrer).

The story takes place during World War II: in the South Pacific love is found between a young nurse, Nellie Forbush and an older French plantation owner, Emile de Becque, but the war is tearing them apart.

South Pacific features such classic songs as: 'A Cockeyed Optimist'; 'Some Enchanted Evening'; 'There Is Nothing Like a Dame' and 'Bali Ha'i', to name a few.

The cast for the Broadway revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein�s South Pacific currently features Kelli O�Hara (Ensign Nellie Forbush), *Paulo Szot (Emile de Becque), Loretta Ables Sayre (Bloody Mary), Andrew Samonsky (Lt. Joseph Cable), Danny Burstein (Luther Billis), Sean Cullen (Cmdr. William Harbison), Eric Anderson (Stewpot), Luka Kain (Jerome), Li Jun Li (Liat), Laurissa Romain (Ngana), Skipp Sudduth (Capt. George Brackett), Matt Caplan (Professor) and Becca Ayers (Ensign Cora MacRae).
* David Pittsinger assumes the role of '(Emile de Becque' from 12 Mar - 12 Apr 209), Paulo Szot returns the the role on 15 Apr 2009.

The production of South Pacific, the first to be mounted on Broadway since the Pulitzer Prize winning musical premiered in 1949, is directed by Barlett Sher and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli.

Based on James Michener�s �Tales of the South Pacific,� South Pacific has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein and a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan.