South Pacific: Andrew Samonsky, Eric Anderson and Matt Caplan join cast

Andrew Samonsky, Eric Anderson and Matt Caplan join the cast of Lincoln Center Theater's Tony award winning revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein�s South Pacific on 6 Jan 2009, playing the roles of 'Lt. Joseph Cable,' 'Stewpot' and the 'Professor,' respectively.

Samonsky and Caplan are original cast members having previously understudied the respective roles in the production. They succeed Matthew Morrison and Noah Weisburg who originated the roles.

Eric Anderson is making his Broadway debut, assumeing the role of 'Stewpot' from original cast member Victor Hawks.

Andrew Samonsky�s previous credits include Bob Wallace in 'White Christmas' at the Denver Theater Center, the national tour of Disney�s 'On The Record' and roles in regional theatres throughout the country.

Matt Caplan has appeared on Broadway in 'Rent' (Mark Cohen - replacement: 1996) and 'High Fidelity' (Guy with Mohawk: 2006) and in the national tour of 'Rent.'

Eric Anderson, who is making his Broadway debut in Rodgers & Hammerstein�s South Pacific, appeared as 'Merlyn' in the national tour of 'Camelot' and as 'Burr' in the Los Angeles premieres of both versions of 'The Wild Party.' His television credits include 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent,' 'Alias' and 'Dirt.'

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 now features Kelli O�Hara (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).

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.