South Pacific, Matthew Morrison and Danny Burstein join cast of upcoming Broadway revival

The Lincoln center has announced that Matthew Morrison will play the role of Lt. Joseph Cable and Danny Burstein the role of Luther Billis in the Broadway revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein�S South Pacific which will play at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre from 1 Mar - 15 Jun 2008.

They join the previously announced Kelli O�Hara as Ensign Nellie Forbush and Paulo Szot as Emile de Becque. The announcement is also the first official statement that Hawaian actress Loretta Ables Sayre will make her Broadway and New York debut playing Bloody Mary, though this was first reported at the beginning of Oct 2007.

Matthew Morrison returns to Lincoln Center Theater where he created the role of Fabrizio in the musical 'The Light in the Piazza' (2005), for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. His other Broadway credits include 'A Naked Girl on the Appian Way' (2005), 'Hairspray' (2002), 'The Rocky Horror Show' (2000) and 'Footloose' (1998). He appeared off-Broadway last summer in the musical '10 Million Miles' at the Atlantic Theatre Company.

Danny Burstein�s Broadway credits include playing 'Aldolpho' in 'The Drowsy Chaperone' (2006) for which he was nominated for a Tony Award. His othe Broadway credits include 'A Class Act' (2001), 'Titanic' (1997), 'Company' (1995), 'Three Men on A Horse' (1993 revival), 'Saint Joan' (1993),'The Seagull' (1992 revival) and 'A Little Hotel on the Side' (1992 revival). The production of South Pacific, the first to be mounted on Broadway since the Pulitzer Prize winning musical premiered in 1949, will be directed by Barlett Sher and will open at the Vivian Beaumont on 3 Apr 2008, following previews from 1 Mar 2008, where it will run through to 15 Jun 2008.

Director Bartlett Sher, was nominated for a 2005 Tony Award for his direction of the the musical 'Light in the Piazza', and again in 2006 for his direction of Clifford Odets 'Awake and Sing!', both presented by Lincoln Center Theater.

Additional casting for the production will be announced at a later date.

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.

The musical will have sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber and lighting by Donald Holder, sound by Scott Lehrer and musical direction by Ted Sperling.

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.