South Pacific to play at theVivian Beaumont in 2008

Lincoln Center Theatre are to present the first Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical South Pacific in the spring of 2008 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Final dates have still to be confirmed.

South Pacific, one of Rodgers and Hammerstein's most popular musicals, played on Broadway between 1949 and 1954, and won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

The musical's first revival on Broadway is to be directed by Bartlett Sher, who 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.

South Pacific has music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, with book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan, based on 'Tales of the South Pacific' by James A. Michener.

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.

In the original Broadway production Mary Martin played Nellie Forbush, and Ezio Pinza played Emile De Beque. The musical was made into a sucessful film in 1958 with Mitzi Gaynor playing the role of Nellie Forbush and Rossano Brazzi the role of Emile De Beque.

The musical 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.

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