O'Hara & Szot to Star in Lincoln Center's 'South Pacific

Lincoln Center Theater has announced casting for the two lead roles in its upcoming production of the classic Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical South Pacific.  The Tony Award nominated singer-actress Kelli O'Hara will star as Ensign Nellie Forbush and internationally acclaimed baritone Paulo Szot will make his Broadway debut as Emile de Becque.  The production, the first to be mounted on Broadway since the Pulitzer Prize winning musical premiered in 1949, will be directed by Barlett Sher and will begin performances Saturday, March 1 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.  Opening night is Thursday, April 3.

Kelli O'Hara returns to Lincoln Center Theater where she created the role of Clara in The Light in the Piazza, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award.  The following season she starred opposite Harry Connick, Jr. in The Pajama Game, again scoring another Tony nomination for her performance.  Last season she received rave reviews for her portrayal of Eliza Doolittle in the NY Philharmonic's concert production of My Fair Lady.   Her previous Broadway credits include Dracula, The Sweet Smell of Success, Follies and Jekyl & Hyde.

Paulo Szot is an internationally acclaimed baritone whose previous New York credits include starring roles in the NY City Opera productions of L'Elisir d'Amore, Carmen and Le Nozze di Figaro.  A finalist in the Luciano Pavarotti Competition in Philadelphia, he made his operatic debut as Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia in his native Sao Paolo, before going on to sing lead roles with major opera companies throughout South America, Europe and the United States.

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 Lincoln Center Theater production 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.  Additional casting for the production will be announced at a later date. For more information visit www.lct.org

Photos: Kelli O'Hara and Paul Szot