Tony Winner Paulo Szot 'Sails Back' to SOUTH PACIFIC 4/14

South Pacific star Paulo Szot, who won the Tony for his performance as Emile de Becque and was on leave starring in a production of Carmen for Opera Toulouse returns tonight, Tuesday, April 14.

The performance this evening will mark the first time Szot sings alongside new leading lady Laura Osnes, who has assumed the role of Ensign Nellie Forbush replacing Kelli O'Hara who is on maternity leave.

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

Kelli O'Hara, who originated the role in the production, will return to South Pacific in October.

Now in its first Broadway revival, South Pacific won seven 2008 Tonys and has been playing to sold-out houses since the first preview in March 2008. Laura Osnes and David Pittsinger lead a marvelous cast of 40 directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher.

Although well known for its extraordinary score -- the songs include Some Enchanted Evening, Younger Than Springtime, Bali Ha'i, There Is Nothin' Like A Dame, and A Wonderful Guy -- South Pacific is also a deeply felt drama. Its portrayal of Americans stationed in an alien culture in wartime is as relevant today as when it first thrilled audiences in 1949.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific also features Danny Burstein as Luther Billis, Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary, Andrew Samonsky as Lt. Joe Cable, Eric Anderson, Matt Caplan, Sean Cullen, Murphy Guyer, Luka Kain, Li Jun Li, Laurissa Romain and Michael Arnold, Becca Ayers, Wendy Bergamini, Genson Blimline, Charlie Brady, Christian Carter, Eric L. Christian, Helmar Augustus Cooper, Margot de la Barre, Christian Delcroix, Laura Marie Duncan, Mike Evariste, Julie Foldesi, Rob Gallagher, MaryAnn Hu, Zachary James, Robert Lenzi, Deborah Lew, William Michals, George Merrick, Kimber Monroe, George Psomas, Greg Roderick and Jerold E. Solomon.

Tickets to Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, priced $75 to $125, are available at the Vivian Beaumont Theater box office (150 W. 65 Street), at telecharge.com, or by visiting www.lct.org.