Kelli O'Hara to star in 'South Pacific'

NEW YORK, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Kelli O’Hara, last seen on Broadway in "The Pajama Game," has been cast in The Lincoln Center Theater revival of "South Pacific."

O’Hara will play naive Arkansas nurse Nellie Forbush in the new production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, which was based on James Michener's collection of short stories, "Tales of the South Pacific," Playbill.com reported Tuesday. The role of Nellie was created by the late Mary Martin.

Renowned baritone Paulo Szot, who previously has appeared in the New York City Opera productions of "L'Elisir d'Amore," "Carmen" and "Le Nozze di Figaro," will play French plantation owner Emile de Becque.

The Lincoln Center revival of "South Pacific" is the first since the musical's Broadway debut in 1949.

The production reunites O'Hara with Bartlett Sher, who directed her in "The Light in the Piazza."

Performances of "South Pacific" are slated to begin on the Vivian Beaumont Stage March 1, with an official opening planned for April 3.