Loretta Ables Sayre to Join O’Hara, Szot in LCT’s South Pacific

Hawaiian musical and television star Loretta Ables Sayre will play Bloody Mary opposite Kelli O’Hara’s Nellie Forbush and Paulo Szot’s Emile deBecque in Lincoln Center’s Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic1949 musical South Pacific, to run March 1-June 22. The production, which will open officially on April 3, will be directed by Bartlett Sher. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

The musical is based on James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific, and features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, and a book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan. The creative team will include Michael Yeargan (sets), Catherine Zuber (costumes), Donald Holder (lighting), Scott Lehrer (sound), and Ted Sperling (musical direction).

Sayre, who is making her Broadway debut, has appeared in concert with such artists as The Beach Boys, Kenny Loggins, and James Brown. Her television credits include Beyond the Break, North Shore, and Baywatch Hawaii.

O’Hara is a two-time Tony Award nominee for The Light in the Piazza and The Pajama Game. Szot, who will be making his Broadway debut in this production, is an internationally acclaimed baritone whose previous New York credits include New York City Opera productions of L’Elisir d’Amore, Carmen and Le Nozze di Figaro.