Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1949 World War II-set musical returned to Broadway March 1, 2008, and officially opened April 3, 2008. Critics unanimously praised the Lincoln Center Theater production, initially billed as a limited engagement, which swiftly became an in-demand ticket and settled into an open-ended run.
Staged on the sprawling Beaumont thrust, South Pacific offers an expansive set by Tony Award-winning designer Michael Yeargan that is replete with palm trees, endless beaches and a 1940s bomber plane.
Stars Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot portrayed Ensign Nellie Forbush and French plantation owner Emile de Becque, respectively, the lovers who meet "across a crowded room." For their work in South Pacific, O'Hara earned her third Tony nomination and Szot took home his first Tony Award. In addition to O'Hara and Szot, the principal closing cast also included Tony nominees Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary, Danny Burstein as Luther Billis and Andrew Samonsky as Lt. Cable.
Here is a look inside the Beaumont as the sun set on this South Pacific:
South Pacific earned seven 2008 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Direction, Best Scenic Design, Best Costumes, Best Lighting and Best Sound.
A national tour of the LCT production is currently playing Toronto's Four Seasons Centre.
