Samantha Womack Extends in SOUTH PACIFIC Tour

Samantha Womack is now confirmed to be playing Nellie Forbush for additional cities in 2012 on the current nationwide tour of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical SOUTH PACIFIC. Originally, she was going to finish in Oxford, but it is now confirmed that she will continue in the tour in Southampton, Birmingham and Liverpool.

The nationwide tour of SOUTH PACIFIC opens in Milton Keynes on 12 October. Along with Samantha, Welsh National Opera star Jason Howard will be playing Emile de Becque (N.B. Tony Award-winning international opera star Paulo Szot will reprise the role of Emile in Oxford from 21-31 December), New York's Tony Award-nominated Loretta Ables Sayre Bloody Mary, Daniel Koek Lt Joe Cable and Alex Ferns Luther Billis.

The cast features Elizabeth Chong as Liat, Cameron Jack as Stewpot, Luke Kempner as Seabee/Professor, Dominic Taylor as Commander Harbison and Nigel Williams as Captain Brackett, with Carly Anderson, Jill Armour, James Austen-Murray, Chris Bennett, Lawrence Carmichael, Mairi Cowieson, Matthew Crowe, Stephen John Davis, Lisa Dent, Eddie Elliott, Chris Jenkins, Maria Lawson, Nyron Levy, Dean Maynard, Adam Pritchard, Dominic Smith, Mikel Sylvanus, Jacqueline Tate, Danny Whitehead, Bleu Woodward and Nick Wyschna.

Bartlett Sher's hailed production of SOUTH PACIFIC reinvented the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical and played to sold-out houses on Broadway for two years. This was the first Broadway production the Rodgers & Hammerstein Estate had allowed to be staged since the musical originally opened in 1949 and ran for almost five years. Considered one of the finest musicals ever written, the score includes Some Enchanted Evening, I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair, Bali Ha'i, I'm in Love with a Wonderful Guy, Younger than Springtime, Happy Talk and There is Nothin' Like a Dame.

Set on a tropical island during World War II, this is the sweeping romantic story of two couples, threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. Its portrayal of Americans stationed in an unfamiliar culture in wartime remains as relevant today as when it first thrilled audiences.

Featuring a cast of 40 and live orchestra of 18, this is a ravishing and breathtaking production, which has been brought to the UK by the entire Lincoln Center creative team, led by director Bartlett Sher, with musical staging my Christopher Gattelli, sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Donald Holder, sound by Scott Lehrer, musical supervision by Ted Sperling and original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett. Musical direction is by Jae Alexander.

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