Lincoln Center's Tony-winning revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific will not open at the West End's London Palladium this fall as previously speculated, according to the U.K.'s Daily Mail. The production was hoping to reunite Tony winner Paolo Szot and Samantha Womack, who starred as Emile de Becque and Nellie Forbush, respecitviely, when the production played London's Barbican Theatre in 2011. Szot however was unable to commit to the run.
Based on the book Tales of the South Pacific, the musical follows the love story between a young nurse and a Frenchman involved in a World War II military mission. The Lincoln Center revival opened on Broadway on April 3, 2008 and starred Szot, Kelli O'Hara, Danny Burstein, Loretta Ables Sayre and Matthew Morrison. Directed by Bartlett Sher, the production earned seven Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical.
Womack is currently starring as Nellie in the U.K. touring cast of South Pacific.