Matthew Morrison, Danny Burstein Join the Cast of South Pacific

Tony nominees Matthew Morrison and Danny Burstein have joined the cast of Lincoln Center Theater's forthcoming Broadway production of South Pacific. Morrison has been cast as Lt. Joseph Cable and Burstein will play Luther Billis, joining the previously announced Kelli O'Hara as Nellie Forbush, Paulo Szot as Emile de Becque and Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary. Directed by Bartlett Sher, the production will begin previews on March 1, 2008, and open on April 3 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.

South Pacific features music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener, the original production was directed by Joshua Logan.

Morrison was nominated for a Tony for creating the role of Fabrizio in the musical The Light in the Piazza at the Beaumont. His other Broadway credits include A Naked Girl on the Appian Way, Hairspray, The Rocky Horror Show and Footloose. He appeared off-Broadway last summer in the musical 10 Million Miles. TV and film credits include Dan in Real Life, Marci X, Primary Colors, Numb3rs, Ghost Whisperer, CSI:Miami, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Once Upon A Mattress.

Burstein received a Tony nomination for his performance in The Drowsy Chaperone and has appeared on Broadway in A Class Act, Titanic, Company, The Seagull, Saint Joan, A Little Hotel on the Side and Three Men on A Horse. He has appeared off-Broadway in Mrs. Farnsworth, All in the Timing, I Love You You're Perfect Now Change, Merrily We Roll Along and Weird Romance. His many TV credits include Absolutely Fabulous, Ed, Third Watch and all three versions of Law & Order.

The Lincoln Center Theater production of South Pacific will have musical staging by Christopher Gattelli, sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by Donald Holder and sound by Scott Lehrer. Musical director Ted Sperling will conduct a 30-piece orchestra performing the musical's original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett and dance and incidental music arrangements by Trude Rittman. Additional members of the cast of 40 will be announced at a later date.