Laura Osnes Tapped to Play Nellie Forbush in South Pacific

Laura Osnes has won the coveted role of Ensign Nellie Forbush in Lincoln Center Theater’s hit production of South Pacific. Osnes will begin her run on March 10 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, replacing Kelli O’Hara, who departs on March 7 to await the birth of her first child. O’Hara is scheduled to return from maternity leave on October 6.

Osnes recently starred on Broadway as Sandy in the revival of Grease, after having won the nationwide TV talent search Grease: You’re The One That I Want. She had been announced as a star of the forthcoming production of A Little Night Music at the White Plains Performing Arts Center but will be replaced by Erin Davie.

South Pacific also stars Paulo Szot as Emile de Becque with David Pittsinger filling in from March 10 through April 12, with Danny Burstein as Luther Billis, Loretta Ables Sayre as Bloody Mary and Andrew Samonsky as Lt. Joe Cable.

The cast also includes Eric Anderson, Matt Caplan, Sean Cullen, Murphy Guyer, Luka Kain, Li Jun Li, Laurissa Romain and Michael Arnold, Becca Ayers, Wendy Bergamini, Genson Blimline, Charlie Brady, Christian Carter, Eric L. Christian, Helmar Augustus Cooper, Margot de la Barre, Christian Delcroix, Laura Marie Duncan, Mike Evariste, Julie Foldesi, Rob Gallagher, Maryann Hu, Zachary James, Robert Lenzi, Deborah Lew, William Michals, Kimber Monroe, George Psomas, Greg Roderick and Jerold E. Solomon.