Before checking my story archive, I had nearly forgotten that a Broadway in Chicago national tour of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein's Tony-winning musical "South Pacific" had docked for a short run in Chicago back in October 2001.

Maybe this memory lapse was partly due to the haze and daze that followed the devastation of Sept. 11, 2001. In any case, it's been a long time since a national tour of this musical favorite played the Windy City.

Well, Bob Boyett and NETworks Presentations just announced casting for The Lincoln Center Theater's production. Directed by Bartlett Sher, "South Pacific" opens Tuesday at the Rosemont Theatre for one week. It sets sail on Sunday, Nov. 29.

During an interview in 2000, Chicago native Mitzi Gaynor, now 78 and the star of the 1958 motion picture, described the music and plot as "a timeless tale that audiences love to revisit.

"I don't know of any musical like this one which can weave a story of romance and adventure with so many clever songs that audiences leave a theater singing for days after," said Gaynor, then with a Las Vegas show at the Star Plaza Theatre.

"It was 'South Pacific' that make coconut bras and grass skirts famous on stage," she said.

Gaynor said another reason why she loves "South Pacific" is because it provided her with her trademark song, "I'm Gonna Wash that Man Right Out of My Hair."

"No matter what fans might forget, that's a stage song they will remember always," Gaynor said.

This latest Chicago engagement of "South Pacific" will be led by renowned bass-baritone David Pittsinger, who recently portrayed Angelotti in "Tosca" at the Metropolitan Opera, as Emile de Becque, with Carmen Cusack as Nellie Forbush. The cast includes Anderson Davis as Lt. Cable, Matthew Saldivar as Luther Billis, Keala Settle as Bloody Mary, Gerry Becker as Capt. Brackett, Peter Rini as Cmdr. Harbison, Sumie Maeda as Liat, and Rusty Ross as Professor . Genson Blimline, a cast member of the 2008 Broadway revival, is Stewpot with Christina Carrera as Ngana and CJ Palma as Jerome. 

The ensemble includes Christopher Carl, Eric L. Christian (from the Broadway production), Jacqueline Colmer, Mike Evairste (from the Broadway production), Kate Fahrner, Nicholas Galbraith, Alexis G.B. Holt, Chad Jennings, Christopher Johnstone, Kristie Kerwin, Jodi Kimura, Joe Langworth, Maxine Linehan, Diane Phelan, John Pinto Jr, Travis Robertson, Josh Rouah, Tally Sessions, Kristen J. Smith, Matt Stokes, Gregory Williams and Victor Wisehart.

The show swept the 2008 Tony Awards, winning seven honors including best musical revival and best director.

Based on James Michener's Pulitzer-winning book "Tales of the South Pacific," the stage show has music by Rodgers, lyrics by Hammerstein and a book also by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan.

Set on a tropical island during World War II, the musical tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples -- US Navy nurse Nellie Forbush and French plantation owner Emile de Becque, and Navy Airman Joe Cable and a young local native girl Liat -- and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and prejudice. Considered by many the finest musical ever written, the score includes classics such as "Some Enchanted Evening," "Younger Than Springtime," "Bali Ha'i" and "There is Nothin' Like A Dame."

This lavish new production features a cast of 34, musical staging by Christopher Gattelli, sets by Michael Yeargan (winner of the 2008 Tony ), costumes by Catherine Zuber (winner of a Tony), lighting by Donald Holder (another Tony winner). sound by Scott Lehrer (ditto) and music direction by Ted Sperling.  A 26-member orchestra, the largest of any touring Broadway production, will perform the original orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett.

For this run at Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, tickets are $39.50 - $79.50 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000. 

For more information, visit SouthPacificOnTour.com or RosemontTheatre.com. 

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or 219.852.4327.

Today's Celebrity Birthdays

Actor Michael Gough (Alfred in "Batman" movies) is 91. Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas ("Basic Instinct," "Showgirls") is 65. Actor Steve Landesberg ("Barney Miller") is 64. Comedy writer Bruce Vilanch ("Hollywood Squares") is 62. Singer Bruce Hornsby is 55. Actor Maxwell Caulfield ("The Colbys") is 50. Actor John Henton ("The Hughleys," "Living Single") and "Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts are 49. Singer-guitarist Ken Block of Sister Hazel and drummer Charlie Grover of Sponge are 43. Actress Salli Richardson-Whitfield ("Family Law") is 42. Actor Oded Fehr ("The Mummy") is 39. Rapper Kurupt of Tha Dogg Pound is 37. Actor Page Kennedy ("Desperate Housewives") is 33. Actress Kelly Brook ("Smallville") is 30. Actor Lucas Grabeel ("High School Musical") is 25. Singer-actress Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana") is 17. Actor Austin Majors ("NYPD Blue") is 14.