Hawai'i's Loretta Ables Sayre yesterday earned a 2008 Tony Award nomination for her role as Bloody Mary in the hit revival production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic "South Pacific." It's her first bid for theater's top prize and her first time on Broadway.

"I was weeping like a baby," said Ables Sayre, speaking by phone from New York, where she continues in the role. "I got two simultaneous phone calls from Bart Sher (director of "South Pacific") and Greg Zane (a former Islander) telling me I was nominated."

Ables Sayre, 50, is one of four cast members who earned nominations, among 11 total for "South Pacific." She is a contender for best performance by a featured actress in a musical. "South Pacific" also made the cut for best revival of a musical.

"I'm so ecstatic. I don't know what chance I have, but it doesn't matter. To be nominated in my very first show in New York and on Broadway. ... I'm just stunned," Ables Sayre said.

Sher, director of "South Pacific," said producers did a national search to find the perfect Bloody Mary — including widening the quest to Hawai'i.

Sher has relatives here. That's one reason they had a quick connection, he said — but Ables Sayre's performing abilities clinched the role.

"We saw everybody in the country; the one person I was interested in was Loretta. She not only had that enormous voice, she had an incredible fearlessness in acting, to be tough and ugly, as we say," Sher said. "We flew her to New York, and the more I worked with her, the better she got — the key indicator of someone's enormous talent."

Sher said Ables Sayre "has created an incredible Bloody Mary, which now has been recognized by the Tony nominating committee. And Alice Hammerstein, daughter of Oscar Hammerstein (co-creator of the musical), said that Loretta is the best Bloody Mary she's ever seen, and it's really true."

"She's incredibly brave in her work and dedicated. Audiences really love her. And I'm thrilled about her nomination. She could win, who knows? She is extraordinary," Sher said.

HAPPY TALK

In the musical, Ables Sayre delivers two of the show's hit songs, the haunting "Bali Ha'i" and the cynical and sprightly "Happy Talk," in her rendering of a souvenir-hawking Tonkinese woman.

Kelli O'Hara, nominated in another category for her portrayal of Ensign Nellie Forbush in the musical, was among the first to call the Islander to congratulate her after the nominations were announced yesterday.

"She made me cry," Ables Sayre said. "I just respect and admire her so much. Her call was gracious, beautiful. She said when she went to read the list (of nominees), the first thing she looked for was my name. Once she saw my name, everything was right for her, she told me."

Another early call came from Zane, the former Islander now based in New York, who frequently guest-directs at Diamond Head Theatre. "You got it, you got it!" he shouted.

"You know, it's really strange over here," said Ables Sayre, a novice on Broadway who is new to the Tony tradition. "I don't know if it's bad luck, but nobody talks about the awards (in advance).

"At Lincoln Center (where 'South Pacific' is on an open-ended run), you don't want to bachi (bad luck) anything. So no one talks. But they will" now that the nominations have been announced.

Ables Sayre said she was still in shock yesterday.

"Imagine coming from 'You Somebody' at Diamond Head Theatre to Lincoln Center to the Tony Awards. I would say it's whirlwind. I'm over the moon and up in the stars — elated and blessed."

The Tony Awards will be televised by CBS on June 15.

'PACIFIC' NOMINATIONS

Ables Sayre and the show have been widely praised since previews began April 1 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center.

The show has been extended to an open run, and tickets are being sold through early January.

Other key "South Pacific" nominations: