Autumn Ogawa will portray Mei-Li and Brad Mezurashi will be Ta, in Diamond Head Theatre's production of the David Henry Hwang version of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic "Flower Drum Song," opening March 21.

Greg Zane will guest-direct and choreograph, with Judy Yoshioka conducting the orchestra.

This "Flower Drum" made its debut on Broadway in 2002, updating the beloved original 1958 production, but still set in San Francisco's Chinatown.

Mei-Li is a Chinese immigrant seeking a new life in America by singing Chinese opera at the Golden Pearl theater. However, the theater owner's son, Ta, has a vision for a more Americanized show — and hires stripper Linda Low (played by Kathryn Lee).

The story embraces generational conflicts with romance and boasts the riches of Rodgers & Hammerstein's score featuring such classics as "A Hundred Million Miracles," "I Enjoy Being a Girl," "I Am Going to Like It Here" and "Love Look Away."

The cast also features Will Kahele as Wang, Cathy Foy-Mahi as Madame Liang, Gordon Ing as Chin, Kenji Higashihama as Harvard, and Cole Horibe as Chao.

The original show featured Lea Salonga as Mei-Li and a couple of Hawai'i stars: Randall Duk Him as Wang and Alvin Ing as Chin.

The production runs through April 6, with 8 p.m. curtain time Thursdays through Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays. Saturday matinees are slated at 3 p.m. March 29 and April 5.

Tickets: $12 to $42, with discounts for students, seniors 62 and older and active-duty military.

Reservations: 733-0274, www.diamondheadtheatre.com.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.