Rodgers & Hammerstein’s

The King and I

 

The King and I is a musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II based on the book Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon. The plot comes from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became school teacher to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. Leonowen’s story, The English Governess at the Siamese Court, was autobiographical, although her biographer, Susan Morgan, author of the 2008 biography Bombay Anna has discovered numerous inaccuracies and fabrications. The musical opened on Broadway in 1951 and was the sixth collaboration for the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It ran for 1,246 performances, winning the Tony Award for Best Musical, among other awards. It spawned numerous revivals and a popular 1956 film version.

Starring Ken Watanabe and Kelli O’Hara photo by Paul Kolnik

 

 

Tony winner Bartlett Sher (South Pacific) directs this classic tale of a British schoolteacher’s unexpected relationship with the imperious King of Siam. Featuring a cast of more than 50, choreography based on the original by Jerome Robbins, and a score of treasured songs including “Getting to Know You,” “I Whistle a Happy Tune” and “Shall We Dance?” in their glorious, original orchestrations, Lincoln Center Theater’s new staging of THE KING AND I invites you to get to know this inspiring and enchanting musical classic.

Mary Rodgers and the Legacy of Rodgers and Hammerstein
Mary Rodgers memorial, to be held this Monday, at New York’s Town Hall, and the imminent Lincoln Center Theater revival of THE KING AND I, I have been thinking about the legacy of R & H  their exuberant days — and why it continues to exert such a tidal pull on theatregoers around the world.

 

Coming to The Beaumont Theatre Lincoln Center

Previews Start March 12, 2015

Cast

Kelli Ohara as Anna Leonowens

Ken Watanabe – King of Siam

More TBA

 

Creative Team

Bartlett Sher – Director
Richard Rodgers – Music
Oscar Hammerstein II – Book and Lyrics
Margaret Landon – Author of the novel, Anna and the King of Siam
Ted Sperling – Music Direction
Christopher Gattelli – Choreography
Jerome Robbins – Original Choreography
Michael Yeargan – Sets
Catherine Zuber – Costumes
Donald Holder – Lighting
Scott Lehrer – Sound
Robert Russell Bennett – Orchestrations
Trude Rittmann – Dance & Incidental Music Arrangements
Telsey + Company -Casting
Jennifer Rae Moore – Production Stage Manager