One Two Three, And! The King and I, Starring Ken Watanabe & Kelli O'Hara, Begins on Broadway

Certainly cause to whistle a happy tune! The Broadway revival of The King and I begins performances at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre on March 12. The Bartlett Sher production stars Ken Watanabe and five-time Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara. Opening night for the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein tuner is scheduled for April 16.

The King and I is set in 1860’s Bangkok and tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam (Watanabe) and Anna Leonowens (O’Hara), a British schoolteacher, whom the imperious King brings to Siam to tutor his many wives and children. The musical’s score includes Getting To Know You, Hello Young Lovers, Shall We Dance, I Have Dreamed and Something Wonderful.

In addition to O’Hara and Watanabe, the (ginormous) cast includes Ruthie Ann Miles as Lady Thiang, Conrad Ricamora as Lun Tha, Ashley Park as Tuptim, Edward Baker-Duly as Sir Edward Ramsey, Jon Viktor Corpuz as Prince Chulalongkom, Murphy Guyer as Captain Orton, Jake Lucas as Louis, Paul Nakauchi as Kralahome and Marc Oka as Phra Alack.

The show first opened on Broadway on March 21, 1951 and earned five Tony Awards including Best Musical. The tuner has received three Broadway revivals, most recently in 1996 with a production starring Donna Murphy and Lou Diamond Phillips.