Whistle a Happy Tune! Ken Watanabe Makes a Royal Return to Broadway's The King And I

Something wonderful is happening at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater! After briefly stepping in for Hoon Lee as the King of Siam on March 1, Ken Watanabe will officially return to the role on March 17. Nominated for a Tony for his performance in the Tony-winning revival, Watanabe is set to once again star opposite Tony winner Kelli O’Hara. They are both scheduled to depart the production on April 17.

Watanabe received an Oscar nod for his performance in the 2004 film The Last Samurai. His additional film credits include Batman Begins, Inception, Letters from Iwo Jima and the 2014 reboot of Godzilla.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical, set in 1860s Bangkok, tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher, whom the imperious King brings to Siam to tutor his many wives and children.

Jose Llana, who previously succeeded Watanabe, will once again do so beginning April 19 for two weeks, alongside standby Analisa Leaming as Anna. On May 3, Daniel Dae Kim is scheduled to make his Broadway debut as the King for an eight-week run, while Tony nominee Marin Mazzie is set to officially replace O'Hara.

The current cast also includes Tony winner Ruthie Ann Miles as Lady Thiang, Conrad Ricamora as Lun Tha and Ashley Park as Tuptim.