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Stage Production Notes
The King and I is based on the true story of Anna Leonowens, a Western woman who was invited by the King of Siam to Bangkok to tutor the King’s children. Leonowens published two memoirs The English Governess at the Siamese Court (1870), and Siamese Harem Life (1873). Writer Margaret Landon adapted Leonowens’ memoirs into a novel in 1944. The novel was made into a popular film in 1946 starring Irene Dunn and Rex Harrison.
Gertrude Lawrence, seeking a new project to showcase her talents, bought the stage rights to Landon’s novel. She approached Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers who took on the project, reportedly following encouragement from their spouses.
Following previews in New Haven, Connecticut, The King and I opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on March 29, 1951. Gertrude Lawrence played Anna, and Yul Brenner played The King (a role he would perform over 4,500 times).
With a budget of $360,000, The King and I was the most expensive Rodgers and Hammerstein musical to date and, according to the Rodgers and Hammerstein Foundation, “one of the most lavish in Broadway history.”
The musical received lukewarm reviews. Critics were unimpressed by the score, and felt that the musical was not as strong as Oklahoma! or South Pacific.
Despite the critics (who, in reviewing revivals, later adjusted their assessments of the show’s success as a musical), The King and I was nominated for 5 Tony Awards. It won all 5, including Best Musical, Best Actress in a Musical (Gertrude Lawrence), Best Featured Actor (Yul Brenner), Best Scenic Design (Jo Mielziner), and Best Costume Design (Irene Sharaff).
Gertrude Lawrence was ill throughout the first year of the Broadway run, and died from cancer on September 6, 1952. Constance Carpenter, Annamary Dickey, Celeste Holm, and Patricia Morison all subsequently played the role of Anna during the musical’s original run.
After 1246 performances, The King and I closed on March 20, 1954.
The King and I opened on the West End at the Drury Lane on October 9, 1953.
The musical was adapted for film by Twentieth Century-Fox in 1956 starring Deborah Kerr (whose singing voice was provided by Marni Nixon), and Yul Brenner. The film was nominated for 9 Oscars, winning 5, including Best Actor in a Leading Role (Yul Brenner), Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, and Best Music.
Warner Bros released a critically panned animated children’s version of the musical in 1999.
The King and I has been revived on Broadway four times, including at the Uris Theatre (now Gershwin Theatre) in 1977, the Martin Beck (now Al Hirschfeld Theatre) in 1985, the Neil Simon Theatre in 1996 (a re-staging of the influential 1991 Australian production directed by Christopher Renshaw), and the Vivian Beaumont at Lincoln Center in 2015.
The Lincoln Center Theater revival was developed by the same creative team who had successfully revived South Pacific in 2010, including director Barlett Sher, musical director Ted Sperling, and choreographer Christopher Gattelli.
Starring Kelli O’Hara, Ken Watanabe, and Ruthie Ann Miles, the Lincoln Center Theater revival opened on April 16, 2015.
The revival received rave reviews and was nominated for a slew of awards, including 9 Tony Awards. It won 4 Tonys, including Best Actress in a Musical (Kelli O’Hara), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Catherine Zuber), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Ruthie Ann Miles), and Best Revival of a Musical.
The Lincoln Center Theater revival played for 499 performances before closing on June 26, 2016. The production shortly after began a national tour.
The King and I transferred to the West End in 2018. For more information see Filmed Production Notes below. It was the third West End revival of The King and I.
According to dramaturgy prepared by the Olney Theatre Centre in 2013, The King and I, along with other adaptations of Anna Leonowens’ writings, are banned in Thailand “where the government claims they misrepresent King Mongkut…” Communications and Media Studies scholar Dr. Caron Dann has noted that while Leonowens’ books were banned in Thailand during the nineteenth and early twentieth century, they are available for purchase in English-language bookshops.
Over the years, The King and I has faced criticism for “yellowface casting,” where non-Asian actors are cast in Asian roles. The 1991 Australian production directed by Christopher Renshaw was reportedly the first time all the Asian roles were portrayed by Asian actors.
The King and I is based on the true story of Anna Leonowens, a Western woman who was invited by the King of Siam to Bangkok to tutor the King’s children. Leonowens published two memoirs The English Governess at the Siamese Court (1870), and Siamese Harem Life (1873). Writer Margaret Landon adapted Leonowens’ memoirs into a novel in 1944. The novel was made into a popular film in 1946 starring Irene Dunn and Rex Harrison.
Gertrude Lawrence, seeking a new project to showcase her talents, bought the stage rights to Landon’s novel. She approached Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers who took on the project, reportedly following encouragement from their spouses.
Following previews in New Haven, Connecticut, The King and I opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on March 29, 1951. Gertrude Lawrence played Anna, and Yul Brenner played The King (a role he would perform over 4,500 times).
With a budget of $360,000, The King and I was the most expensive Rodgers and Hammerstein musical to date and, according to the Rodgers and Hammerstein Foundation, “one of the most lavish in Broadway history.”
The musical received lukewarm reviews. Critics were unimpressed by the score, and felt that the musical was not as strong as Oklahoma! or South Pacific.
Despite the critics (who, in reviewing revivals, later adjusted their assessments of the show’s success as a musical), The King and I was nominated for 5 Tony Awards. It won all 5, including Best Musical, Best Actress in a Musical (Gertrude Lawrence), Best Featured Actor (Yul Brenner), Best Scenic Design (Jo Mielziner), and Best Costume Design (Irene Sharaff).
Gertrude Lawrence was ill throughout the first year of the Broadway run, and died from cancer on September 6, 1952. Constance Carpenter, Annamary Dickey, Celeste Holm, and Patricia Morison all subsequently played the role of Anna during the musical’s original run.
After 1246 performances, The King and I closed on March 20, 1954.
The King and I opened on the West End at the Drury Lane on October 9, 1953.
The musical was adapted for film by Twentieth Century-Fox in 1956 starring Deborah Kerr (whose singing voice was provided by Marni Nixon), and Yul Brenner. The film was nominated for 9 Oscars, winning 5, including Best Actor in a Leading Role (Yul Brenner), Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, and Best Music.
Warner Bros released a critically panned animated children’s version of the musical in 1999.
The King and I has been revived on Broadway four times, including at the Uris Theatre (now Gershwin Theatre) in 1977, the Martin Beck (now Al Hirschfeld Theatre) in 1985, the Neil Simon Theatre in 1996 (a re-staging of the influential 1991 Australian production directed by Christopher Renshaw), and the Vivian Beaumont at Lincoln Center in 2015.
The Lincoln Center Theater revival was developed by the same creative team who had successfully revived South Pacific in 2010, including director Barlett Sher, musical director Ted Sperling, and choreographer Christopher Gattelli.
Starring Kelli O’Hara, Ken Watanabe, and Ruthie Ann Miles, the Lincoln Center Theater revival opened on April 16, 2015.
The revival received rave reviews and was nominated for a slew of awards, including 9 Tony Awards. It won 4 Tonys, including Best Actress in a Musical (Kelli O’Hara), Best Costume Design of a Musical (Catherine Zuber), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Ruthie Ann Miles), and Best Revival of a Musical.
The Lincoln Center Theater revival played for 499 performances before closing on June 26, 2016. The production shortly after began a national tour.
The King and I transferred to the West End in 2018. For more information see Filmed Production Notes below. It was the third West End revival of The King and I.
According to dramaturgy prepared by the Olney Theatre Centre in 2013, The King and I, along with other adaptations of Anna Leonowens’ writings, are banned in Thailand “where the government claims they misrepresent King Mongkut…” Communications and Media Studies scholar Dr. Caron Dann has noted that while Leonowens’ books were banned in Thailand during the nineteenth and early twentieth century, they are available for purchase in English-language bookshops.
Over the years, The King and I has faced criticism for “yellowface casting,” where non-Asian actors are cast in Asian roles. The 1991 Australian production directed by Christopher Renshaw was reportedly the first time all the Asian roles were portrayed by Asian actors.
Filmed Production Notes
The Lincoln Center Theater production transferred to the West End for a limited engagement, opening at the London Palladium on June 21, 2018. Kelli O’Hara, Ken Watanabe, and Ruthie Ann Miles all reprised their Broadway roles.
The transfer received rave reviews. While critics noted the show still struggled with racist overtones, they praised the nuances in Bartlett Sher’s direction and Kelli O’Hara’s outstanding performance.
During its run at the London Palladium, The King and I was filmed live by Trafalgar Releasing. Formerly known as Picturehouse Entertainment, Trafalgar Releasing is also responsible for distributing An American in Paris, Funny Girl, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live.
The London transfer closed on September 29, 2018.
Trafalgar Releasing screened The King and I: From the Palladium in cinemas around the world on November 29, 2018 Encore screenings were held in the USA on December 4, 2018.
The King and I was released on BroadwayHD in 2019.
During the COVID-19 shutdown, BroadwayHD partnered with Playbill and the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization to present a free stream of The King and I. The stream was aired on BroadwayHD May 8 at 8pm, and available for 48 hours. Playbill also released a special online program for the musical.
The Lincoln Center Theater production transferred to the West End for a limited engagement, opening at the London Palladium on June 21, 2018. Kelli O’Hara, Ken Watanabe, and Ruthie Ann Miles all reprised their Broadway roles.
The transfer received rave reviews. While critics noted the show still struggled with racist overtones, they praised the nuances in Bartlett Sher’s direction and Kelli O’Hara’s outstanding performance.
During its run at the London Palladium, The King and I was filmed live by Trafalgar Releasing. Formerly known as Picturehouse Entertainment, Trafalgar Releasing is also responsible for distributing An American in Paris, Funny Girl, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show Live.
The London transfer closed on September 29, 2018.
Trafalgar Releasing screened The King and I: From the Palladium in cinemas around the world on November 29, 2018 Encore screenings were held in the USA on December 4, 2018.
The King and I was released on BroadwayHD in 2019.
During the COVID-19 shutdown, BroadwayHD partnered with Playbill and the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization to present a free stream of The King and I. The stream was aired on BroadwayHD May 8 at 8pm, and available for 48 hours. Playbill also released a special online program for the musical.
The King and I is not currently available to view.
The King and I PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: The London Palladium
Producer: Lincoln Center Theater, Trafalgar Entertainment Group, GWB Entertainment, BookMyShow, Tokyu Theatre Orb
Book and Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Music: Richard Rodgers
Director: Bartlett Sher
Musical Supervisor: Ted Sperling
UK Musical Director: Stephen Ridley
Orchestrations: Robert Russell Bennet
Dance arrangements and incidental music: Trude Ritmann
Choreography: Christopher Gattelli, based on the original choreography by Jerome Robbins
Scenic Design: Michael Yeargan
Costume Design: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Design: Donald Holder
Sound Design: Scott Lehrer
Cast:
Kelli O’Hara (Anna), Ken Watanabe (The King), Ruthie Ann Miles (Lady Thiang), Dean John-Wilson (Lun Tha), Na-Young Jeon (Tuptim), Takao Osawa (The Kralahome), Jon Chew (Prince Chulalongkorn), Edward Baker-Duly (Sir Edward Ramsay/Captain Orton), Annalene Beechey, Kamm Kunaree, Jacqui Sanchez, Miiya Alexandra, Ena Yamaguchi, Ela Lisondra, Aiko Kato, Lily Wang, Yuki Abe, Saori Oda, Misa Koide, William Mychael Lee, Alistair So, Arthur Lee, Jorge Sprangers, Jonathan Caguioa, Cletus Chan, Jesse Milligan, Nick Len, Steven Hardcastle, Nicholas Li, Rachel Jayne-Picar, Jasmine Leung.
Theatre: The London Palladium
Producer: Lincoln Center Theater, Trafalgar Entertainment Group, GWB Entertainment, BookMyShow, Tokyu Theatre Orb
Book and Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein II
Music: Richard Rodgers
Director: Bartlett Sher
Musical Supervisor: Ted Sperling
UK Musical Director: Stephen Ridley
Orchestrations: Robert Russell Bennet
Dance arrangements and incidental music: Trude Ritmann
Choreography: Christopher Gattelli, based on the original choreography by Jerome Robbins
Scenic Design: Michael Yeargan
Costume Design: Catherine Zuber
Lighting Design: Donald Holder
Sound Design: Scott Lehrer
Cast:
Kelli O’Hara (Anna), Ken Watanabe (The King), Ruthie Ann Miles (Lady Thiang), Dean John-Wilson (Lun Tha), Na-Young Jeon (Tuptim), Takao Osawa (The Kralahome), Jon Chew (Prince Chulalongkorn), Edward Baker-Duly (Sir Edward Ramsay/Captain Orton), Annalene Beechey, Kamm Kunaree, Jacqui Sanchez, Miiya Alexandra, Ena Yamaguchi, Ela Lisondra, Aiko Kato, Lily Wang, Yuki Abe, Saori Oda, Misa Koide, William Mychael Lee, Alistair So, Arthur Lee, Jorge Sprangers, Jonathan Caguioa, Cletus Chan, Jesse Milligan, Nick Len, Steven Hardcastle, Nicholas Li, Rachel Jayne-Picar, Jasmine Leung.
Sources
Books
Articles
Websites
- Dan Dietz, The Complete Book of 1950s Broadway Musicals, Rowman & Littlefield (2014)
- Thomas S. Hischak, The Rodgers and Hammerstein Encyclopedia, Greenwood Press (2007)
Articles
- Tim Bano, “The King and I review at London Palladium – ‘an opulent and intelligent revival’” The Stage (July 3, 2018)
- Michael Billington, “The King and I review – spirited revival of a problematic classic,” The Guardian (July 3, 2018)
- Caron Eastgate Dann, “Before The King and I: Reappraising Anna Leonowens and her memoirs of nineteenth-century Siam,” The Journal of the Oriental Society of Australia, Vol 44 (2012), pp. 67-99.
- Andrew Gans, “London Revival of The King and I, Starring Kelli O’Hara and Ken Watanabe, Filmed for Movie Theatres Worldwide,” Playbill (Aug 23, 2018)
- Brent Lang, “West End Hits ‘Funny Girl,’ ‘Red’ Coming to Theaters Thanks to Trafalgar Releasing,” Variety (Oct 22, 2018)
- Brendan Lemon, “A Few Works About Anna,” Lincoln Center Theater Blog (Feb 23, 2015)
- Brendan Lemon, “Why Bartlett Sher Wanted to do The King and I,” Lincoln Center Theater Blog (Mar 5, 2015)
- Ryan McPhee, “Watch the Trailer for London's The King and I Before It Arrives in Movie Theatres,” Playbill (Sept 20, 2018)
- Mark Peikart, “Join Playbill May 8 for a Movie Night With Rodgers & Hammerstein’s The King and I Starring Kelli O'Hara and Ken Watanabe,” Playbill (May 8, 2020)
- Leah Price, “The Nanny,” New York Times (Oct 10, 2008)
Websites
- The King and I: A dramaturgical look at Olney Theatre Centre’s 2013 production, “Anna Leonowens,” Accessed via: https://kingandiolney.wordpress.com/historical-context/anna-leonowens/
- The King and I: A dramaturgical look at Olney Theatre Centre’s 2013 production, “Creation of ‘The King and I’” Accessed via: https://kingandiolney.wordpress.com/the-play/sources/
- The King and I Musical, Accessed via: https://kingandimusical.co.uk/
- The King and I Musical Cinema, Accessed via: https://us.kingandimusicalcinema.com/
- Trafalgar Releasing, “About,” Accessed via: https://www.trafalgar-releasing.com/about/
- UK Theatre Web, “The King and I,” Accessed via: https://www.uktw.co.uk/archive/musical/the-king-and-i/L1630361952/
Written by Luisa Lyons (November, 2018, updated May, 2020)