BWW Flashback: Tony-Winning Revival of THE KING AND I Celebrates First Year on Broadway Today

By: Apr. 17, 2016
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Over the past year, audiences have gotten to know Lincoln Center Theater's Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I, starring Tony-winner Kelli O'Hara, and it's safe to say, they're pretty much enraptured.

THE KING AND I celebrates its first anniversary on Broadway today, and though the performance will also mark a farewell to its two original stars, O'Hara and Tony nominee Ken Watanabe, a new Anna Leonowens and King of Siam will carry the musical into its second year.

On Tuesday, May 3, Daniel Dae Kim, star of the long-running television series "Lost" and "Hawaii Five-0," will make his Broadway debut as the King of Siam starring alongside 3-time Tony Award nominee Marin Mazzie as Anna. Prior to that, beginning Tuesday, April 19 through Sunday, May 1, Analisa Leaming will play the role of Anna opposite Jose Llana, who starred as the King last summer.

Directed by Bartlett Sher, the revival was the winner of four 2015 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical.

In honor of the show's anniversary, BroadwayWorld brings you a look back at THE KING AND I's first year on the Great White Way!


After much speculation, it was announced in 2014 that Broadway favorite Kelli O'Hara and Ken Watanabe would lead Bartlett Sher's upcoming revival of THE KING AND I at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Previews kicked off in early 2015 ahead of an opening night of April 16, 2015. Below, check out photos, highlights, and opening night coverage of the production!

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Paul Nakauchi

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Jake Lucas, Kelli O'Hara and company

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Ken Watanabe and company

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Ken Watanabe

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Ashley Park and Conrad Ricamora

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Ken Watanabe, Paul Nakauchi and company

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Ken Watanabe, Paul Nakauchi, Ashley Park and company

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Ken Watanabe

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Ruthie Ann Miles, Kelli O'Hara and company

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OLIVIA CHUN, LYNN MASAKO CHENG, Ken Watanabe, Kelli O'Hara (back to camera) and company

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Jon Viktor Corpuz, Kelli O'Hara, Ken Watanabe and company

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Conrad Ricamora

Kelli O'Hara, Ken Watanabe and More in THE KING AND I" src="https://cloudimages.broadwayworld.com/upload10/968773/tn-500_k5-91.jpg" />
Ashley Park and Conrad Ricamora

Kelli O'Hara, Ken Watanabe and More in THE KING AND I" src="https://cloudimages.broadwayworld.com/upload10/968773/tn-500_k5-98.jpg" />
Jon Viktor Corpuz

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Kelli O'Hara and Ken Watanabe

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Kelli O'Hara and company

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Ruthie Ann Miles and Kelli O'Hara

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Ken Watanabe and Kelli O'Hara

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Jon Viktor Corpuz and Jake Lucas

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Ken Watanabe, Edward Baker-Duly and Kelli O'Hara

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Ashley Park and Conrad Ricamora

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Kelli O'Hara (center) and company

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LaMae Capras, MICHIKO TAKEMASA, Sumie Maeda and company

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Cole Horibe and XIAOCHUAN XIE

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Bennyroyce Royon and company

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The company of THE KING AND I

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The company of THE KING AND I

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Kelli O'Hara, Ken Watanabe and company

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Kelli O'Hara

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Kelli O'Hara and Ken Watanabe

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Ashley Park and Ruthie Ann Miles

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Jake Lucas and Kelli O'Hara

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Ruthie Ann Miles

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Kelli O'Hara

Photos by Paul Kolnik


Lincoln Center


Ken Watanabe and Kelli O'Hara


Ken Watanabe and Kelli O'Hara


Kelli O'Hara


Ken Watanabe


Jake Lucas and Kelli O'Hara


Ruthie Ann Miles and Kelli O'Hara


Ruthie Ann Miles


Conrad Ricamora


Ashley Park


Jon Viktor Corpuz


Betsy Morgan


Jose Llana


Bartlett Sher and wife, Kristin Sanders


Ethan Halford Holder and Jake Lucas


Kristen Faith Oei


Edward Baker-Duly


Stephanie Jae Park, Aaron J. Albano, Sam Poon and Billy Bustamante


Christopher Vo and XiaoChaun Xie


Paul Nakauchi


Rommel Pierre O'Choa, Paul HeeSang Miller and Kelvin Moon Loh


The Children of The King and I

Photos by Kevin Thomas Garcia

Click here to check out what critics thought of THE KING AND I!

THE KING AND I was nominated for a whopping 9 Tony Awards in 2015. The production ultimately took home four, including Ruthie Ann Miles for 'Best Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical,' and of course, O'Hara's win for 'Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical,' also known as the Tony win heard 'round the world. Or at least the theatre industry. You can relive O'Hara's big moment below!

In February 2016, it was announced that three-time Tony nominee Marin Mazzie would replace O'Hara in THE KING AND I, and that Daniel Dae Kim would take over for the returning Watanabe. Previous Kings throughout the run included Hoon Lee and Jose Llana. In anticipation, Mazzie shared a sneak peek inside her costume fitting - check it out below!

BroadwayWorld sends a huge congrats to THE KING AND I's cast and creative team in celebrating its first year on the Great White Way - and waits eagerly for Mazzie and Kim to make the journey to Siam!



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