Jason Scott Lee to Star Opposite Lisa McCune in THE KING AND I Australian Tour

Leading Australian theatre producer John Frost and Opera Australia Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini last night announced that the role of the King in the 2014 Melbourne season of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic Broadway musical The King and I will be played by international stage and screen star Jason Scott Lee.

Lee will play opposite Lisa McCune in the Tony Award-winning Australian production, which is being revived next year by John Frost and Opera Australia. Lee played the role to great acclaim previously in Frost's production at the London Palladium in 2000-2001 opposite Elaine Paige.

Born in Los Angeles, Lee was raised in Hawaii and is of Chinese-Hawaiian descent. Although best known for his feature film roles, including the title role in the biopic Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Map of the Human Heart, Rapa Nui, Soldier and Lilo and Stitch, he has had an extensive stage career. Lee made his operatic debut in the non-singing role of Pasha Selim in Hawaii Opera Theatre's production of Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio in Honolulu in 2009.

"I'm thrilled that Jason has a gap in his schedule which enables him to join the production for the Melbourne season," said John Frost. "Jason made a wonderful King in this production at the London Palladium in 2000 and received rave reviews. He brought a real authority to the role and sang it beautifully. I know Melbourne will be enchanted by Jason Scott Lee and The King and I."

"We have assembled a wonderful cast for The King and I, and I look forward to working with Jason Scott Lee for the first time. I know this production will be as magnificent as the original, which is remembered as a milestone in Australian theatrical history, and it's a great joy to be working with my friend John Frost again following our huge success with South Pacific," said Lyndon Terracini.

"He (Jason Scott Lee) is utterly convincing as the King, with sharp timing and delivery. He is very adept at capturing both the compassion and humour of the King, along with his menacing presence." -Darren Dalglish, London Theatre Archive.

The King and I was Rodgers and Hammerstein's fifth musical together and is considered one of the jewels in their crown. It was based on Margaret Landon's 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam, which took its inspiration from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, a British governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam (now Thailand) in the early 1860s. The beautiful score includes the songs "I Whistle a Happy Tune", "Getting to Know You", "Shall We Dance?" and "Hello, Young Lovers".

The King and I also stars Chinese-born Australian opera singer Shu-Cheen Yu as Lady Thiang, and Adrian Li Donni as Lun Tha, and is directed by Christopher Renshaw.

The King and I opens in Brisbane at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre in April 2014, then moves to the Princess Theatre, Melbourne in June, followed by a Sydney season at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House in September.

For more about the production, visit www.thekingandimusical.com.au.

SEASON DETAILS:

Lyric Theatre, QPAC, Brisbane

Season: From 15 April, 2014

Performance Times: Wed-Sat 7.30pm, Matinees Tues, Wed & Sat 1.30pm & Sun 3pm

Price: From $69.90*

Bookings: qpac.com.au or phone 136 246

Groups of 10 or more 07 3840 7466

Premium Tickets & Packages visit SHOWBIZ.COM.AU or 1300 4 SHOWS

Princess Theatre, Melbourne

Season: From 10 June, 2014

Performance Times: Wed-Sat 7.30pm, Matinees Tues & Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm & Sun 3pm

Price: From $79.90*

Bookings: Ticketmaster.com.au or phone 1300 111 011

Groups of 10 or more call 1300 889 278

Premium Tickets & Packages visit SHOWBIZ.COM.AU or 1300 4 SHOWS

Tickets on sale 25 November

Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House

Season: From 9 September

Performance Times: Wed-Sat 7.30pm, Matinees Tues & Wed 1pm, Sat 2pm & Sun 3pm

Price: From $59.90*

Bookings: sydneyoperahouse.com or 9250 7777

Ticketmaster.com.au or phone 1300 723 038

Groups of 10 or more call 02 8240 2290

Premium Tickets & Packages visit SHOWBIZ.COM.AU or 1300 4 SHOWS

* An additional transaction fee and/or a credit/debit payment processing fee may apply

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