Lincoln Center confirms King & I revival with Sher directing

[jnb9872]

After SOUTH PACIFIC, GOLDEN BOY, JOE TURNER and others, there are few companies and creatives I'd rather trust with putting on a glorious, traditional revival of a classic than LCT & Sher together. I hope this lives up to their stellar track record (with revivals, sorry WOMEN ON THE VERGE.)

[haterobics]

"Kelli O'Hara will definitely sell tickets."

You may want to get your short-term memory checked.

[madbrian]

Until we hear an official announcement, I'll hold out hope for Kate Baldwin as Anna.

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Baldwin's attached to Can-Can so she may not be available. I know that's set for a fall debut at Papermill but the official word is that's a pre-production in advance of Broadway. Is there a timeline for a Broadway transfer for Can-Can?

Of course they could always recast which would open her up for King & I. I like Kate Baldwin but I had my heart set on Megan Hilty but she got pregnant...

Kelli's the obvious choice seeing as it's Sherr doing Rodgers and Hammerstein at Lincoln Center. If she doesn't pick up a Tony tomorrow, Anna has a way of snagging trophies for actresses and I can't imagine them passing on her AGAIN. However, I must admit the idea of Laura Benanti in the role piques my interest. She could pull it off beautifully, finding humour where other actresses never would and she seems less obvious than Ms. O'Hara.

[HenryTDobson]

"Kelli O'Hara will definitely sell tickets."

Right! Just like she did for Bridges... oh wait...

[E.Davis]

I know Megan had been attached to Can Can, but hopefully if it is intended to move in the spring to Broadway she will be with the production.

[ljay889]

O'Hara confirmed two months that she's in talks for the role.
http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/189677-DIVA-TALK-A-Conversation-With-Four-Time-Tony-Nominee-and-Bridges-of-Madison-County-Star-Kelli-OHara/pg4

I don't even think there's a slight chance that it won't be her.

[jo]

>>>>Wishful thinking: Lea Salonga as Lady Thiang.<<<

I've thought about the same thing, too.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Bleugh... No way, not a chance. Thiang is written specifically for a classically trained, operatic-style singer, and Sher is directing - no way he won't get an opera singer for this role.

[Susanswerphone]

I'm bored just thinking about it. Sorry, but it's just not that great of a show.

[CurtainPullDowner]

I think it's the best thing R&H ever wrote. IMO. One of the most original "love" stories ever, and the ending is incredibly moving. And contains at least a half a dozen classic songs. What's not to love? And cute kids too!

[haterobics]

"I'm bored just thinking about it. Sorry, but it's just not that great of a show."

Easiest fix ever: Stop thinking about it and don't go.

[Susanswerphone]

Maybe it's who I saw, not what I saw. First time around it was Yul Brynner and Mary Beth Peil. The one standout was June Angela. She was mesmerizing!. Brynner and Peil? Meh. Just OK. Second time around it was Lou Diamond Phillips and Donna Murphy and, well...I left at intermission because I couldn't wrap my head around LDP. It seemed like Donna was having a hard time with it as well. I do adore Kelli and am really looking forward to her Valencienne at the Met (New Year's Eve)! Sooo, chances are I'll probably see this at some point. But, for God's sake, give her someone worthy (and HOT) as her King!

[haterobics]

So you're merely bored by the speculative casting of a production of a future show that has yet to have a single rehearsal?

To be fair, that is the flip side of the other side of the BWW debate, where Kelli is already nominated for a Tony for this production.

[CurtainPullDowner]

And she's already lost this year because she will win next year! (head slap)

[SidebySidebyLogan]

"To be fair, that is the flip side of the other side of the BWW debate, where Kelli is already nominated for a Tony for this production."

"And she's already lost this year because she will win next year! (head slap)"

I get the ridiculousness of that kind of thinking. I see it as ridiculous but then I find myself thinking that way! :S

I have to second someone's comment that this announcement came at sort of an awkward, almost disadvantageous time. I know that is a ridiculous statement as well. Why would Lincoln Center do anything to hurt O'Hara's chances at winning? In the event that she did take home a trophy every poster for The King & I would be topped with STARRING TONY AWARD WINNER KELLI O'HARA. But of every actress on Broadway she has the most agreed upon reputation of "always the bridesmaid" and it just seems like they might have been better served keeping things a little more quiet until awards hubub died down. Since everyone had the idea (confirmed or not at the time of voting) that she'd be in another lavish Lincoln Center/Sherr production they felt more free to check another name in a tightly competitive year.
Though I suppose the key word is tightly competitive... I just can't wait to see how it all shakes out!!!

[HorseTears]

I'm absolutely thrilled about this. LCT, Sher and that gorgeous R&H score, which you just KNOW will be played by a full orchestra. This is a match made in heaven. My dad introduced me to musicals at a young age and King & I was the first one. We'd watch a VHS of the film together at least three or four times a year and even though some of the subject matter was above my head at the time, it holds such a special place in my heart. I imagine every Asian musical theatre actor of the appropriate age is going to be submitting for this one.

It would be wonderful if Sher is able to cast a talented unknown as The King. Someone who could perhaps break down some barriers for Asian actors on Broadway after that. It would be nice to see more Asian actors get cast in roles that aren't specifically written just for Asians. But, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Like someone said earlier he's probably looking for someone classicly trained for Lady Thiang which limits the casting pool of Asian actresses further. Does anyone with more knowledge of the opera world have ideas of Asian sopranos that might be right for the role?

[PalJoey]

Here, for no good reason, is "Hello, Young Lovers," as sung by the unlikely Kate Smith in a b&w 1953 telecast.


Kate Smith sings 'Hello, Young Lovers' (Aired December 29, 153

[Gothampc]

Here's my take on the Kelli O'Hara situation. Tony Awards are used as leverage. If she wins, she can demand a higher salary from Lincoln Center. On the other hand, if she loses, Lincoln Center can say Kelli's a bit of a lightweight and we're looking for someone who can win us a Tony, and Oscar winner Anne Hathaway has expressed interest in doing an initial run at Lincoln Center and then moving the show to a Broadway house.

[AEA AGMA SM]

If it's a hit I can't imagine Lincoln Center Theatre looking to move the show out of the Vivian Beaumont and into another theatre that they would then have to pay rent on. They have shown with several other long runs there that they would rather keep the Beaumont filled with a hit and rent out another space for the rest of their season rather than move that hit.

[Jonwo]

I imagine King and I will be aiming for an extended run in the same way War Horse, South Pacific and Light in the Piazza were.

[Brick]

Is that Anne Hathaway rumor specific to KING AND I? Has she expressed interest in this revival? If so, I can't imagine Andre Bishop and everyone at Lincoln Center not clamoring to produce Hathaway's Bway debut. And yet, Sher prefers people he's worked with before over celebrities, as he demonstrated when Kelli got SOUTH PACIFIC over Scarlett Johannson and Reese Witherspoon, who Reidel reported were the other finalist for Nellie.

All that said, I bet it will remain Kelli.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Wow, Witherspoon would've been delightful as Nellie! Love that thought

[SNAFU]

I am actually excited Lincoln Center is reviving this. If done right, it will be glorious! I have never seen it performed live, but when I imagine this lush score played by a full orchestra live, I am already blown away!

[AHLiebross]

I just saw a soprano from Japan, Eri Nakamura, as Pamina in "The Magic Flute." She can act and has (of course) an operatic soprano voice. The only problems with her playing Lady Thiang are that she's very young and not from Southeast Asia (meaning Thailand, Burma, and Vietnam).

The King has to be highly charismatic, but does not have to sing well. After seeing "Yellow Face," I can't imagine casting anybody but an actor of Asian descent to play him. Unfortunately, I doubt there are too many English-speaking actors from Thailand or Vietnam or Burma who are available, so I don't think that they'll be able to be completely authentic with the King any more than with Lady Thiang. What about Russell Wong? Rick Yune? (He was the North Korean terrorist in "Olympus has Fallen" who managed to give off serious heartthrob vibes, even when cast alongside Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, and Dylan McDermott). It is unnecessary to cast a non-Asian actor in the role, in my opinion.