The King and I National Tour

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 4/8/17 at 8:21pm

Attended the show today at the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in Pittsburgh and it is absolutely glorious! The sets, vocals, and performances were a true delight. The classics from "Getting to Know You" (how wonderful!) to "Shall We Dance" (smiled ear-to-ear) were amazing. Laura Michelle Kelly and Jose Llana were exceptional, and there was a lot of unexpected laughter brought to the part of the King by the latter. The Royal Children were so cute, the ballet of The Small House of Uncle Thomas extraordinary, and the ending so sudden, even though you know it's coming, catches you by the throat. What a triumph! If this is coming to your city don't miss this.

On a side note at our performance  they sold autographed window cards for "Broadway Cares" at $40, autographed programs were $30. Here's my new window card...

Updated On: 4/9/17 at 08:21 PM

[rebeccmam31]

Posted: 4/8/17 at 8:30pm

We saw this today as well. It was simply gorgeous. I am now decidedly a Jose Llana fan. I felt the two young lovers were a bit weak, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the production. So lovely.

Updated On: 4/8/17 at 08:30 PM

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 4/8/17 at 8:43pm

rebeccmam31 said: "We saw this today as well. It was simply gorgeous. I am now decidedly a Jose Llana fan. I felt the two young lovers were a bit weak, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the production. So lovely."

Those two words, "gorgeous" and "lovely", fit it perfectly. It looked to be a full-house. 

Updated On: 4/8/17 at 08:43 PM

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 2:44am

If you're a fan of Jose Llana, you might enjoy this interview we did with him for BroadwayWorld.com. This happened shortly after ''The King and I'' tour began, and he dished about Rodgers & Hammerstein and his wonderful cast; the progress of Asian-American actors onstage; his reaction to Trump and the election, and the importance of being out and proud.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Exclusive-Jose-Llana-on-His-KING-AND-I-Tour-and-Why-He-Believes-Hope-Trumps-Hate-20161115

Updated On: 4/9/17 at 02:44 AM

[markypoo]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 1:42pm

And he happens to sing beautifully; in addition to being very attractive.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 2:36pm

Really? I was bored. Granted, I saw it in San Francisco and not Pittsburgh.

I found it ugly. After the initial boat/dock scene, the set is a rather bland wall with some small pieces in front of it to show the shift to different palace locations. The performances were mixed. I found Jose Llana annoying and in a very different musical than the rest of the cast. Overall, very mediocre.

[conealpetterson]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 3:49pm

I saw it in December in Los Angeles and loved it as well. I thought that Kelly and Llana were both wonderful.  I was reflecting on how much I enjoyed it after seeing the tours of Finding Neverland and. An American in Paris, which I felt pretty meh about.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 4:07pm

conealpetterson said: "I saw it in December in Los Angeles and loved it as well. I thought that Kelly and Llana were both wonderful.  I was reflecting on how much I enjoyed it after seeing the tours of Finding Neverland and. An American in Paris, which I felt pretty meh about."

Hope I won't be too disappointed. I am so looking forward to our 2016-2017 season finale "An American in Paris", one of the final three for me which also includes "Fun Home" and "Dirty Dancing". We had a great run and I'd hate to end it on a sour note.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 4:25pm

ARTc3 said: "Really? I was bored. Granted, I saw it in San Francisco and not Pittsburgh.

I found it ugly. After the initial boat/dock scene, the set is a rather bland wall with some small pieces in front of it to show the shift to different palace locations. The performances were mixed. I found Jose Llana annoying and in a very different musical than the rest of the cast. Overall, very mediocre."

I'm not sure what the difference would be? The venue? Live orchestra? Audience attitude? Just curious. 

[conealpetterson]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 5:29pm

I liked "An American in Paris" better than "Finding Neverland."  The woman who played Lise seemed to float on air when she danced.  The actor playing Jerry was a good dancer, but he acting was pretty mediocre.  The dancing was the best part of that show for me.  I loved the "Fun Home" tour.  We just saw it last month.  

[rebeccmam31]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 6:03pm

Wayman_Wong said: "If you're a fan of Jose Llana, you might enjoy this interview we did with him for BroadwayWorld.com. This happened shortly after ''The King and I'' tour began, and he dished about Rodgers & Hammerstein and his wonderful cast; the progress of Asian-American actors onstage; his reaction to Trump and the election, and the importance of being out and proud.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BWW-Exclusive-Jose-Llana-on-His-KING-AND-I-Tour-and-Why-He-Believes-Hope-Trumps-Hate-20161115

 

"

Thank you for this! I will definitely check it out!

 

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 6:27pm

conealpetterson said: "I liked "An American in Paris" better than "Finding Neverland."  The woman who played Lise seemed to float on air when she danced.  The actor playing Jerry was a good dancer, but he acting was pretty mediocre.  The dancing was the best part of that show for me.  I loved the "Fun Home" tour.  We just saw it last month. "

He's getting replaced...

http://www.playbill.com/article/an-american-in-paris-national-tour-will-welcome-new-jerry-mulligan

 

I'd love to have made the road trip back up to Pittsburgh and see "The King and I" again today, but other domesticated duties kept me local. But I've made it a rule not to see the same show twice. Too many prospects coming down the pike to save up for, whether it be in Pittsburgh, Columbus, D.C., Baltimore, Cleveland (was up there last weekend for The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time), or Charlotte. 

 

Updated On: 4/9/17 at 06:27 PM

[ARTc3]

Posted: 4/9/17 at 9:19pm

I doubt much is different except venue. The Golden Gate Theater in San Francisco is a rather unpleasant theater with the orchestra sitting in front of the stage instead of under it, so the first row of the orchestra is set quite far back. The overall effect is a lack of intimacy that I'm used to in a traditional Broadway theater. But, you're right, I doubt that made a difference in my impression of the tour. I thought it dull.

[amaklo]

Posted: 4/10/17 at 7:09pm

I also enjoyed the King and I tour in Pittsburgh. I saw Jose Llana in Here Lies Love twice, so looked forward to seeing him in this.  I never saw the show before, and only know it from Yul Brynner's king in the movie, so I was surprised how secondary the character seemed to Anna's in the show. Laura Michelle Kelly was lovely as Anna, what a beautiful voice! I also enjoyed the songs that were cut from the movie, which I hadn't heard before.  I thought the sets and lighting were beautiful, much like those for Sher's South Pacific a couple of years ago.  Looking forward to Fun Home next weekend!

[AngusN]

Posted: 4/10/17 at 8:16pm

The king looks about 12 in the OP's photo. 

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 4/11/17 at 6:02am

amaklo said: "I also enjoyed the King and I tour in Pittsburgh. I saw Jose Llana in Here Lies Love twice, so looked forward to seeing him in this.  I never saw the show before, and only know it from Yul Brynner's king in the movie, so I was surprised how secondary the character seemed to Anna's in the show. Laura Michelle Kelly was lovely as Anna, what a beautiful voice! I also enjoyed the songs that were cut from the movie, which I hadn't heard before.  I thought the sets and lighting were beautiful, much like those for Sher's South Pacific a couple of years ago.  Looking forward to Fun Home next weekend!"

I don't know if you kept the program, but she also received first billing over him.

In addition to the palace sets, the costumes were also quite wonderful throughout the show. ARTc3 has a point about the palace wall set being there for the majority of the entire show, but I can't imagine what else they could have done. They did change the imagery for the garden scenes, and for the Uncle Thomas' Cabin play, but since the palace is the backdrop for the show I think the options were limited. I loved the classroom set, and the columns that moved. 

I think if Jose Llana's character had not brought some laughter to the show it would had been an entirely different  performance. Maybe that's why he seems removed from the other characters who are all more serious, respectful, formal, and "in a different musical" as ARTc3 put it.

Updated On: 4/11/17 at 06:02 AM

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/26/17 at 7:19am

I saw the show last night in DC.  Although I liked it, I liked the production much better on Broadway.  The Opera House at The Kennedy Center, just seems to swallow up productions if one is sitting in the 2nd tier.  Laura Michelle Kelly was out.  I was bummed as I really wanted to see her.  Heather Botts was on as 
Anna.  Although initially disappointed I wouldn't get to see Laura, Heather did a beautiful job.  I really liked her.  Jose's performance was bit more broad than it was on Broadway.  The orchestra was noticeably smaller, and was quite evident during "Small House of Uncle Thomas".

The second tier was only about 50% full.  I'm kind of surprised the discount on Goldstar was only $10 off.

The tour is here until 8/20, and I'll probably go back to see it when LMK is on as I have heard wonderful things about her performance.

When Heather took her bow last night, the cast applauded.  I know it's common for the cast to applaud when an understudy goes on for the first time.  Seeing as though the tour has been on the road since 2016, I doubt that was her first time on as Anna (or maybe I'm wrong).

[carolinaguy]

Posted: 7/26/17 at 8:23am

I saw Botts at a Saturday evening performance back in June in Durham. And I know from friends that LMK was out for the matinee that day too, so it definitely was not Botts' first Anna rodeo.

[characterism]

Posted: 7/27/17 at 11:57am

carolinaguy, I have Saturday matinee season tickets at DPAC and Botts was indeed on.  A friend who went Friday evening saw LMK and said that at some point it looked as if she was wincing while trying to get up, leading me to believe she may have been out Saturday for a minor injury.  I wish I had gotten to see her, but Botts was lovely.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 8/2/17 at 8:54am

Does anyone know if LMK is back? TodayTix has a cool discount, so I'll take advantage of it. Based on the last post, I'm assuming she is

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 8/2/17 at 9:18am

LMK was back in on Saturday when I went to pick up my ticket for this Thursday.

Updated On: 8/2/17 at 09:18 AM

[B.JAMES]

Posted: 8/2/17 at 9:59am

Does anyone know if LMK will remain on the tour next year?  I am trying to catch it with her, specifically in Hershey, PA.  Any input is appreciated :)

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/16/17 at 1:26am

I saw the show tonight in Orlando. Overall, I really enjoyed it, though it was definitely much better on Broadway. 

As others have said, Laura Michelle Kelly is really outstanding. A lovely performance. She very easily could have played this role on Broadway. I thought she was great. 

Jose Llana was out, and to be quite frank, his understudy (Brian Rivera), was terrible. He had absolutely no command of the stage, and often faded into the background. When I saw the show on Broadway, Hoon Lee was mesmerizing. I couldn't take my eyes off of him. This man had no presence at all, and the whipping scene just kind of sat there because he didn't seem terribly invested in it. He didn't really have any gravitas.

The rest of the cast was quite good, especially Joan Almedilla. There were understudies for Tuptim (Q Lim) and the Kralahome (Darren Lee), and they were both really good. 

I missed the large orchestra from Broadway, as this one sounded a little tinny in spots, particularly during the Uncle Tom's Cabin sequence. The sets and costumes are still quite sumptuous (even though I missed the boat going out into the audience), and Sher's direction is still top notch. 

All in all a solid night of theater, even if it misses a little of the punch it packed on Broadway. 

Updated On: 9/16/17 at 01:26 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/16/17 at 1:07pm

I caught the tour in Chicago and thought it was okay.  A perfectly serviceable production, but nowhere near the revelation Chris Jones raves and drools over.  Laura Michelle Kelley is absolute perfection and really the reason to see it. Everything else about the production was about as conventional as you'd expect.  Personally, I though the 90s revival was far more interesting and dynamic, though I admit I saw it on Broadway and on tour, while the recent revival, I didn't get to see at Lincoln Center.  It was interesting to have witnessed Jose Llana perform different roles in both revivals, but as the King, he lacked the charisma and presence I was hoping to find. And unfortunately, this was the first time I've seen March of the Siamese Children and Shall We Dance and felt absolutely nothing.  I smiled, but there was no emotional rush or thrill that I'd always experienced, even from clips on television.  It was interesting to see Western People Funny and I liked what it added to the show.  But outside of that, Kelly's glorious performance and the ship in the opening, I didn't find that this tour really adds anything new to the typical paint-by-numbers productions you could find in most Equity regional productions around the country.  

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/16/17 at 11:06pm

Mister Matt, you're right about the lack of sexual tension before and during Shall We Dance. I thought it was because the understudy I had just wasn't giving her anything to work with, however. I'm sad if it's just not coming across in this production. I hate to keep returning to the Broadway production. But with O'Hara and Hoon Lee, there was palpable sexual tension there. Last night, it just sat there. I tend to lay blame on the King, because as I said, Laura Michelle Kelly was perfection.