Video Roundup: Meet a New Anna and the King- Laura Michelle Kelly and Jose Llana!

By: Sep. 15, 2016
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As BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, Ambassador Theatre Group and NETworks Presentations LLC just announced that Laura Michelle Kelly (Anna Leonowens) and Jose Llana (King of Siam) will lead the national tour of the Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE KING AND I.

Director Bartlett Sher had this to say about the leads in THE KING AND I: "Jose was so superb on Broadway in The King and I that I begged him to join us on the tour and l feel we are incredibly lucky to have him. He brings such joy and virility and strength to the King. And he is one of Broadway's great talents.

"Laura Michelle has one of the best voices on Broadway matched with an extraordinary heart. Her work on Finding Neverland and Mary Poppins distinguished both of those shows with her natural grace and joy. She will be an exquisite Anna Leonowens."

Get to know the two stars with some of their greatest hits below!

Laura Michelle Kelly (Anna Leonowens) is an Oliver Award winning actress for her star-making performance as the title role in the London production of Disney's Mary Poppins. Kelly just recently completed a year and a half run playing Sylvia Llewelyn Davies in the Broadway production of Finding Neverland, starring opposite Matthew Morrison and Kelsey Grammer after originating the role at the American Repertory Theater (2015 Elliott Award Nominee). Her other Broadway credits include reprising her role in Mary Poppins and the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof. West End credits include: My Fair Lady (Eliza), Speed the Plow (Karen), Lord of the Rings: The Musical (Galadriel), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Whistle Down the Wind (Swallow), Peter Pan (Wendy), LES MISERABLES (Eponine), Mamma Mia! (Sophie). Regional: The King and I (Anna) and South Pacific (Nellie). Film: Sweeney Todd (Lucy/Beggar Woman; dir. Tim Burton) and Goddess (2012 Cannes Film Festival) Album: The Storm inside(2006). Recipient: Awarded Voice of Musical Theatre. Numerous radio, TV, concert appearances including Albert Hall, Hampton Court Palace, Royal Opera House, Millennium Stadium, Buckingham Palace and Performed for President Obama for the 4th of July celebrations. Lauramichellekelly@net.com

Jose Llana (King of Siam) returns to the role of "The King of Siam" after two starring engagements in the Tony-winning Lincoln Center revival of The King and I. He made his American Songbook debut in the spring of 2015, which led to the release of his second solo CD, Altitude in the spring of 2016. He earned a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal as Marcos in David Byrne & Fat Boy Slim's Here Lies Love at The Public Theater (dir. Alex Timbers) and most recently played Duke Orsino for The Public Theater's Public Works musical adaptation of Twelfth Night (dir. Kwame Kwei-Armah) at The Delacorte. Broadway credits include Chip Tolentino in William Finn's The 25th Annual Putnam Country Spelling Bee (Drama Desk Award, dir. James Lapine), El Gato inWonderland, Wang Ta in David Henry Hwang's adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song, Angel inRENT (dir. Michael Greif), Jessie-Lee in Streetcorner Symphony and his debut as Lun Tha in the 1996 Revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I opposite Donna Murphy and Lou Diamond Phillips. Off-Broadway appearances include Adam in Falling for Eve (York), Gabey in On the Town (dir. George C. Wolfe, Delacorte) and Adam Guettel's Saturn Returns (dir. Tina Landau, Public Theater). Regional appearances include DistanceRunner inPoster Boy (Williamstown Theater Festival), Bill Sikes in Oliver! (Paper Mill), Guillaume in Cameron Mackintosh'sMartin Guerre (Guthrie Theater), Tin Man in Ballad of Little Jo (Steppenwolf Theater, dir. Tina Landau, Jefferson Nomination - Best Supporting Actor) and Candide in Candide (Prince Theater, Barrymore Nomination - Best Actor). TV/Film appearances include HBO's "Sex and the City" opposite Margaret Cho and Hitch with Will Smith. Appearing on numerous cast albums, Jose is also a best-selling recording artist on the VIVA Philippines label. Training from Manhattan School of Music. Jose is a constant advocate for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and serves on the Musical Theater Council for The Public Theater. www.josellana.com


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