Riedel: Kelli O'Hara in THE KING AND I coming to the Beaumont...- Page 3

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 10:23am

^That's a wonderful suggestion.

Granted there are plenty of talent actresses who could do Anna justice and everyone mentioned so far had my vote, but casting the King will be very interesting.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 10:50am

The fact that the Warhorse movie did nothing to help the play means that the audience for this show is sort of dwindling. And each season brings more interesting fare. I don't see it doing so well.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 11:26am

you think Loretta Ables Sayre could pull off Lady Thiang?

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 11:54am

I find her bland, too, though I loved seeing her let loose in NICE WORK.

I was praying this would go to Kate Baldwin.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 11:58am

I was definitely hoping for Kate Baldwin, too. But I can't say I'm surprised that a Bartlett Sher directed revival of a Rodgers and Hammerstein show at the Beaumont would star Kelli O'Hara.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 11:58am

I knows he's tied to Zorba, but wouldn't Antonio Banderas be great for the king? Right age, can sing and dance, and presence to die for. Know it won't happen but I can dream, can't I?

RIGHT. BECAUSE SPAIN IS SO CLOSE TO THAILAND.
What is wrong with some of you people?!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 12:03pm

I know, Lizzie, it's kind of unbelievable.

Ray, with the exception of Louis and the European man track, I hope the rest of the cast will look Asian

Ha, Mr.Music! Let's hope so

I was actually thinking that even though I'm not sure Loretta Ables Sayre is the right fit for the role, I do trust that Sher could find an undiscovered gem like her to play Lady Thiang.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 12:05pm

I love this show. Can't wait for it, but here's hoping it's not B.D. Wong.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 12:35pm

Love Kelli and think she'll be great. But I was hoping for more audacious casting. Either a great actress right for the role like Rachel Weisz or Kate Winslet, or something to make a strong musical theater actress more of a star, like Kate Baldwin.

The reclusive but very talented John Lone might make a great King. He's 60, but I would guess looks much younger. He always has. He was 36 when he aged from teenager to octogenarian in The Last Emperor.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 12:57pm

I'd like to see Tim Kang from THE MENTALIST as KING.

This will probably be a year from now, right?

I liked the idea of Lea Salonga as Thiang, she's usually cast older, which makes no sense to me. If she's younger and attractive Anna and Thiang's stakes are higher.
Whoever said Banderas: Put the crack pipe down!

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 1:31pm

So they don't need to be Asian? Just look Asian? Wha?

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 1:34pm

Paolo Montalban played the King in a Hawaiian production of THE KING AND I in 2011. I thought Francis Jue was an excellent king in a San Jose production a few years ago.

I'd love to see the extremely talented and handsome Jason Tam as Lun Tha. I Have Dreamed indeed.

They may have trouble finding enough Asian American actors. Salonga, Llana, Montalban, Telly Leung, Jason Tam, and Paul Nakauchi are all committed to ALLEGIANCE at the Old Globe this fall, and, according to their website, are committed to a Broadway production as well.
ALLEGIANCE at the Old Globe

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 9:43pm

George Takei as the King?

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 10:01pm

Lizzie, did you ever hear of Farley Granger or Alfred Drake? They were far from being Asian but did fine as the king. Did you know that Noel Coward was the first choice for the king but wouldn't do it because he wasn't willing to be tied to a contract that lasted more than six months? Both R and H were alive at the time and had the last word on the matter and didn't seem to mind.

Updated On: 4/18/12 at 10:01 PM

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 10:20pm

I doubt Lincoln Center would want to close War Horse. No, it isn't pulling in numbers like it was last year but the house is almost always 90+% full and average ticket prices are over $100. It has to be making a good amount of money still. A move is possible but I'd be shocked if it just closed.

[rjm516]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 10:29pm

"As long as that horse doesn't kick Kelli in the head on his way outta the Beaumont, everything should be fine."

Oh my goodness, I died!

[Jonwo]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 10:32pm

Lincoln Centre have produced shows outside of the Beaumount like Other Desert Cities, Joe Turner's Come and Gone and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown so it's possible that they'll help the National look for a new theatre for War Horse and regain the Vivian Beaumount for The King and I. Was the show meant for an open run or did it just extend due to demand like Light in the Piazza and South Pacific?

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 4/18/12 at 11:05pm

"Lizzie, did you ever hear of Farley Granger or Alfred Drake? They were far from being Asian but did fine as the king. Did you know that Noel Coward was the first choice for the king but wouldn't do it because he wasn't willing to be tied to a contract that lasted more than six months? Both R and H were alive at the time and had the last word on the matter and didn't seem to mind."

i think the idea is that it would be far preferable for one of the only great roles in the musical theater for an Asian male would be played by an Asian male.

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 11:54am

"George Takei as the King?"

Takei is also committed to ALLEGIANCE

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 11:58am

"George Takei as the King?"

Takei is also committed to ALLEGIANCE

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 12:03pm

I think O'Hara will be wonderful in this role.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 12:28pm

Lizzie, did you ever hear of Farley Granger or Alfred Drake? They were far from being Asian but did fine as the king. Did you know that Noel Coward was the first choice for the king but wouldn't do it because he wasn't willing to be tied to a contract that lasted more than six months? Both R and H were alive at the time and had the last word on the matter and didn't seem to mind.


I honestly hope you're 90 years old and still use the word "colored" in everyday conversation because that's the only way you would even REMOTELY be able to get away with this crap.

Did you know that it's 2012 and it would be irresponsible, unconscionable, and not to mention really, really racist to cast a white dude as the King? Especially when there's been a major discussion at Fordham, hosted by the Asian American Performers Action Coalition, over the lack of roles for Asian American actors?

Really? Are we having this discussion? Now? I mean, FFS, I'm beyond disappointed that I even have to address any of your antiquated arguments.






http://www.racebending.com/v4/blog/coalition-nyc-asian-americans-missing-broadway-stages/

Updated On: 4/19/12 at 12:28 PM

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 12:36pm

But for the white dude issue and the fact that he's already employed, I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Cerveris, if only for his resemblance to Brenner.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 12:45pm

Cerveris was mentioned in another thread. I highly doubt they would cast a white King in 2012. Come on now....

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 4/19/12 at 12:57pm

Even though the aforementioned actors are "tied up" with Allegiance, I am very excited about this production. Because this is a Lincoln Center revival this could be an amazing opportunity to see a lot of new names and faces on Broadway.