Annalene Beechey News

Following a critically acclaimed Broadway smash-hit run, a sold-out season at the London Palladium (which resulted in the biggest global live event cinema release of 2018) and a previous record-breaking UK and International tour, this multi-Tony Award-winning production returns to Milton Keynes this autumn.

Starring the West End’s Annalene Beechey and Broadway's Darren Lee, The King and I is the greatest musical from the golden age of musicals – with one of the finest scores ever written including Whistle a Happy Tune and Shall We Dance

The King and I comes to the King's Theatre Glasgow from Tuesday 16 – Saturday 20 May 2023. The multi Tony Award-winning production returns to the King's Theatre following a critically acclaimed Broadway smash-hit run, a sold-out season at the London Palladium and a record-breaking UK and International tour.

Written by Lesley Ross & James Williams, and based on the show of the same name, this quirky retelling of the famous fairytale touches on friendship, acceptance and how dangerous it is to fall under the spell of a Spider's dark web. 

SimG Records are releasing a compilation of composer and lyricist Andrew Fisher’s original musical theatre material on 21 May, aptly named The Andrew Fisher Songbook.

THE KING AND I is a testament to the lavish heritage of gloriously romantic musical theatre - it is the greatest musical from the golden age of musicals. Featuring a company of over 50 world-class performers, a full scale orchestra and classic songs such as I Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You and Shall We Dance, this critically acclaimed the multi Tony Award winning production of THE KING AND I will visit the Bristol Hippodrome as part of its international tour between 24 March - 04 April 2020.

Set in 1860s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children.

An unmissable production of Rodger and Hammerstein's The King and I will run at the King's later this month as part of a UK tour.

It's been announced today that American musical theatre stars Ethan Le Phong and Paulina Yeung have been cast in the UK touring production of THE KING AND I. Reprising their USA and Canada National tour roles of the Young Lovers, Lun Tha and Tuptim, Le Phong and Yeung will now join West End star Annalene Beechey as Anna and Broadway star Jose Llana as The King, in the Rodgers & Hammerstein's multi-award winning musical which has just opened the third leg of its international tour in Edinburgh to standing ovations.

Broadway vet Jose Llana returned for the 20th season of Lincoln Center's American Songbook, four years after his sold-out appearance at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse. Llana performed in The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center and was joined by his Here Lies Love cast members Jaygee Macapugay, Jeigh Madjus, Renee Albulario and Billy Bustamante on February 1st.

The King and I's Jose Llana dazzled in his return to Lincoln Center's American Songbook Concert Series on February 1st, four years after his sold-out appearance at the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse. Mr. Llana's glorious tenor filled The Appel Room, where he was accompanied by his Here Lies Love cast members Jaygee Macapugay, Jeigh Madjus, Renee Albulario and Billy Bustamante.

Following the critically acclaimed Broadway smash hit run of the THE KING AND I and its box office sold out record breaking season at the world famous London Palladium, comes the announcement that the multi Tony Award winning production will now embark on a major UK tour from Spring 2019.

The multi Tony Award-winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE KING AND I will transfer from Broadway to London this month following a critically acclaimed 16 month run at New York's Lincoln Center Theater and an unprecedented continuing record-breaking sold out USA tour.

Takao Osawa, the multi-award-winning actor and star of one of Japan's most popular television series JIN, will join the cast of THE KING AND I to play the Kralahome, trusted adviser to The King of Siam, when the smash hit musical transfers from Broadway to the London Palladium for "London's theatrical event of 2018" (Daily Express) on 21 June (Press Night 3 July).

We catch up with Rebecca Lock to find out about life on the Mary Poppins UK Tour.

We speak to current and former cast members of Les Miserables about their favourite memories of their time in the show!

Berkeley Repertory Theatre will conclude its 48th season with Richard Bean's internationally acclaimed One Man, Two Guvnors, a sassy update of Carlo Goldoni's classic knee-slapper, The Servant of Two Masters. Set in 1963 Brighton, England, One Man, Two Guvnors is a brilliantly delicious mash-up of splendid comedy, British pantomime, and music-hall revues. The uproarious plot features a disarming and doltish Francis Henshall who finds himself trapped by farce into working for two bosses - who are connected in wildly improbable ways. He just has to keep them from discovering each other. Inspired insanity, high-low antics, and nimble wordplay ensue - all backed by live musicians paying homage to rockabilly and a certain Fab Four. Directed by David Ivers - artistic director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival - and with songs by Grant Olding, One Man, Two Guvnors is a riotous blast complete with a colorful cast of characters in a topsy-turvy world of love triangles and mistaken identities. It previews today May 8, 2015, opens today, May 15, 2015, and plays through Sunday June 21, 2015. Press night for One Man, Two Guvnors will be held today, May 15, 2015. Individual tickets start at $29 and can be purchased by phone at (510) 647-2949 or online at berkeleyrep.org.

Renowned lyricist Lesley Ross is celebrated in SimG Records latest album - Love, Lies & Lyrics. Featuring songs from several shows that Ross has contributed to with different composers, the recording gives us a variety of musical styles to enjoy. It is like putting your iPod on shuffle, not knowing what will come up next! Admittedly I don't tend to do this with the musical theatre recordings I have on my iPod because sometimes stand along numbers do not have the same effect out of context. However I don't really mind in this case as the storytelling within the songs are powerful enough to set the scene for you; credit to Ross' writing.

On Monday 11th May 2015, SimG Records, the leading independent British label devoted to new musical theatre writers and artists, is to release this exciting new 'songs of' album from the lyricist Lesley Ross.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre will conclude its 48th season with Richard Bean's internationally acclaimed One Man, Two Guvnors, a sassy update of Carlo Goldoni's classic knee-slapper, The Servant of Two Masters. Set in 1963 Brighton, England, One Man, Two Guvnors is a brilliantly delicious mash-up of splendid comedy, British pantomime, and music-hall revues. The uproarious plot features a disarming and doltish Francis Henshall who finds himself trapped by farce into working for two bosses - who are connected in wildly improbable ways. He just has to keep them from discovering each other. Inspired insanity, high-low antics, and nimble wordplay ensue - all backed by live musicians paying homage to rockabilly and a certain Fab Four. Directed by David Ivers - artistic director of the Utah Shakespeare Festival - and with songs by Grant Olding, One Man, Two Guvnors is a riotous blast complete with a colorful cast of characters in a topsy-turvy world of love triangles and mistaken identities. It previews on Friday May 8, 2015, opens on Friday, May 15, 2015, and plays through Sunday June 21, 2015. Press night for One Man, Two Guvnors will be held on Friday, May 15, 2015. Individual tickets start at $29 and can be purchased by phone at (510) 647-2949 or online at berkeleyrep.org.