Sam Simahk News

The National Tour of the Tony Award-winning Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's THE KING AND I brings its parade of adorable children, a pair of star-crossed lovers, an imperial ruler, and a strong-willed, warm-hearted educator to the Boston Opera House through April 23rd. One of the grande dames of the 1950s, THE KING AND I retains its exalted place in the R & H pantheon, thanks to the artistry of Director Bartlett Sher, a songbird by the name of Laura Michelle Kelly, and a flawed King of Siam for our times, Jose Llana.

Broadway In Chicago has announced that individual tickets for the Chicago premiere of The Lincoln Center Theater Production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE KING AND I will go on sale Friday, March 31, 2017.

Ambassador Theatre Group and NETworks Presentations LLC announce 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 that will play Seattle's Paramount Theatre from January 24 through February 3, 2017.

Ambassador Theatre Group and NETworks Presentations LLC announce 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 that will play Seattle's Paramount Theatre from January 24 through February 3, 2017.

The National Tour of The King and I, which won a Tony Award for Best Revival in 2015, is opened at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles last night, and will play through January 21st, 2017. Stars of the stage and screen, including original cast members of one of Rodgers and Hammerstein's most beloved classics, came out in droves to celebrate the opening, and we've got all of the lovely red carpet photos below!

Broadway In Boston, Ambassador Theatre Group and NETworks Presentations LLC announced today that the national tour of The Lincoln Center Theater Production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's THE KING AND I, will play a limited two week engagement at the Boston Opera House April 11-23, 2017 as part of the 2016-2017 Lexus Broadway In Boston Season. THE KING AND I, directed by Tony Award® Winner Bartlett Sher won four 2015 Tony Awards® including Best Revival of a Musical.

Ambassador Theatre Group and NETworks Presentations LLC recently announced that Laura Michelle Kelly (Anna Leonowens) and Jose Llana (King of Siam) would lead the national tour of the Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE KING AND I. The tour will launch in Providence, RI at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) October 30-November 6, 2016.

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. Joan Almedilla will play Lady Thiang with Brian Rivera as Kralahome, Manna Nichols as Tuptim, Kavin Panmeechao as Lun Tha, Anthony Chan as Prince Chulalongkorn, Graham Montgomery as Louis Leonowens and Baylen Thomas as Captain Orton/Sir Edward Ramsey. The tour will launch in Providence, RI October 30-November 6, 2016, and will play multi-week and single week engagements throughout the 2016-17 touring season and beyond. Please find complete schedule at www.thekinganditour.com.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theatre Festival, announced today the winners of the 2016 NYMF Awards for Excellence, which were awarded on Sunday, August 7, 2016 at 42West NY (514 W. 42nd Street). Scroll down for the full list, plus photos from the event!

Ragtime On Ellis Island is pleased to announce that a limited number of seats to the highly anticipated site-specific developmental concert on Monday, August 8, will be distributed to the public by way of an online ticket lottery

Tony Award-winner Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line) and Tony & Olivier Award-Nominee Tony Sheldon (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) will star in The New York Musical Festival's (NYMF) upcoming production of ICON, a romantic new musical with book by Sebastian Michael and music & lyrics by Jonathan Kaldor.  Paul Stancato directs and choreographs a cast of 14, which also includes Colin Anderson*, Leslie Becker*, Patrick Connaghan*, Chase Crandell*, Chloe Holgate*, Charlotte Maltby*, Ben McHugh*, Kalia Medeiros*, Erika Peterson, Chris Ramirez*, Casey Shane*, and Sam Simahk*.  With a seven piece orchestra, ICON is being staged at The Duke on 42nd Street - a NEW 42ND STREET® Project, 229 West 42nd Street (bet. 7th and 8th Aves.) in NYC for five performances from Wednesday, July 20 through Tuesday, July 26, 2016.  *Member, Actors' Equity Association.

Ragtime On Ellis Island just announced that Tony Award winner and Original Broadway cast member Brian Stokes Mitchell (Shuffle Along, Man of La Mancha) and acclaimed stage and television star Andy Mientus (Spring Awakening, Les Miserables) have joined the lineup of the highly anticipated site-specific developmental concert on Monday, August 8. The all-star cast, directed by Sammi Cannold (Violet on a moving bus at A.R.T; Assistant Director for Diane Paulus & Rachel Chavkin), will perform a selection of songs from the Tony Award-winning musical that features music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and a book by Terrence McNally. The concert is being presented by Suzanne Friedman with an eye towards an immersive, full production of the acclaimed American musical on Ellis Island in 2017.

Leslie Becker (Bonnie & Clyde, Anything Goes, Amazing Grace) has joined the cast of The New York Musical Festival's upcoming production of Icon alongside Tony winner Donna McKechnie ( A Chorus Line) and Tony and Olivier Award nominee Tony Sheldon ( Priscilla, Queen of the Desert).

As BroadwayWorld reported last week, Rob Ashford just directed a private industry reading of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas with an all-star cast, including Broadway favorite Kristen Chenoweth. Now according to her recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, the show might go on to have a life on Broadway. She explains: 'I think there is financing in place and I think it has to be a decision we can make and I have another show that I'm involved with about Tammy Faye Bakker. It's all about timing.'

BroadwayWorld has just learned that there will be a private industry reading today, June 29, of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, with direction by Rob Ashford.

Tony Award-winner Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line) and Tony & Olivier Award-Nominee Tony Sheldon (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) will star in The New York Musical Festival's (NYMF) upcoming production of ICON, a romantic new musical with book by Sebastian Michael and music & lyrics by Jonathan Kaldor. 

Under the direction of Lee Blakeley at Lyric Opera (who originally staged this production for Paris's Theatre du Chatelet in 2014), Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical THE KING AND I is heightened to the lavish and beautiful spectacle it deserves. This story of British school teacher Anna Leonowens who arrives in Siam to instruct the many children of the King has moments of sweeping grandiosity but also many of emotional intimacy-the Lyric's production makes the full emotional arc a delight to watch. Visually, the creative team captures every inch of the musical's opulence. Sue Blane's costume designs are breathtakingly elaborate and incorporate an inspiring display of color; Anna's magnificent hoop skirts are definitely a highlight. Jean-March Puissant's set design also captures the grandiosity of a royal palace with many intricate details, while also giving the performers the space they need to execute Peggy Hickey's choreography, and Rick Fisher's lighting adds to the decadent atmosphere.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents a stunning production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway starsKate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam. Lyric Opera's The King and I runs April 29 through May 22 (press opening April 30), with 25 performances at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tickets start at $29 and are available at lyricopera.org/king or at 312-827-5600. BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action below!

Audio of a performance of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's 'The King and I', starring Kate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban, will be broadcast on WFMT on Sunday 1 May, 7:00pm (CDT). Listen online here: http://www.wfmt.com/listen/

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents its grand-scale production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway stars Kate Baldwinand Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam. Additional Broadway artists Ali Ewoldt (Tuptim), Alan Ariano (The Kralahome) and Rona Figueroa (Lady Thiang) join the cast, along with Sam Simahk (Lun Tha) and Chicagoland artists Charlie Babbo (Louis Leonowens), Jomar Ferreras (Interpreter), John Lister(Captain Orton), David Parkes (Sir Edward Ramsay), Peter Sipla (Phra Alack) and Matthew Uzarraga (Prince Chulalongkorn). All but Lister make their Lyric debuts with The King and I.  In the video, cast members talk about the show.  Check it out below!