Ken Watanabe is taking on one of the most iconic musicals for his American stage debut, and will star as the king of Siam in Rogers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I,” Lincoln Center Theater announced on Monday.
Set in the 1860s, “The King and I” follows the tempestuous relationship between the king of Siam and Anna Leonowens (Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara), a British schoolteacher the king brings to his country to tutor his many wives and children. The musical gave us such memorable songs as “Getting to Know You,” “Shall We Dance” and “Something Wonderful.”
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The new revival of “The King and I,” directed by Bartlett Sher, will use the original choreography by Jerome Robbins, with musical staging by Christopher Gattelli. It will begin previews March 12, 2015, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. The production will officially open on April 16.