Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#2
Posted: 6/18/15 at 3:48pm
Thanks. I saw this cryptic playbill tweet and was confused as to whether they were alternating or not.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#3
Posted: 6/18/15 at 3:53pm
I remember that some people were hoping Jose would be the King to begin with.
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#4
Posted: 6/18/15 at 3:53pm
Yes! I was hoping Jose would play the King. That's so cool.
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#5
Posted: 6/18/15 at 3:56pm
I'm going to be seeing Jose Llana. I've never seen him in anything so I'm excited to see this response!!
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#6
Posted: 6/18/15 at 4:01pm
Doesn't Ken's contract not end until the 5th or 6th? Who is going to play the king until Jose starts on the 11th?
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#7
Posted: 6/18/15 at 4:04pm
Tony nominee Ken Watanabe will play his final performance as the King July 12
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#8
Posted: 6/18/15 at 4:07pm
Ken Watanabe will be missed. He was fantastic and I still remember his performance of "A Puzzlement". I congratulate Jose and Hoon for getting the role. I'm sure they'll be great!
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#9
Posted: 6/18/15 at 4:31pm
I am unfamiliar with both these gentlemen. Is the expectation that Kelli's name alone will sell tickets?
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#10
Posted: 6/18/15 at 4:34pm
The show, the Tonys, and the LCT experience will sell the show. Kelli's name won't hurt. South Pacific ran 996 performances with no stars!
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#11
Posted: 6/18/15 at 4:36pm
Surprised that no one has mentioned that Jose got his big break as Lun Tha in the 1996 revival. He's coming full circle!
Updated On: 6/18/15 at 04:36 PMJose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#12
Posted: 6/18/15 at 4:39pm
When I googled him I came across this video. Interesting to hear how he got his break in that production!
Updated On: 6/18/15 at 04:39 PM
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#13
Posted: 6/18/15 at 4:40pm
This just made my day! I have tix for September and I couldn't be more excited to see Jose Llana.
I'm telling you now - this will be a performance for the ages.
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#14
Posted: 6/18/15 at 4:44pm
Jose playing Lun Tha previously is mentioned in the BWW article and is why this casting is so fun and partly why so many wanted him to play the role initially.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/07
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#15
Posted: 6/18/15 at 4:50pm
Very good choices!! Very anxious to see this show again...
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#16
Posted: 6/18/15 at 4:53pm
I think Llana is a very handsome guy and a very funny actor, but I can't imagine this being in any way "a performance for the ages," except to his mother and perhaps his agent.
I'm surprised we haven't heard more vocal/written objections lately to this problematic role, a white-written "noble savage," a "barbarian" at heart who is trying to be "better" (i.e. more white), who descends into animal behavior but is ultimately redeemed by adopting Western (or "more evolved") morals. David Henry Hwang has written about this, but everyone seems quite quiet on the subject during this production.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/3/14
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#17
Posted: 6/18/15 at 4:58pm
He seems a bit young to play the king
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#18
Posted: 6/18/15 at 5:18pm
He is 39, Lou Diamond Phillips was 34 and Yul Brynner was 31 when he originated the role. I think he is fine. The only thing that might make it hard to believe is if Conrad Ricamora looks to close to him in age.
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#19
Posted: 6/18/15 at 5:19pm
Here Lies Love reunion for 11 weeks!!
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#20
Posted: 6/18/15 at 5:21pm
I'm surprised we haven't heard more vocal/written objections lately to this problematic role
Or the casting. I guess it only applies to certain productions of Miss Saigon.
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#21
Posted: 6/18/15 at 5:28pm
I'm surprised we haven't heard more vocal/written objections lately to this problematic role, a white-written "noble savage," a "barbarian" at heart who is trying to be "better" (i.e. more white), who descends into animal behavior but is ultimately redeemed by adopting Western (or "more evolved") morals. David Henry Hwang has written about this, but everyone seems quite quiet on the subject during this production.
newintown, isn't the Westernization aspect based on some form of the truth? If it's based on fact I don't understand the objection. Yes, other movies and adaptations have been more accurate but I think The King and I still holds up a bit better than Flower Drum Song which Hwang eventually rewrote.
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#22
Posted: 6/18/15 at 5:48pm
The ""truth?"
The truth is that Anna was probably part Indian, never lived in England, and met King Mongkut very few times while working for him.
The truth is also that Mongkut was a Buddhist monk before he was King and was well-educated, and a notably gentle and peaceful man.
The truth is something that The King & I ignores pretty completely, in favor of somethjng more like a sentimental Western melodrama.
Not that that's a terrible thing; the best musicals play fast and loose with the truth; but it's good to know when that playing is playing somewhat on the racist side.
Updated On: 6/18/15 at 05:48 PMBroadway Legend Joined: 9/30/08
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#23
Posted: 6/18/15 at 6:24pm
Not every variation from the truth is racist. Isn't the point that he is trying to be a better person and the struggle kills him with stress? He is not trying to be a better Asian and he is not trying to be a Western European but to find the truth in his own culture and in other cultures? If you focus on his race, aren't you missing the more sensitive points of the story?
Jose Llna and Hoon Lee are the next Kings#24
Posted: 6/18/15 at 6:26pm
Love Banshee and whenever Hoon Lee makes his dramatic appearance.
Not that I am able to see it but certainly would love to see his transition from Killer Queen to sympathetic King.
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