Posted: 2/16/16 at 9:39pm
But Ohara was in the South Pacific broadcast. Maybe you are thinking of light and the piazza.
Posted: 2/16/16 at 9:42pm
Yes The Light in the Piazza did not feature the original cast, which was a pity
Posted: 2/16/16 at 9:43pm
Danster said: "Jordan Catalano said: "The show is going to be filmed for PBS and with the original cast, I've been told.
If they do what they did with South Pacific, which is most likely it will be with Marin Mazzie and not O'Hara. Frankly, I do not see them broadcasting the show live anytime soon as it has officially extended the run
South Pacific was filmed with O'Hara after she returned to close the production...
Posted: 2/16/16 at 9:51pm
Will Kelli be returning to the King and I, then?
Posted: 2/16/16 at 9:54pm
Maybe they will film the London production
Posted: 2/16/16 at 10:06pm
It would be a historic missed opportunity to film this exquisite production without its exquisite—and Tony-winning—original star.
Posted: 2/16/16 at 11:06pm
I do hope we would get the PBS broadcast in April before Kelli and Ken leave the show. That would be a shame if for a reason it won`t happen.
Posted: 2/16/16 at 11:16pm
Apparently Ann Sanders went on tonight!
Posted: 2/16/16 at 11:18pm
ljay889 said: "Apparently Ann Sanders went on tonight!"
As Anna?
Posted: 2/17/16 at 12:05am
Keep in mind, the show was written by Rodgers & Hammerstein for Gertrude Lawrence, who was 53 years old when it opened.
I didn't mean to imply that I thought Marin was too old for the role. I'm very pleased and will probably see the show a fourth time. I just pointed out that an Anna as old as Marin or Gertrude Lawrence would in the real world be too old to have a ten year son 150 years ago. But I may be wrong even in that since there were still a lot of families who ground out six or eight children. Anyway, it's no problem in show biz. After all, Olivia Newton-John at age 29 memorably played a high school student in Grease.
Posted: 2/17/16 at 12:09am
BroadwayFan12 said: "ljay889 said: "Apparently Ann Sanders went on tonight!"
As Anna?"
Yes. http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat_new/d.php?id=2322629
Posted: 2/17/16 at 12:28am
Wonderful to hear that Sanders was well-received! I wonder why the actual standby didn't go on tonight.
Posted: 2/17/16 at 12:41am
I'm glad she did well, and I'm usually supportive of "colorblind" casting, but The King and I is a show where I just don't think it would work.
Posted: 2/17/16 at 12:59am
The real Anna was only 33 years of age when she traveled to Thailand to become governess. But that being said the stage show itself differs greatly from the real story, so the actress's age playing Anna does not really matter.
Looking forward to watch the show again real soon
Posted: 2/17/16 at 1:05am
This is exciting news. Marin Mazzie is SO talented and seems like such a genuine, caring a loving person. I always thought Marin would have been a perfect replacement for O'Hara in BRIDGES, but this sounds great too.
Updated On: 2/17/16 at 01:05 AM
Posted: 2/17/16 at 1:07am
I was there tonight and Ann Sanders did a wonderful job as Anna! Was very impressed with her performance and the racial similarities between Anna and the rest of the cast did not skew the meaning or change the show for me at all. Ann also had a darker wig, not Kelli's typical one.
Ann will be on both shows tmrw if anyone is interested and then the normal understudy, Analisa will be on for the rest of the week until Kelli returns from her vacation.
Posted: 2/17/16 at 7:17am
I can see The King and I working with a non-white Anna, because the real clash between them is cultural, not racial. That's what they argue over and discuss and try to come to terms with. The cultural diversity between "civilized" England and "uncivilized" Siam. The dialogue and conflict would still hold up, as long as that distinction is still clear.
Granted, it's not historically accurate, but this isn't exactly the "true story" of Anna Leonowens. Far from it.
Posted: 2/17/16 at 7:22am
I am so happy that Analisa Leaming will have the chance to go on for a little while! I saw her as Anna, and she was so incredibly great. I thought that she was AS good as Kelli O'Hara.
Posted: 2/17/16 at 10:49am
best12bars, that's what I was thinking too! I was a little skeptical at first, but once the show started I soon realized that the difference was cultural. It's not that Anna is white/mixed race actually, and that the King etc is asian, it's that Anna is West and the rest are East. By this same logic, Anna could really be played by any race... It was a very interesting performance and I'm glad I caught it!
Posted: 2/17/16 at 11:02am
best12bars said: "Granted, it's not historically accurate, but this isn't exactly the "true story" of Anna Leonowens. Far from it."
Don't some historians believe Leonowens was Anglo-Indian?
Posted: 2/17/16 at 11:19am
Brilliant news! Not only will she be wonderful in the role but it sends the message, "Don't count me out just yet. I'm back!" Can you imagine the audience at her first performance?
Updated On: 2/17/16 at 11:19 AM
Posted: 2/17/16 at 2:23pm
BroadwayFan12 said: "I'm glad she did well, and I'm usually supportive of "colorblind" casting, but The King and I is a show where I just don't think it would work."
The real Anna Leowennes was very likely of mixed racial heritage (anglo-Indian). Not sure that adds to this particular discussion, but it opens the door for a number of interpretations.
Posted: 2/17/16 at 2:41pm
Well, her last name was fabricated. Her late husband (just a seabee, not a distinguished naval officer) was named Leon Owens. She just put the two together and reinvented herself.
She is a fascinating woman, and I hope someday a (non-musical) film is made about the real story. I remember the A&E Biography special that was so well done.
Updated On: 2/17/16 at 02:41 PM
Posted: 2/17/16 at 3:28pm
Really to bring up the "real Anna" as an argument against the casting of a woman in her 50s or a woman of color in Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE KING & I is just asinine and quite pointless. As others have articulated so well, the Anna that R & H created has nothing to do with the "real Anna" (who the fvck cares about the real Anna in relationship to the musical? Leave that for a biopic, as Besty suggested).
Marin Mazzie is inspired casting, period. She will be phenomenal. The limitation of some people's imaginations should not rob us of the chance of seeing one of the great musical theatre actresses of her genefation tackle one of the best roles in the musical theatre canon.
Posted: 2/17/16 at 3:36pm
ray-andallthatjazz86 said: "Really to bring up the "real Anna" as an argument against the casting of a woman in her 50s or a woman of color in Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE KING & I is just asinine and quite pointless. As others have articulated so well, the Anna that R & H created has nothing to do with the "real Anna" (who the fvck cares about the real Anna in relationship to the musical? Leave that for a biopic, as Besty suggested).
Marin Mazzie is inspired casting, period. She will be phenomenal. The limitation of some people's imaginations should not rob us of the chance of seeing one of the great musical theatre actresses of her genefation tackle one of the best roles in the musical theatre canon.
"
PREACH! Couldn't agree more...so excited for Marin to tackle this role!
