Kelli O'Hara Departs King and I on April 17th - Marin Mazzie to step in!- Page 7
Kelli O'Hara Departs King and I on April 17th - Marin Mazzie to step in!
#150Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 4/26/16 at 3:23am
I'm sorry for your sister. But you are wrong about the science.
It cannot help your sister and it could not help my mother, who died of ovarian in 1994, but new treatments with increased efficacy are helping more and more women like Marin.
Your experience is sad, as is mine, but our past experiences are not the current experiences of other patients and their loved ones.
Be more careful with your words."
I respect your opinion, Pal Joey, as one of the kindest posters here. But I don't make such statements lightly. If you research progress against ovarian cancer, you will find a great deal about promising research, but over the last 25 years all you will find is the discovery of new toxic chemicals that may prolong the life of a woman by a year or more. The other main "progress" is in predicting by genetic study if the odds of a woman are fairly high that she may develop the disease in advance, so that she may have her ovaries surgically removed.
The bottom line is that women diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer have a ten year survival rate of less than five percent. I don't find this to be acceptable progress. I think that it is important to call those responsible to account for the large amount of funding that they receive.
If the point of your post was that a woman with the disease or a family member may be upset by reading of the still dismal prognosis, I don't agree. I think that they know the score.
However, if you are right about that then I was wrong.
#151Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 4/26/16 at 4:05am
Marin described her cancer as "in remission". Perhaps it will unfortunately come back to haunt her in future, but my understanding is that at the moment she has indeed been able to overcome her illness and will not be in the same situation as say Roger Rees who was very much fighting for his life while in The Visit 
.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
#152Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 11:09am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEnV_ATGc9o
Lincoln Center posted this new commercial with Marin and Daniel! They look amazing!
#153Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 11:34am
Taking my mom to see this on June 4th, third row, for her birthday. So excited to see Marin and Daniel!
#154Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 12:21pm
Snagged a TDF ticket for tomorrow night! I can't wait!
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#155Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 12:48pm
bwayphreak234 said: "Snagged a TDF ticket for tomorrow night! I can't wait!
Please report back, I want to hear all about it!
#156Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 3:06pm
Also snagged a TDF ticket for tomorrow night! I can't wait!
SO glad to see Marin instead of Kelli
smidge
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/06
#157Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 3:08pm
Just got a ticket for May 29th! Does anyone know how much longer Ruthie Ann and Conrad are in the show
#158Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 3:12pm
Marin and Daniel join the cast tomorrow night
#159Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 4:00pm
I too will be in attendance tomorrow night and will report back.
"I think lying to children is really important, it sets them off on the right track" -Sherie Rene Scott-
#160Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 4:02pm
I'll be there! I'm so excited!
smidge
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/06
#161Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 4:39pm
Robert, was that a response to my inquiry? I was asking about the actors who play Lady Thiang and Lun Tha
#162Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 5:39pm
Ruthie and Conrad are leaving the end of June. Their departure is timed with the Daniel's departure.
smidge
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/06
#163Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 6:13pm
Thanks Smooth! I appreciate it.
billyelliotfan123
Leading Actor Joined: 10/24/09
#164Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 7:10pm
Is a king announced for after Daniel leaves or are they trying to see how it sells without Kelli before recasting the king in case it makes sense to close instead?
#165Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/2/16 at 9:15pm
What will be interesting and is on a lot of people's mind involved in the production is to see if the new leads give the show a bump in attendance.
#166Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/3/16 at 6:52pm
Very excited for tonight's performance! Marin's hubby Jason in the audience (as expected). Will report during intermission!
#167Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/3/16 at 7:24pm
Can't wait to hear! Enjoy!
#168Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:23pm
There are some nights in the theatre that stay with you forever. And, oh boy, let me tell you, was tonight one of those nights. Marin Mazzie is absolutely radiant and transcendent as Anna. She got a huge entrance applause when she made her entrance on the boat, and the evening just soared uphill from there.
I'm sure pretty much everyone on here knows that I am a HUGE Kelli O'Hara fan, and I LOVED her in The King and I, and I jumped for joy when she won the Tony last year. I never thought anyone could top her performance in my book, but tonight proved me wrong. Mazzie's Anna has a beautiful sense of sternness and maturity that adds so much more depth to the character. She radiates warmth and joy when she is onstage with the children, and radiates passion and intensity in her scenes with the King.
The King. Daniel Dae Kim toppled Hoon Lee as my new favorite King. I don't really know what to say about him besides that he made the most of every moment, and his performance was so rich and passionate. The chemistry between Marin Mazzie and Daniel Dae Kim was insane. For this being their first public performance together, there was so much energy and fierceness between the two of them. I found myself more engaged in the relation between Anna and the King than I have ever been when seeing previous productions.
This revival is one of my favorite Broadway productions ever, and tonight I was able to fall in love with it even more thanks to these two new leads who take this show to brand new heights. The rest of the cast - Ashley Park, Ruthie Ann Miles, and Conrad Ricamora are all still giving incredible performances. These two leads, though, are NOT to be missed. This is honestly one of those nights in the theatre I will cherish forever.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
#169Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:25pm
I was hoping to hear that actual product is as good as imagined
Thrilled for Marin and Daniel both.
ChiTheaterFan
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/15
#170Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:28pm
Hmmmmm. Sounds like it's finally time to pay a return visit to this revival! Is Daniel Dae Kim a strong singer? I have never heard him. I can imagine his persona making a great King, though.
#171Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:38pm
Yay!! What an awesome review, bwayphreak. I am so excited for June 4th to see it for myself!
#172Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:43pm
I agree with bwayphreak, what a delightful night!
Marin Mazzie was in great voice, sounding as good as ever with no signs of strain which was endearing to listen to, she really is coming back with a bang! Daniel Dae Kim's debut as the King was also very good. His comedic timing was spot on and gave the King a character from the get-go. His singing, however, was not up to par compared to previous Kings. Though it was apparent he was not a singer, never was he off key or pitch, it just wasn't as melodic as everyone else's voice in the production.
With a couple of line flubs from Marin, she really seemed to have the character down and I believe she will be completely settled in the role in a couple more performances. But she was a delight all throughout, and her funny scenes were very funny, she really knew how to play up both styles. My only qualm, which I feel bad saying, is that she really does read and look older than the previous Anna's in this production, while Daniel just looks younger naturally.
The show is in great shape, perhaps since today was a 'fresh' performance by the Leads, but the supporting characters were as strong as ever, Ruthie Ann Miles and Ashley Park specially. The curtain call was very special with Marin and Daniel receiving a strong standing ovation, they put leis around each other's necks and hugged while the other cast members also cheered for them from stage. Marin seemed to have tears swelling up, who wouldn't!
Surprisingly the house was not sold out, the balcony seemed ~60% full and the orchestra had some of the last rows empty, I hope it lasts for some time longer.
#173Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/3/16 at 10:54pm
I bought this ticket on a whim a few weeks ago on TDF and I'm so glad I did! I saw the original leads twice and this was a completely new experience. Daniel is fantastic! He has the buoyancy to play the humorous, sprightly side of the King but carries the emotional heft when called for. His voice isn't first rate, but he acts the heck out of the songs so you ignore the few shaky notes.
Marin's Anna is not nearly as prim and proper as Kelli's. I've always felt that Kelli's performances are too "perfect". Marin's Anna definitely comes across as older, but with that her performance is also much grittier and the emotions are more raw. Her Anna clearly has more life experience to back up her defiance of the King. The chemistry between the two of them is palpable. For the first time I really understood what went unsaid between Anna and The King. This was the first time I've really seen genuine passion in "Shall We Dance". That being said, I wish people would remember they were at Lincoln Center and stop clapping during the polka as if they were at Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede.
The new leads looked simply ecstatic at the curtain call! Bart Sher sat near me taking notes with a woman who appeared to be his assistant throughout the show. Part of the fun of the performance for me was looking at his reactions to the show. He was clearly pleased at the end. As a teacher myself, this was such a treat to see on Teacher Appreciation Day!
http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com
ChiTheaterFan
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/15
#174Kelli O'Hara to depart King and I April 17, Marin Mazzie joins cast May 3
Posted: 5/3/16 at 11:01pm
Thanks for the reports. Sounds like a good one to add to my trip in a few weeks! I'm totally ok with the King not being a perfect singer since I don't think it's that important for the role, as long as they're not terribly off key or anything. :) Sounds like his acting is well worth it.
Are either of them scheduled through a particular date? I thought I saw something about Kim's run being limited but I can't find it now.
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