Ken Watanabe returning to TKAI- Page 4

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 2/15/16 at 9:14pm

This was reported in a January 25th article in the Times ArtsBeat:

 

Ms. O’Hara and Lincoln Center Theater are in discussions regarding the length of her run and it is yet to be determined if she will perform opposite Mr. Kim, said Philip Rinaldi, a spokesman for Lincoln Center Theater.... The show’s run is open-ended, Mr. Rinaldi said, and the role of the King has not been cast after Mr. Kim’s run. 

 

If she's leaving in mid-April, shouldn't they announce it pretty soon, for the benefit of spring theatergoers?

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 11:27am

https://twitter.com/KingandIBway/status/699626653270433792

 

Looks like Kelli's final performance will be April 17. But this tweet is a little cryptic—are they just leaving or are they gonna close?

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 11:28am

JK, the official website lists Kings for after April 17, so looks like they'll just cast a replacement.

[UnwoundFantasies]

Posted: 2/16/16 at 11:44am

Yea Daniel Dae Kim and Jose Llana are both coming in after Kelli departs. They haven't cast her replacement yet.

[scientificdog]

Posted: 3/8/16 at 11:54pm

Ken Watanabe went on tonight in the King & I and gave a powerful performance.  His diction no longer seemed to be a problem and he was absolutely magnificent.  The orchestra section was completely full so I'm wondering if this was announced somewhere.   

[UnwoundFantasies]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 12:54am

It was not announced, publicly at least. But he should be on for a few days this week. 

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 3:23am

"It was not announced, publicly at least. But he should be on for a few days this week. "

 

Watanabe was originally scheduled to return March 1st, which got changed to March 17th due to his diagnosis of and recovery from stomach cancer. I think he simply decided that he was ready to return earlier than he expected. I don't think he is in just for a few days, I think he's back. As to the orchestra being completely full without a public announcement? He has a huge international following, and there were many people who missed him the first time around. A few private calls here and there can fill a house pretty quickly for someone like him.

 

"Yea Daniel Dae Kim and Jose Llana are both coming in after Kelli departs. They haven't cast her replacement yet." 

 

I don't know when it was announced (I see you posted in Feb, so you may already know this), but Marin Mazzie is replacing O'Hara in the role of Anna.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 9:35am

I'm so thrilled that he's back.  The perfect way for Kelli to close her run in this glorious show.  

I saw each of the other actors in the role of the King, but Watanabe really had something special.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 9:45am

Glad Ken was able to return.  I was hoping to see Hoon Lee this weekend since he supposedly extended, but I guess that's not going to happen.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 9:54am

Oh, I am sorry you'll miss him, Dottie.  He was really incredible in the role.

[UnwoundFantasies]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 1:13pm

Dottie, hoon might still be on this weekend! But if not you'll see Ken who's just as excellent.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 2:03pm

Hoon Lee has not been playing the part for a week and a half. According to ABC news something happened that put Lee out of commission so that is probably why Ken went on earlier than expected.

Updated On: 3/9/16 at 02:03 PM

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 2:04pm

...what?

[Taryn]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 2:07pm

Saw the show last night for the first time.  I'd actually bought tickets specifically for Ken's return and hadn't heard that it was pushed back a couple weeks, so I ended up being super lucky without even realizing.  What a lush, gorgeous production!  I'd disagree that that Ken's diction is no longer a problem -- there are definitely times I couldn't understand him.  But his performance was powerful and riveting.  Everyone was really remarkable, in fact.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 2:08pm

SmoothLover said: "Hoon Lee has not been playing the part for a week and a half. He was taken away in an ambulance a week ago last Sunday so that is probably the reason Ken is going in earlier than expected.

"

How odd that no one mentioned that Hoon was out. He posted a photo on Twitter on March 4.

Updated On: 3/9/16 at 02:08 PM

[bfreak]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 2:14pm

My guess is that Ken was feeling better so he decided to come back early, and test it out without an announcement in case he had a health problem on stage or just wasn't ready yet. But it seems he was, and good for him. I saw both him and Hoon and they were both remarkable Kings. I might give Hoon the slightest edge, but they were both outstanding nonetheless.

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 2:30pm

All I know from an acquaintance who works there is that last week was full of understudies and the understudy for the King was on for many of the shows. Perhaps Hoon did a few of them. I really do no know. I was just taking a guess as to why Ken stepped in earlier. Don't take my word for it however because it is just what I heard, The acquaintance is an usher who has been there for a million years and is always getting into trouble.. But the whole ambulance thing was on ABC TV news. But I think ABC was making much ado about nothing,

[UnwoundFantasies]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 3:16pm

SmoothLover is correct. Hoon was injured and an ambulance was involved, this happened Feb 28th. Understudies alternated all last week and Ken is on tonight and tomorrow at least, per understudies twitter. But Hoon should be back on soon-injuries permitting. With Ken taking over full time on March 17th as scheduled. 

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 6:11pm

UnwoundFantasies said: "SmoothLover is correct. Hoon was injured and an ambulance was involved, this happened Feb 28th. Understudies alternated all last week and Ken is on tonight and tomorrow at least, per understudies twitter. But Hoon should be back on soon-injuries permitting. With Ken taking over full time on March 17th as scheduled. 

Thanks for clearing it all up. I hope most importantly that Hoon is doing well because besides being a talent he is a gentleman. And Ken is one to. To me it will be interesting to see show long the show runs. I do not know how important it is for Non Profits to have healthy sized houses. If it makes no difference then I guess it could run for another two years.

"

 

[NoName3]

Posted: 3/9/16 at 7:28pm

According to another board, Hoon Lee was going to extend until Watanabe's delayed return but was injured before a performance when the glass door to his dressing room shower shattered and cut him so badly he required nearly 50 stitches in his arms. But that board openly calls itself a gossip site (Datalounge) so I'm not stating this as fact.

Updated On: 3/9/16 at 07:28 PM

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 3/10/16 at 12:54am

Wow! That is intense. I did not know that shower glass shattered. I guess I thought it was made out of a plastic material of some sort. Maybe it was a very old shower door. The only thing I knew was that something had happened right before curtain so the start time was delayed for a half an hour. My neighbor heard this while walking her dog over on 65th street. So many actors scrambled into different parts which probably kept the wardrobe department on their toes. And then the whole ambulance thing was on ABC news. Gosh I hope the gashes were not too deep.

[Tag]

Posted: 3/10/16 at 1:04am

Lee has been commenting on Twitter tonight, confirming the shower door story.  He says he hopes to be back in the show on Saturday night or for the Sunday matinee.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 3/10/16 at 8:24am

Haha, you can't fool us, official King and I twitter account!
https://twitter.com/KingandIBway/status/707913939187699712