Laura Michelle Kelly & Jose Llana to Lead THE KING & I National Tour!- Page 2

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 12:12am

Just saying she played a lead here on Broadway for over a year and is now playing one on the road. And we bring over way more full-cast British productions. When was the last time a full-American cast did a show in the West End?

[rjm516]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 5:21am

There really aren't that many American actors over here in London compared to how many Brits and British productions go over there. And honestly, the Americans they bring over are so much better so it's a good thing. The best of the Brits end up in NYC so they need to bring good proven quality over sometimes.

[candydog2]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 7:10am

The Broadway Cast of The Elephant Man with Bradley Cooper transferred with its American cast last year. That was the last one I can think of and that was only a year ago.

And also, equity keeps tabs on how many actors are working from abroad and vice versa to try and give as much opportunity to American actors as possible. That being said, if Kelly is in fact now a full-time US resident then she has every right to pursue roles in the US just as any American actor would.

[Nefertiti]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 11:48am

Call_me_jorge said: "I hope LCT records this in return for not recording the Broadway run. 

The King and I should be a choice for a Live TV Musical. It would be an excellent way to introduce the piece to many people across the country. 

 

[newintown]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 12:14pm

"Of course...Anna is British."

Anna Leonowens (actually Leon Owens - she or her husband probably put the two names together to sound more posh) never lived a day in the UK in her life. She was born and raised in India; her English father died before she was born and she was raised by a mother who was probably part English/part Indian. Given that she was sufficiently lower class as to have few records of her life, she got away for years with the exaggerations and full-out self-aggrandizing lies she wrote about herself.

And of course, all of this is pointless; Kelly will do a very fine performance of this rather bland role.

[newintown]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 12:17pm

"The King and I should be a choice for a Live TV Musical. It would be an excellent way to introduce the piece to many people across the country."

Is there something wrong with the classic movie that already exists, that prohibits it from being an "introduction" to the piece?

[Danster]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 12:33pm

I am much concerned about standards rather than a foreign actress in the lead role. As I said before this is a Networks tour who are renowned for touring with scaled down presentations 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 12:42pm

Danster said: "I am much concerned about standards rather than a foreign actress in the lead role. As I said before this is a Networks tour who are renowned for touring with scaled down presentations 

 

"

Aren't all tours scaled down though? How is networks any different? Also when networks produced the South Pacific tour they kept the orchestrations intact. I imagine this will be no different. 

[haterobics]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 12:45pm

Nice! I wanted to see Llana as the King, but didn't get the chance, so will definitely have to check out the tour!

[Nefertiti]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 12:45pm

The complete score is not in the film version and as always the piece differs from stage to screen.I miss I have dreamed each time I watch the movie. The original piece has a class of its own and do hope that like other shows that has been recently done this one would happen after all it may be a long time since another revival happens. 

 

 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 1:00pm

Besides the boat in the beginning, the design for this show is very simple. Just some flats that slide on and off. It's pretty, but it will easily tour. I'd imagine they'll just downscale the boat, or do something different. 

[Nefertiti]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 2:10pm

Got to agree to disagree. If you haven't seen the original staging, you would probably enjoy the tour. However, if you have seen the original you would end up comparing and that is what spoils the fun. By the time South Pacific got to a nearby city, it did differ from the Lincoln center and with and understudy for Nellie that night,  made me regret the choice of wanting to see South Pacific again. 

I have doubts if  will get the see the magnificent opening when the boat moves towards the audience. Breathtaking! 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 9/15/16 at 3:48pm

Perhaps some of us don't just go to the theatre for spectacle and magnificent boats?? 

As long as the orchestra is large I am happy. It was a lovely orchestra for the SOUTH PACIFIC tour (undoubtedly local musicians partly) and I would expect similar treatment here.

[ageorges3]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 1:03pm

They might be able to pull the boat off on the tour!  It had to have been one of the coolest scenic elements I've ever seen on a broadway stage.  Disney sent Lion King out on tour with a really neatly designed Pride Rock that could work in a variety of touring houses (same scenic principle - you have a set element that comes out on stage and rises.)  

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 1:48pm

But what made the boat so breathtaking in the theater is the thrust stage. The bow of the boat basically extended over the audience. I don't think it would have that same effect in the giant touring houses. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 1:50pm

ageorges3 said: "They might be able to pull the boat off on the tour!  It had to have been one of the coolest scenic elements I've ever seen on a broadway stage.  Disney sent Lion King out on tour with a really neatly designed Pride Rock that could work in a variety of touring houses (same scenic principle - you have a set element that comes out on stage and rises.)  

 

"

Did the boat come out of the stage?

[ClumsyDude15]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 2:25pm

^At the top of the show, the boat slid out to the front of the stage with Anna and Louis on it, so it didn't come out of the stage, but slid on. 

[ageorges3]

Posted: 9/16/16 at 10:46pm

That's a good point, Call Me Jorge!  I don't think they had to change anything with the deck at the Beaumont.  Over at the Minskoff, Pride Rock is literally built into the stage.  And I agree, Ripped Man - part of the appeal was the boat coming out on that thrust stage - don't want to be all braggy, but I've been lucky enough to sit close to the stage and in the same general area in each of the shows I've seen at the VB - South Pacific, War Horse, and King and I - and its given me an appreciation for the things you can do with a thrust, seeing how each show used it differently.  But that boat was beyond dope lookin' coming out over the audience.  

[ClumsyDude15]

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

The first time I saw The King and I, I was sitting very close to the side of the stage when the boat slid on and I looked up it was literally inches from me and I was speechless at just how grand and magical a moment it was. 

[ageorges3]

Posted: 9/17/16 at 12:48am

I agree, ClumsyDude15!  It was one of those theatrical moments I'll never forget.  An exciting way to start the show and get the audience into the story - brilliant design choice.  Same with the rest of the set - and I'm sure the other scenic elements wont be a hassle to tour - it's not like the set had all the moving parts of a show like Wicked, but man was it magnificently designed.  Some stuff will prob have to change without the thrust to approach from different sides of the theater (having the King make an entrance from one side of the thrust was beyond cool - it added to the aura of the part, and Watanabe sold it in how he stepped out on that stage) but I'm sure the creatives will think of equally interesting stuff to make up for it!

Updated On: 9/17/16 at 12:48 AM

[bear88]

Posted: 9/17/16 at 9:03pm

So we might not get a boat at the beginning of the show, but it sounds like the consensus here is that this cast is worth seeing on tour (it's coming to San Francisco in November)?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 9/17/16 at 11:04pm

Yes. I'm from the Bay Area and hadn't planned on going home for Thanksgiving, but I might now.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 9/17/16 at 11:14pm

Rest assured, the orchestra will be large. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/17/16 at 11:27pm

Oh without a doubt worth seeing.

Posted: 9/18/16 at 6:11pm

I'm about to buy tickets for this when it plays Los Angeles, but can only afford the extreme sides right now.  For those who have seen the show, is there a particular side that is better for viewing?