The King and I Revival

[Musical Master]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 12:16pm

I guess it's no suprise that a lot of people on here are extremely excited for the upcoming revival in March of 2015 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.

The thing that's got me excited is not only the casting of Ken Watanabe as The King, and Bartlett Sher as the director, but the restoration of Jerome Robbins' choreography and Robert Russell Bennett's large orchestrations. With how amazing the South Pacific revival in 2008 turned out, I think we're in for something wonderful with this one.

Updated On: 7/23/14 at 12:16 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 12:17pm

I agree. I also assume that the "A Puzzlement" reprise and "Western People Funny" will be restored/included.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 12:34pm

Yeah, it's about time those two songs came back. I think that Western People Funny is one of the underrated comic songs from Rodgers and Hammerstein, so it's Sher's choice to bring it back or not for this production.

When I start to think about it... Bartlett Sher could do wonders for a production of Follies.

[haterobics]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 12:35pm

Is Kelli the only one winning a Tony for this show, or is she one of many?

[Musical Master]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 12:40pm

I don't think so I think Watanabe might have a shot. Plus this is going to be done by not only Sher but his entire crew from South Pacific, so I think this revival could win many awards.

Updated On: 7/23/14 at 12:40 PM

[dreaming]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 12:42pm

I must be the only one not excited about this show AT ALL. I'll see it once with my LincTix-and that will be all. I guarantee it. It's the same schtick out of Sher. I get it-he likes Kelli O'Hara.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 12:44pm

I'm excited for this production as well, but let's calm down. It doesn't start performances for nearly 8 months. Let's not jump to awards it'll be winning just yet, please.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 12:45pm

I can't wait to see McMullan's artwork!

[HorseTears]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 12:46pm

I can't WAIT for this revival. I hope that I'm able to make it back to NY when both K&I and On the Town are playing. What a treat to get two great classics being given lavish productions with original orchestrations in the same season.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 12:51pm

It's the same schtick out of Sher.

But we haven't seen it yet. And what IS his shtick? Casting someone in 4 out of his 8 Broadway productions does not seem like a shtick to me. Bernadette Peters doing 5 Sondheim shows on Broadway is a shtick too, right?


Updated On: 7/23/14 at 12:51 PM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 12:59pm

I hope the scene transitions are just as wonderful as the South Pacific revival, that's one of my biggest hopes.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 1:43pm

Anyone know when tickets go on sale?

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 1:47pm

dreaming, you're so unexcited for this show that you're going to go see it?!

[dreaming]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 1:52pm

I'm willing to give it a chance (partly because I can get a cheap ticket and partly because I like to have an opinion based on my own experience-doesn't mean I'm excited about it. There are 10,000 other shows I'd rather see revived. And maybe, just maybe something more daring than "The King and I".)

[Musical Master]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 1:59pm

^You would rather want a revival that's more "daring" than The King and I? What do you have in mind? Personally I wouldn't mind a future revival of City of Angels.

[dreaming]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 2:04pm

Heck, I'd rather have "City of Angels". I'm rather excited about "Allegro" at CSC to tell the truth. That's a daring piece (or it was when it came out-it was a flop-but it was ahead of its time and I wonder if it might now be more acceptable). I wish we could get out of the 'traditional American songbook' stuff. There has to be more out there. We need to dig deeper for rich, bold, daring material. I like "The King and I" but feel 'kinged' to death right now. And I guess I think it's predictable that we'll see Carousel next-with KELLI O'HARA as JULIE JORDAN because that hasn't been done yet.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 2:08pm

Actually, Kelli O'Hara has played Julie Jordan already in a concert version of Carousel a year ago. Personally she was good, not great (ala Shirley Jones) but still good enough.

[holdyourbatboy]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 2:09pm

I heard Keala Settle is set for Lady Thiang.

[dreaming]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 2:14pm

Very funny. I'm hoping he'll get an opera singer who can hit the high notes. (Hui He)

[Musical Master]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 6:22pm

So far Sher has done a good job of casting the right people for his shows (well maybe Women on the Verge's casting is debatable). So I think he'll do a good job of casting the feautred roles to some very talented people.

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 8:11pm

CATSNYrevival, I totally agree. The Lincoln Center artwork is always gorgeous and I love when new ones are revealed.
As for the revival, I have faith that it will be a proper revival of a really wonderful show, with amazing production values to boot, but I just wish that we could see another show than THE KIND AND I, because the last revival was only in 1996. In perspective, the LCT revival of CAROUSEL was in 1993, and I would rather see that or a revival of STATE FAIR or PIPE DREAM or ALLEGRO instead of another production of this show. Either way, it will still be a magical evening at the theatre (hopefully) so there isn't too much to complain about.

[VIETgrlTerifa]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 8:24pm

I think the King and I is just a natural choice. One, it's been almost twenty years since the last revival. Two, the score holds up and has more broad-based appeal compared to other R&H musicals.

[Musical Master]

Posted: 7/23/14 at 9:22pm

An Allegro revival would be a Rodgers and Hammerstein fan's dream come true, not so much for Me & Juliet and Pipe Dream (which the former's book is Hammerstein's weakest book).

But the 1996 revival was a rather meh production to me, it lacks that certain spark that (from my guess) that the original production and the 1956 film had. So Bartlett Sher and his cast and crew will restore the progressive intent that Hammerstein, Robbins, and even John Van Druten intended just like how Sher restored the original intent of the South Pacific revival.

Updated On: 7/23/14 at 09:22 PM

[Musical Master]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 1:41am

Just a bump for this thread seeing how the day of THE KING AND I's first preview performance is almost a month away.

[Marway44]

Posted: 2/19/15 at 6:11am

I was just thinking where the King and party will sit during the ballet. There are no box seats like in the last revival. Maybe on stage?