I'm praying this'll live up to my expectations for it. I have to wait until June to see it, but I'm looking forward to hearing from everyone who'll be seeing it in previews.
I'm excited for this because though we know little of what to expect, we know there will be quality. No matter what, every person in the audience will be getting something good. The music is classic. Even if the acting is horrible (and I would be shocked if it was), the simple fact that The King and I is beautiful music saves things.
I could sum up the 1996 Broadway production as this: meh production and King, good Anna and great score. Let's hope it's a great production with O'Hara and Watanabe as two equally great leads.
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
How did I not know Betsy Morgan was standing by for Kelli O'Hara? Good for her! She's a very talented performer in her own right and since Kelli tends to miss very few performances, hopefully Betsy will go on when Kelli goes on a vacation or the like sometime down the road.
Yay for strong casting! The depth of this cast is big. It's exciting to know that even coming into the show!
Sharon, to me, it feels like that the 1996 production was okay because it's purpose of being a production for the "PC police" is pointless because the material itself was WAY ahead of it's time in the 50's and the 1996 revival broke the most important rule: DO NOT have the King and Anna to almost kiss, it absolutely ruins the integrity of Oscar Hammerstein's original book. Plus the production was a bit too lavish for it's own good but what saves it from being "bad" was Donna Murphy's lovely performance and it's score of course.
Thankfully from what I've heard so far, the new revival is creating a lavish and an intimate look and a very talented cast and crew that will back it up.
From last month's Time interview with Julie Andrews:
"How do you think Broadway has changed since you were in those shows?"
"It’s much more expensive than it used to be. You don’t often see very big orchestras, which was part of the joy of a good musical."
Reminds me how exciting it was when they took the lid off the 29 piece orchestra for South Pacific during the Overture.
I thought I would be waiting a while, but April 5th isn't that far off.
You'd think Kelli would at least take off her one day a week, but on May 4th she's going to be one of the performers at the Carnegie Hall New York Pops Gala with the last Tony winning Anna, Donna Murphy. Also Sutton Foster, Alan Cumming and others to be named later.
Sixty Five dollars for the 2nd row of the Dress Circle a pretty good deal.
She doesn't have an alternate, so one day a week off has not been built into her contract. Just like ordinary jobs, she get a certain number of sick days to use. (And vacation days)
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
I'll be there tonight too. I've been alternating between the OBCRs of Piazza and Bridges for the past 48 hrs in anticipation of Kelli's return. I know it's been less than a year, but it feels like too long.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!