Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I
by Oscar Hammerstein (Ii), Richard Rodgers, Jerome Robbins, Margaret Landon

Name: Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I
Brand: Oscar Hammerstein (Ii)
SKU: 9780573709272

Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I Cover

Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I Book Cover — Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins 19th Century Role(s) for Asian Actor(s) Unit Set/Multiple Settings Period Costumes

Awards & Recognition

Drama Desk Award Tony Award

Winner! 1952 Tony Award, Best Musical Nominee: 1977 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Musical Winner! 1985 Tony Award, Special Award Winner! 1996 Tony Award, Best Revival of a Musical Winner! 1996 Drama Desk Award, Best Musical Revival Winner! 2015 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Revival of a Musical or Revue Winner! 2015 Tony Award, Best Revival of a Musical

Synopsis

It is 1862 in Siam when an English widow, Anna Leonowens, and her young son arrive at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, having been summoned by the King to serve as tutor to his many children and wives.

The King is largely considered to be a "barbarian" by those in the West, and he seeks Anna's assistance in changing his image, if not his ways.

With both keeping a firm grip on their respective traditions and values, Anna and the King grow to understand and respect one another in a truly unique love story.

Press Reviews

"The King and I is the essence of musical theater, an occasion when drama, music, dance and decor combine to take the audience on an unforgettable journey."
— Houston Chronicle

"Having no delusions of grandeur, The King and I does not attempt to solve the problem of the East and the West. It never strays very far from the immediate needs of the people in the play while they are getting to know each other, as the key melody phrases it. But The King and I is a seriously intended and deeply moving experiment in human understanding. It richly deserves the affection everyone has for it."
— Brooks Atkinson, The New York Times

"More than any of the great golden-age musicals, for which Rodgers & Hammerstein forged the template with Oklahoma!, The King and I revels in spectacle. But its most impressive achievement is how it balances epic sweep with intimate sensibility."
— Ben Brantley, The New York Times

"The star of this production remains the show itself. It grows more impressive with each viewing.” – New York Daily News “Has heart, drama, comedy... sets a new high standard for the musical stage.” – New York Daily Mirror “The King and I yields a motherlode of classic songs, including ‘I Whistle a Happy Tune,’ ‘Getting To Know You,’ ‘I Have Dreamed’ and, of course, the show's signature tune, ‘Shall We Dance?"
— F. Kathleen Foley, The Los Angeles Times

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
ENSEMBLE Large singing and dancing ensemble consisting of Royal Dancers, Wives, Priests, Guards and the children of the King.	male	—	Large singing and dancing ensemble consisting of Royal Dancers, Wives, Priests, Guards and the children of the King.
CHARACTERS Captain Orton – A British sea captain Louis Leonowens – Anna’s Son Anna Leonowens – A British schoolteacher, traveling to Siam, engaged to teach the Royal Children The Interpreter – The King’s interpreter The Kralahome – The King’s Executive Officer The King – The King of Siam (based on the historical King Mongkut) Phra Alack – Secretary and chief footman to the King Lun Tha – A Burmese scholar and envoy Tuptim – A Burmese slave Lady Thiang – The King’s head wife – mother of Prince Chulalongkorn Prince Chulalongkorn – The King’s eldest son and heir Sir Edward Ramsay – A British diplomat Princess Ying Yaowalak – One of the youngest of the King’s daughters Nine Princes and Eight Princesses – The King’s children Eighteen Royal Dancers (skilled enough to execute “The Small House of Uncle Thomas” ballet) Ten Priests of Siam Ten Royal Wives – The King’s wives Female Guards (Amazons) – Guards of the Royal Wives	female	—	Captain Orton – A British sea captain Louis Leonowens – Anna’s Son Anna Leonowens – A British schoolteacher, traveling to Siam, engaged to teach the Royal Children The Interpreter – The King’s interpreter The Kralahome – The King’s Executive Officer The King – The King of Siam (based on the historical King Mongkut) Phra Alack – Secretary and chief footman to the King Lun Tha – A Burmese scholar and envoy Tuptim – A Burmese slave Lady Thiang – The King’s head wife – mother of Prince Chulalongkorn Prince Chulalongkorn – The King’s eldest son and heir Sir Edward Ramsay – A British diplomat Princess Ying Yaowalak – One of the youngest of the King’s daughters Nine Princes and Eight Princesses – The King’s children Eighteen Royal Dancers (skilled enough to execute “The Small House of Uncle Thomas” ballet) Ten Priests of Siam Ten Royal Wives – The King’s wives Female Guards (Amazons) – Guards of the Royal Wives
CASTING NOTE Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I is inspired by the novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon and is based on the lives of real people. The story takes place in Siam during the early 1860s in and around the Royal Palace. Many of the characters are Siamese or from surrounding countries and of Asian heritage. The actors should be cast accordingly. The use of make-up or prosthetics to alter an actor’s ethnicity is prohibited.	male	60s	Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I is inspired by the novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon and is based on the lives of real people. The story takes place in Siam during the early 1860s in and around the Royal Palace. Many of the characters are Siamese or from surrounding countries and of Asian heritage. The actors should be cast accordingly. The use of make-up or prosthetics to alter an actor’s ethnicity is prohibited.