The recent Broadway and London revival of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s The King and I, which was filmed in the West End starring Tony winner Kelli O’Hara, Tony and Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe, and Tony winner Ruthie Ann Miles, will embark on a new U.K. tour next year.
Again directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher, the tour will launch January 30, 2023, at the Canterbury Marlowe Theatre. The production will subsequently visit Wimbledon, Liverpool, Birmingham, Wycombe, Bristol, Dartford, Bradford, Southend, Cardiff, Manchester, and Glasgow.
Casting will be announced later this year with further U.K. cities as well as international touring dates.
Sher will be reunited with the creative team that brought the production to life at the London Palladium following its award-winning Broadway run.
“We are delighted to take this majestic multi award-winning production of The King and I on a major U.K. and international tour in 2023," says producer Howard Panter. "The London Palladium season saw critical plaudits, box-office records, and standing ovations at every show—we were overwhelmed with the rapturous response—coupled with the reaction to the Global cinema screenings of the film version, which was the biggest theatre event in cinemas of the year and number one at the box office. This really is musical theatre at its very best, so we are thrilled that we can now share this wondrous production with theatre lovers up and down the country next year.”
The revival first opened at Lincoln Center Theater's Vivian Beaumont April 16, 2015, going on to win Tonys for Best Revival of a Musical, O'Hara and Miles' performances, and costume designer Catherine Zuber. The creative team also included scenic designer Michael Yeargan, lighting designer Donald Holder, sound designer Scott Lehrer, and musical director Ted Sperling.
Visit KingandIMusical.co.uk.
