Whistle a Happy Tune! Jose Llana Returns to Broadway's The King and I
(Photo: Paul Kolnik)
Shall we dance? Jose Llana, who previously succeeded Ken Watanabe in The King and I, will do so once more beginning on April 19 for two weeks. He will be replaced on May 3 by Daniel Dae Kim, who will make his Broadway debut as the titular King of Siam for an eight-week run.
Llana’s additional credits include here Lies Love off-Broadway, as well as Wonderland, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Flower Drum Song, Rent, Streetcorner Symphony and the ’96 revival of The King and I (in which he played Lun Tha).
Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical, set in 1860s Bangkok, tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher, whom the imperious King brings to Siam to tutor his many wives and children.
The current cast also includes Analisa Leaming as Anna, Tony winner Ruthie Ann Miles as Lady Thiang, Conrad Ricamora as Lun Tha and Ashley Park as Tuptim. Marin Mazzie will begin performances as Anna on May 3.
