The King and I
This glorious Lincoln Center Theater mounting of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical.
... Read moreThis classic tale of a British schoolteacher's unexpected relationship with the imperious King of Siam features a cast of more than 50, choreography based on the original by Jerome Robbins, and a score of treasured songs including "Getting to Know You," "I Whistle a Happy Tune" and "Shall We Dance?" in their original orchestrations.
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- 2 hours and 55 minutes
- Already closed
- Vivian Beaumont Theater (Upper W Side)
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Reviews (2200)
31 Critics' Reviews
"While this production possessed many virtues when it debuted last spring, a lightly bantering current of sexual attraction was not among them. But what a difference a king makes...Something exciting is going on at the Vivian Beaumont, a richly reimagined classic had assumed even fuller dimensions." Full Review
"Tamper too much with the basic appeal of this show and it capsizes. Mr. Sher sheds a light that isn’t harsh or misty but clarifying. He understands very well what makes the show work, and he delivers it clean-scrubbed and naked, allowing us to see 'The King and I' plain. He understands very well what makes the show work, and he delivers it." Full Review
"Director Bartlett Sher has brought 'The King and I' thrillingly to life for a new generation. With outstanding performances from his cast, Sher brings the grandeur of opera to this mounting...Those looking for a time-honored Broadway musical realized on a grand scale could do no better." Full Review
"You can’t overstate how stunningly beautiful, how achingly well sung this new revival of 'The King and I' is...The music is simply divine. The cast appears to be just as transported as we are, their voices ringing with heartfelt emotion. So strong is the rest of this show that, even with a relatively weak performance by the king, you’re still getting the royal treatment." Full Review
"'The King and I' arrives like the ship that heaves into the Beaumont stage: a majestic vessel, bringing many wonderful things. Sher directs with palpable respect and a care to avoid orientalist humbug...You marvel at the sophistication of the theme: intercultural change and evolution. This 'King and I' speaks a universal language of love." Full Review
"”The production itself, with its operatic sweep and opulent aesthetic, is the star of its own show. ...The show’s still pertinent theme: the dissonant dynamic when Western civilization tries to assert its values on Eastern cultures. That cultural dialogue is at the heart of this absolutely stunning show. " Full Review
"This 'King and I' is excellent...The production has the epic sweep that the authors intended...Sher and his leading players also investigate undercurrents of romance and physical attraction which were not evident in the original production...Sparks fly." Full Review
"From the very first moments of Lincoln Center’s ravishing 'The King and I,' it feels like a privilege just to be sitting in the audience...And so it goes, each scene flowing seamlessly, and splendidly, into the next, allowing for the breathtaking spectacle this musical deserves...However, the ballet brings home a fact that is hard to deny: It encourages us to identify with the prevailing world view – that European morality and culture are superior to any other." Full Review
"'The King and I' presents three major problems: the scenic requirements, Yul Brynner’s legendary star turn, and the writer portrayed the King of Siam as a spoiled man-child. Director Bartlett Sher’s solution: cast an Asian actor in Brynner’s role while simultaneously underlining the show’s proto-feminist aspect...The results: I doubt I’ll see a better production of 'The King and I' in my lifetime." Full Review
" An astonishing achievement..too beautiful to miss...It does expand the concept of a love story to include relationships that are impossible. In exploring them, Sher’s production is the frankest, and sexiest, I’ve ever seen. It is also the saddest. Our era allows him to show plainly what even its authors could only suggest." Full Review
"'The King and I' holds up incredibly well as a piece of drama. The songs are beautiful, the characters are complex and its themes of democratization, cultural miscommunication and gender inequality are timely. Sher's production is generally impressive and satisfying." Full Review
"The mutual fascination and eternal struggle for understanding across the cultural divide between East and West is played out on a magnificent scale in Lincoln Center Theater's breathtaking revival. Director Sher banishes even the faintest trace of patronizing exoticism from the material, treating the 1951 classic with unimpeachable dramatic integrity and emotional authenticity that are equaled by this landmark production's exquisite musicianship and vocals. " Full Review
"Something wonderful happens quickly in 'The King and I'...This splendid revival emerges as majestic and intimate simultaneously...Grandeur and grace fill each scene and song...'The King and I' endures for its beauty and ambition." Full Review
"Now comes 'The King And I', in one of the most elegantly beautiful and beautifully sung productions I’ve ever seen, and the Beaumont looks like a living treasure chest for a director with the right vision and a company that can command a vast space and make it feel like your living room...This production exudes class. It’s all a feast for the eyes as much as for the ears." Full Review
"Director Bartlett Sher's sweepingly romantic production aches with deep, unforced understanding of the story's East/West cultural divide while luxuriating in the sumptuous pleasures of the classic...Nothing overshadows the staggering wealth of the songs...How good to be getting to know the show all over again." Full Review
"Sher once again reveals the musical’s own enormous qualities without imposing an arbitrary interpretation..Seven years, it’s too long to wait for another reunion of Rodgers and Hammerstein, LTC, and Sher." Full Review
"Their sparring match is at the true heart of any production of this show, and it’s a little bit of a rocky fight for a while…But somewhere in the second act, as their characters’ hearts begin to melt for each other – and so do ours - these performers simply sail into the theatrical stratosphere…If you’re not sniffling a little at the final curtain, you may need a heart transplant yourself!" Full Review
"Anna is summoned by the king to help modernize Siam. Her impact ends up being more personal than expected -- that’s a notion the musical presents eloquently...'The King and I' requires a regal, charismatic leading lady, and it has one who's just about perfect." Full Review
"'The King and I' is getting an elegant, thoughtful revival courtesy of Lincoln Center Theater. There's an opulent, almost operatic feel to this production, and the music and dancing are richly presented...the production feels fresh and yet familiar, too." Full Review
"Sher’s production deftly mines the many layers embedded within. Choreographer Christopher Gatelli’s ballet for 'Small House of Uncle Thomas' seizes on the darkness and beauty of the culture. Everyone in this immense company performs to perfection." Full Review
"There are moments in 'The King and I' that may leave you grinning so hard your face will hurt. Then suddenly, without warning, you'll be fighting off tears...'The King and I' still has much to tell us about our differences and shared interests — about all the beautiful and new things we can learn from each other." Full Review
"The splendid new production of 'The King and I' is everything you could want from a professionally polished production of a masterwork —lavishly designed, meticulously directed by Bartlett Sher, and magnificently performed by a heaven-sent cast of perfectionists who blend and collate like a family in love." Full Review
"This musical is so glorious that I was moved to tears on a few occasions...By the closing number, I was weeping for the beauty of it all — that I get to sit in a beautiful theater on a hot July afternoon and watch some of the best stage artists in the country present a fully realized, perfect incarnation of a classic show. It made me feel lucky to be alive. Theater, folks! It’s a powerful thing." Full Review
"Lincoln Center has done it again. The organization has revived 'The King and I,' and it is a sumptuous and majestic production. Everything about the show is grand, from the musical’s opening to the enormous cast to the towering sets. This is how to experience a Rodgers and Hammerstein production." Full Review
"If you’re quite sure of the lengths that can be achieved on Lincoln Center's stage, you’ll need to think again after witnessing Bartlett Sher’s breathtakingly appointed take on 'The King and I'...Judiciously stops short of fetishizing Eastern culture...It has boosted the overall theme of intersocietal behavior and respect...Sher’s intents seem to sway the story back to a uniquely feminist state of mind." Full Review
2169 Members' Reviews
See it if you enjoy classic musicals, particularly of the Rodgers & Hammerstein variety. The King and I feels familiar in its charm and lusciousness.
Don't see it if needing edgier modern works, happy-endings, or something designed to make you think hard. This is a delightful, well-produced work to enjoy.
Also I saw the touring production with Laura Michelle Kelly in the lead rol... Read more Read less
See it if you have any affinity for Rodgers and Hammerstein at all.
Don't see it if golden age just isn't your lane.
See it if You like classic musicals, charming and beautiful music, and stunning sets and costumes
Don't see it if You're looking for a quick-paced, modern and engaging story
See it if you enjoy epic & historical shows. This production is grand & beautifully staged at the one & only Vivian Beaumont. Marin Mazzie is magical.
Don't see it if you're stuck on the movie version. It's refreshing LIVE. The dynamics of the various relationships, dealt with in song, are heart-breaking.
See it if you enjoy good old fashioned musical theatre redone with a stellar cast that includes Kelly O'Hara.
Don't see it if if musicals aren't your thing or you're looking for edgier modern theatre.
See it if you want to see an exquisite production of a Broadway classic. Gorgeous, lavish, opulent with magnificent performances.
Don't see it if you don't enjoy classic musical theatre.
See it if you love somethin AMAZING
Don't see it if SEE IT
See it if You like wonderful revivals of classic musicals.
Don't see it if You don't like old fashioned musicals or work that has challenging racial depictions and themes.
See it if You've enjoyed other productions of this show. You want to see cool sets and beautiful costumes along with a good cast in a good theater.
Don't see it if You think the ideas of the show are too old fashioned. You get sleepy without a lot of wild action. You dislike the film.
See it if You like the movie or the songs or just want to see a fun light musical.
Don't see it if you want something deep and complex.
See it if You know the score and want to see a beautiful presentation of a lovely, old fashioned, beautifully staged musical.
Don't see it if You can't control yourself and k ow you will sing along, loudly!
See it if you love the basic storyline.
Don't see it if you do not like specific ethnic shows.
See it if Great show. Fun
Don't see it if No reason not to see it
See it if you enjoy lush, opulent productions, with incredible talent (Kelli O'Hara and Ruthie Ann Miles were standouts)
Don't see it if colonialism and overly cute children make you uneasy
See it if You want a delightful revival of a lovely show.
Don't see it if It feels a tad dated.
See it if You've always wanted to see "Shall We Dance" on stage. Beautiful and enchanting. Kelli O'Hara definitely earned her Tony in this role.
Don't see it if You don't like Rodgers and Hammerstein.
See it if For the divine Marin Mazzie, who adds thrilling emotional scope (musically, dramatically) to an exquisite production of a great musical.
Don't see it if there is no reason not to see this production
See it if you love gorgeous, old-style, still relevant and fresh musicals. Also incredible performances by the whole cast and impressive stagecraft.
Don't see it if you don't enjoy musically lush shows or musicals in general. Also, if you prefer a more modern sound.
See it if you appreciate a stunningly beautiful production
Don't see it if you will be incredibly turned off by the dated racism
See it if you want to see R&H feel as relevant as ever. Beautifully opulent staging and fantastic performances.
Don't see it if you want something edgy and unconventional. This is traditional musical theater all the way.
See it if you are ready to see an inventive approach to an old chestnut - great directing!
Don't see it if you don't love a classic musical
See it if You like cute kids, luscious staging and a great interpretation of a somewhat problematic white savior narrative
Don't see it if You can't get past the Orientalism- the production is terrific but the problem is still there - lots of exoticizing the Other.
See it if you never have. This is a great revival
Don't see it if you dislike top notch musicals
See it if you enjoy Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, appreciate endings that can make you cry, you like the lead actors, and enjoy engaging staging.
Don't see it if beautiful costumes and staging will not be able to offset, for you, the few moments of week singing; you expect a new take on this Classic.
See it if you like the movie or shows with large, majestic sets. Also if you like music by Richard Rodgers.
Don't see it if you get bored by shows that go at a slower pace.