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The King and I
Brynner the King.jpg
Brynner in the original 1952 production
Music Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Oscar Hammerstein II
Book Oscar Hammerstein II
Basis Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon
Productions Broadway (1951)
West End (1953)
Movie (1956)
Awards Tony Award for Best Musical (1952)

The King and I is a two-act musical. It is based on the novel, Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon. Oscar Hammerstein II wrote the musical's book and lyrics. Richard Rodgers wrote the music. The musical received the 1952 Tony Award for Best Musical.

The King and I opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on 29 March 1951, and closed on 20 March 1954 after 1246 performances. The original production starred Gertrude Lawrence and Yul Brynner. It was directed by John Van Druten, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Scenery and lighting were designed by Jo Mielziner.

The King and I opened on the West End at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, on 8 October 1953, and closed after 926 performances. In 1956, the musical was released as a Twentieth Century Fox movie starring Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr.

Images for kids

  • Sepia tinted photo of seated woman and older man separated by three children sitting on a bench, with several children sitting on the floor in front of them

    King Mongkut (far right) with his heir Chulalongkorn seated next to him and some of his other children. A wife is seated at left.

  • Black and white photo of older man and teenage boy standing in uniforms with bold designs and ornaments

    Mongkut with Chulalongkorn, dressed in naval uniforms

  • Two men in business suits sit in theatre seats amiably discussing what they are watching

    Rodgers (left) and Hammerstein

  • Slightly angled headshot of a man in his 30s with wavy dark hair.

    Choreographer Jerome Robbins

  • Black and white photo of a man with a shaven head in silky Asian garb; his chest is exposed and his feet are bare; he stands with hands on hips, glowering at the camera

    Yul Brynner in the original production of The King and I

  • Woman looking over her shoulder, wearing a Victorian-style gown with a fitted bodice and full hoop skirt

    Gertrude Lawrence as Anna, in the Irene Sharaff-designed ball gown

  • Detail of page 15 from a theatre program showing a partial song list that includes the songs "Waiting" and "Who Would Refuse"

    Part of the Act I song list from the New Haven tryout

  • Black and white photo of a theatrical scene: a middle-aged man with a shaved head and imposing presence has his right arm extended to introduce a group of children in Asian dress to a woman in a crinoline dress and bonnet in the foreground at right, who is partially turned upstage. The children are mostly kneeling and have their arms raised in greeting; one child (probably Crown Prince Chulalongkorn) stands and bows.

    The King of Siam (Yul Brynner) presents (some of) his children to Anna (Constance Towers), in 1977

  • A man with a shaven head, wearing Asian dress, reclines on the floor and gestures at a woman in 19th century dress, who is writing, apparently at the man's dictation.

    Lawrence as Anna takes dictation from the King (Brynner), 1951

  • A barefoot man in Asian-style dress dances exuberantly with a woman in a formal gown with a large hoop skirt

    Brynner and Lawrence perform "Shall We Dance?"

  • Wide angle photo showing facade of St. James Theatre

    The King and I opened in 1951 at the St. James Theatre (seen in 2006).

  • Portrait of Zachary Scott, in The King & I LCCN2004663545

    Zachary Scott in the 1956 revival of The King and I

  • Theatrical program cover reading "The King and I" dominated by the image of a middle-aged man with shaved head and a brooding expression. Small images representing scenes from the musical are seen behind him.

    Brynner on the 1977 program cover

  • Man in Asian garb raising his arms over his head

    Brynner in 1977: "Every day I do my best for one more day."

  • Black-and-white photo of a stage scene. A Caucasian woman wearing a bonnet sits on a chair at center, with her huge Victorian hoop skirt spread out around her, singing. Several women in elegant silky Asian clothing surround her. One at right (Tuptim) kneels watching her, as the others stand in a clump at left.

    "Hello, Young Lovers", 1977 cast: Towers as Anna; June Angela as Tuptim at right; Hye-Young Choi as Lady Thiang in front of other wives at left

  • Woman kneeling in front of a standing man; the two are conversing amiably, and each is gesturing with one hand as if ringing a small bell, although, according to the song lyrics, they are actually demonstrating the flying motion of a honey bee

    Lawrence as Anna and Brynner as the King from "Shall We Dance?", 1951

  • Man in ornate Asian garb stands with fists planted on his hips

    Brynner in the 1977 Broadway production

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: El rey y yo (musical) para niños

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