Kelli O'Hara Discusses Gender Inequality, Bravery & THE KING & I

Kelli O'Hara reveals all in a new interview!

The upcoming revival at Lincoln Center Theater of Rodgers & Hammerstein's beloved classic musical THE KING & I starring Ken Watanabe and Kelli O'Hara is quickly approaching and the leading lady opens up about a wide range of topics as part of a fascinating new interview with The Interval.

Touching upon THE KING & I, O'Hara shares, "[F]or a revival we have to respect what Margaret Landon wrote. She was interpreting her book off of Anna Leonowens' own books, which were false-she wrote books about herself, which were false and we can questions that a little bit about this person. But we have to respect how the musical itself was written, while adding some depth and channeling into deeper avenues -it worked when it first happened and only then will it work again. It's only richer if you just put in more and more and more as long as you maintain the core of what her point is. And, for me, what I need her to be is about goodness, about education, about the equal treatment of women with men, and trying to connect the racial divide. That kind of person is someone I can fight for and give her many layers and levels, as long as there's one clear moral compass."

Discussing women's rights and gender inequality, O'Hara relates, "[P]eople like Marsha Norman... are doing things like the Lilly Awards and having a reach. And like Idina Menzel's camp for girls [A Broader Way]. All of those things have power to them. I always want to feed new ideas with inclusion, so let's do things that are for women too and make sure that if, for example, we have a new theatre company that the Board consists of five women and five men. Let's make choices that are exactly what we're asking for-that they're equal. And let's find the men that want to join us in that. I think, especially in theatre, there's a possibility for great equality. We also have to help ourselves and ask for respect. And you make examples. Even if there's just one example. If there's one major female composer, get out there and shine. If there's Jeanine Tesori-I love Jeanine. If there are two major female directors, get out there and keep working. And maybe in our generation we see a little change, but in the next it's ten-fold. You don't change the world in one big step, especially not this kind of thing, it's taken years to develop and it's going to take years to un-develop and for equality. If all of us-me and you and you and Jeanine and Marsha and all the women you've interviewed-if one girl is affected and changed and moved by it then that's worth it, and we're doing something meaningful."

Additionally, O'Hara says of bravery, "It's like the song-if you act brave, you can seem brave, and if you do it enough you can talk yourself into believing you're brave-"The result of this deception is very strange to tell, but when I fool the people I fear I fool myself as well" and, all of a sudden, you feel pretty darn strong. But I don't necessarily think I'm that brave. I mean I'm an actress. I'm not putting my life on the line for any great cause. I don't step out too boldly about anything except my children and family. But I'm brave in some ways, for sure."

Check out the original article on the matter here.

The official description of THE KING & I is as follows: "Five-time Tony Award® nominee Kelli O'Hara (The Light in the Piazza, South Pacific) and Academy Award® nominee Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Inception) star in a magnificent new Broadway production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved The King and I. Tony winner Bartlett Sher (South Pacific) directs this classic tale of a British schoolteacher's unexpected relationship with the imperious King of Siam. Featuring 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 glorious, original orchestrations, Lincoln Center Theater's new staging of The King and I invites you to get to know this inspiring and enchanting musical classic."

More information on THE KING & I is available at the official site here.

Photo Credit: LCT