Kelli O'Hara On Getting To Know THE KING AND I, Favorite Moments & More

Kelli O'Hara talks THE KING AND I in a new interview!

The rapturously received revival at Lincoln Center Theater of Rodgers & Hammerstein's beloved classic musical THE KING AND I starring Ken Watanabe and Kelli O'Hara opened last night and the leading lady opens up about a wide range of topics as part of a fascinating new interview.

Touching upon THE KING AND I and her unfamiliarity with it prior to this production, O'Hara shares, "I grew up on what I thought was all things Rodgers and Hammerstein almost, meaning all things that were on my radar. I didn't grow up with a couple, which are this one and "South Pacific," and it's funny because I've ended up doing both of those now. I really fell in love with "The Sound of Music" and "Carousel," and "Oklahoma," obviously, because I'm from Oklahoma."

Of her favorite moment in the show, O'Hara relates, "I think it's going to change a lot. I still have so much fun singing with the kids and doing stuff in the "Getting to Know You" number. That's a really nice moment to have with all of the kids and wives. ... I get to watch the ballet from the front as an audience member and that to me is a beautiful thing because I get to see every little source of discipline that these dancers are using and the way they move their bodies. It's going to be one of those shows that continually gets more interesting to me."

Additionally, O'Hara says of the Rodgers & Hammerstein canon, "[T]he great thing about their catalog is I'm shocked by how relevant all of their stories seem to me. They wrote this one in 1951 and here we are talking about equal rights for women and for people in general. It just feels relevant today, just like "South Pacific" did. We were at war at the same time we were doing "South Pacific." I never have performed "The Sound of Music." I did "Oklahoma" once. I did "Carousel" a couple of years ago with the [New York] Philharmonic. I wouldn't say no to any of it. I always find it relevant and wonderful and challenging. But I don't really have any agendas.."

Check out the original article on the matter here.

The official description of THE KING AND 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 AND I is available at the official site here.

Photo Credit: LCT