Lyric Opera of Chicago's grand-scale production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, featuring Broadway stars Kate Baldwin and Paolo Montalban as Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam, runs April 29 through May 22 (press opening April 30) at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Check out a first look at the pair in costume below!
The cast also includes Broadway artists Ali Ewoldt (Tuptim), Alan Ariano (The Kralahome) and Rona Figueroa (Lady Thiang), along with Sam Simahk (Lun Tha) and Chicagoland artists Charlie Babbo (Louis Leonowens), Jomar Ferreras (Interpreter), John Lister (Captain Orton), David Parkes (Sir Edward Ramsay), Peter Sipla (Phra Alack) and Matthew Uzarraga(Prince Chulalongkorn). All but Lister make their Lyric debuts with The King and I.
The King and I is the fourth Rodgers and Hammerstein musical to be presented as part of Lyric's American Musical Initiative. Lee Blakeley, who staged the production's 2014 premiere at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, makes his Lyric debut teaming up with distinguished Broadway conductor David Chase, who conducted Lyric's acclaimed Carousel last season. The creative team also includes choreographerPeggy Hickey (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), and Lyric debuts from costume designer Sue Blane and scenic designer Jean-Marc Puissant.
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