THE KING AND I Plays Royal Albert Hall In June 2009

Raymond Gubbay and the Royal Albert Hall are delighted to announce a spectacular new fully staged in the round production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical The King and I. For a strictly limited season of only 20 performances the show will star one of the UK's best loved performers Maria Friedman, who appears alongside Daniel Dae Kim, star of the massive hit TV series Lost.

For decades The King and I has captured the hearts and minds of millions with its delightful story, set in the late 19th century, of the British widow and governess Anna Leonowens, brought to the court of Siam as tutor to the King's children. Once within the sumptuous Royal Palace of Bangkok, beautifully recreated within the magical setting of the Royal Albert Hall, Anna and the King grow to understand and respect one another and learn about each other's cultures.

This truly unique story is told with one of the most glorious and memorable scores ever written. Much-loved songs and sweeping melodies from the show played by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra include: Shall We Dance?, The March of the Siamese Children, I Whistle a Happy Tune, Hello, Young Lovers and the unforgettable Getting To Know You.

The production will be directed by Jeremy Sams, whose recent directing credits include The Sound of Music (West End, Toronto, upcoming UK tour), and Noises Off (West End and on Broadway), with musical direction by Gareth Valentine whose recent credits include Strictly Gershwin and Chicago. Designer Robert Jones' recent credits include The Sound of Music and On The Town and choreographer Susan Kikuchi has been involved in no less than nine international productions of The King and I as either performer or choreographer.