Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I is one of the most beloved of all Broadway musicals, as witnessed by the many revivals on Broadway and the West End since its original production in 1951. The enormously successful revival of 2015 at Lincoln Center recently transferred to London, where it is doing sell-out business. The film version, produced in 1956, with Deborah Kerr and original star Yul Brynner, on the Academy Award for the King, who essentially made the role his own and continued to play it for the rest of his life. Many people have asked, “Who is playing Yul Brynner?” or “Do you have a bald king?” to both of which we can reply, “We have a superb actor in Michael Sacofsky” and “Not quite bald, but with a very short haircut” – and in any case, many other actors have played the role over the years, both bald and hirsute!
The original show was inspired by the great British star Gertrude Lawrence, who asked Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II to write a musical for her, based on the book, “Anna and the King of Siam” by Margaret Landon and the 1946 version that featured Rex Harrison and Irene Dunne. Following in Lawrence’s footsteps – and in many ways improving on them, especially vocally – is Aviella Trapido, who is no stranger to local audiences, having starred in numerous productions by Encore! and other companies. Last year, Aviella portrayed Sarah Aaronsohn in Intrepid: The Saga of the NILI Spy Ring, as well as playing Cathy Seldon in Singin’ in the Rain.
Also featured in the outstanding cast of this production are Cindy Saunders as Lady Thiang, the king’s head wife, Dan Marriott as the Kralahome, Ariel Libson as Crown Prince Chulalongkorn, Robin Stamler as Sir Edward Ramsay, and newcomers Emmanuelle Speaker and Kevin McKenzie as the Burmese lovers, Tuptim and Lun Tha.
An incomparable part of the show is the strong chorus of children – 26 in all – who eagerly await the instruction of Anna (the “I” of the title). While many of the children have performed in previous Encore! productions, the majority are new to the stage and are having the time of their lives “getting to know all about” life on the boards. They are backed by an excellent chorus of wives, nurses, slaves, and guards, composed of Encore! veterans and newcomers.
A unique feature of the production is the Act II ballet based on “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”, as interpreted by the slave girl Tuptim. The Broadway original was staged by Jerome Robbins, who made his reputation with this number. Choreographer Yaeli Greenblatt is reinterpreting the work with a truly talented cast of youngsters and adults, many of them disguised with elaborate masks designed by Rachel Jacobson.
Roxane Goodkin-Levy is adding her special talents to the dazzling array of scenic drops and set pieces, while the stage direction and musical direction are in the hands of Robert Binder and Paul Salter, who together have made Encore! the leading producer of musical shows in the country.
December 25, 2018, 7:30 pm
December 26, 2018, 6:00 pm
December 27, 2018, 7:30 pm
January 01, 2019, 7:30 pm
January 02, 2018, 6:00 pm
January 03, 2019, 7:30 pm
Ticket Prices:
Early-bird discount (until November 25th): 100 NIS
| Adults: | 120 NIS |
| Students/Soldiers with ID: | 80 NIS |
| Children (to age 12): | 80 NIS |
| Group of 10 or more: | 100 NIS (10 or more tickets in a single purchase for 1 performance) NOTE: Orders are limited to 20 tickets, no partial refunds for group orders |
Shows are held at the Hirsch Theater, Beit Shmuel Complex, Eliyahu Shema 6, Jerusalem.
Order tix at: http://tickets.encore-etc.com/ or call 054-578-9006
Israeli credit cards and most non-Israeli cards readily accepted. Due to some issues with the system, non-Israeli American Express cannot be accepted at this time.