"My introduction to the problem that THE KING AND I poses came in college when I studied the relationship between traditional and modern cultures, particularly in regard to women. That theme is what drew me most to this piece."
The cast and creative team of THE KING AND I move later this week from rehearsal rooms to the stage of the Vivian Beaumont, but I find my mind drifting far far away, to the inspiration for the story: Anna Harriette Leonowens.
Here are some fast facts about Jonny, the character played by Mamoudou Athie in THE MYSTERY OF LOVE & SEX: he is 21 years old, a writer, and a Christian.
Wandering around rehearsals seven years ago for LCT’s production of SOUTH PACIFIC, I often felt as if I were in a boot camp. With THE KING AND I, another comparison keeps coming to mind: a Hollywood studio.
LCT’s large rehearsal hall one morning this past week was as crowded as a cross-town bus at rush hour. The occasion was a meet-and-greet prior to the first full-scale rehearsal of THE KING AND I.
