Now, keep up to date with daily feeds of newly posted stories about America's Seniors...click on the box to the left 

Like

Be the first of your friends to like this.

Laura

Michelle Kelly and Kevin Gray to star in The Muny’s Production of The King and I

The Muny has announced principal casting for the seventh and final show of its 94th season, The King and I, August 6-12, directed by Rob Ruggiero and choreographed by Ralph Perkins. The King and I is sponsored by BMO Harris Bank.

Making her Muny debut as Anna Leonowens is Laura Michelle Kelly. Kevin Gray, playing The King of Siam, returns to The Muny after previously playing the Engineer in Miss Saigon (2001).

Rounding out the cast are Joan

Almedilla as Lady Thiang, Joshua Dela Cruz as Lun Tha, and Alan Ariano as the Kralahome.

“I am thrilled to be able to bring this classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical back to the Muny stage,” said Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. “The Muny audience is going to once again fall in love with The King and I.”

The Muny’s production features scenic design by Michael Schweikardt. Sound design is by Jason Krueger, lighting design by John Lasiter, and costume coordination by Robin McGee. Brad Haak serves as the musical

director, and the production stage manager is Harold Goldfaden.

LAURA MICHELLE KELLY (Anna Leonowens) Broadway: Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel). London’s West End: The original Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins - Olivier Award), My Fair Lady (Eliza), Speed The Plow (Karen), Lord of the Rings: The Musical (Galadriel), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Whistle Down the Wind (Swallow), Peter Pan (Wendy), Les Misérables (Eponine), Mamma Mia! (Sophie). Film: Sweeney Todd (Lucy and beggar woman, directed by Tim Burton), and the upcoming movie, Goddess (2012 Cannes Film Festival). Recipient: Awarded Voice of Musical Theatre. Numerous radio, TV and concert appearances including Albert Hall, Hampton Court Palace, Royal Opera House, Millennium Stadium, Buckingham Palace and last year she performed for President Obama for the 4th of July celebrations.

"As a little girl I played the part of Princess Ying Yaowalak with my family in The King and I, so this story holds a dear place in my heart!”

KEVIN GRAY (The King) Broadway, off-Broadway, national tours: The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, The King and I, A Little Night Music, Titanic, Jesus Christ Superstar, Show Boat, Kiss of the Spider

Woman, Chu Chem, Night of the Iguana, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Pacific Overtures, The Baker's Wife, The Death of Garcia Lorca, The Knife, and Lola. Regional: Oliver!, Evita, Man of La Mancha, Jekyll and Hyde, Funny Girl, Kismet, Irma La Douce, Threepenny Opera, The Fantasticks, Carousel, Romance Language, The Real Thing, Colorados, All's Well That Ends Well, Richard III, The Tempest, Macbeth. TV: Law & Order SVU, Law & Order Criminal Intent, Linc's, The Equalizer, Miami Vice, The Guiding Light, One Life to Live, and Ryan's Hope.

He is married to Dodie Pettit, with whom he co-wrote the musical Dracula: the Covenant, and A Frog's Tale, a children’s musical audio book. Kevin serves on the faculty of Hartt School Theater Division of the University of Hartford.

JOAN ALMEDILLA (Lady Thiang) is thrilled to be back here at the historic Muny theater in St. Louis!

Credits: Kim in Miss Saigon (Broadway and The Muny). Broadway Tours: Fantine in Les Misérables, Soul Girl in Jesus Christ Superstar. Rubicon Theatre Company: John Bucchino's It's Only Life (Ovation Award) directed by Daisy Prince, Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World (Ovation nomination) directed by Jon L. Rivera, Svetlana in North Carolina Theatre's Chess, Imelda Marcos in David Byrne and DJ Fatboy Slim's Here Lies Love

at Carnegie Hall. She starred and co-wrote Road to Saigon, which premiered at East West Players in Los Angeles. Joan will be seen in an upcoming indie film Commencement, a feature film by director Steve Albrezzi.

JOSHUA DELA CRUZ (Lun Tha) is thrilled to be at The Muny! Credits: David Byrne’s Here Lies Love! (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Encores!: Merrily We Roll Along (Ru, New York City Center), The King and I (Lun Tha, KC Starlight and North Shore Music Theatre), Children of Eden (Cain, Bergen PAC).

Other favorites:

Arcadia (Septimus Hodge), Crazy for You (Bobby Child), SubUrbia (Norm).

ALAN ARIANO (Kralahome) Muny debut! Broadway: M. Butterfly, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Shogun, Miss Saigon (original company), Flower Drum Song (national tour). Off-Broadway: Shanghai Moon (with Charles

Bush), Pan Asian Rep’s Imelda. World premieres: Geffen Playhouse’s Extraordinary Chambers, Portland Center Stage’s Snow Falling On Cedars, Diverse City’s The Encounter and Prospect Theater’s Honor. Regional

theaters include the Kennedy Center, Segerstrom Center, Walnut Street Theatre, Pioneer Theatre, San Diego CLO, the 5th Ave, TUTS Houston, and Weston Playhouse. Favorite stage roles include King and Kralahome (The King and I), Bishop & Grantaire (Les Misérables), Ito (Mame) and Gonzalo (The Tempest). Television: Harry's Law, Leverage, Law & Order, As the World Turns, One Life to Live, SNL and HBO’s upcoming season of Treme guest-starring with Isabella Rossellini as Annie’s parents.