Anna Leonowens is a British schoolteacher who develops an instant connection to her students in Siam (currently Thailand), but the King of Siam is slow moving when it comes to trusting her. Through her kindness, she is able to find peace with the king and unknowingly spark a tempestuous love.

Based on the true story of Anna Leonowens and her encounters with King Mongkut, this is a story about the complexities of love. There is never a word spoken about the lead couple’s deep admiration for each other throughout the entire production. Still, the dynamics of their relationship create such a strong subtext, the show is considered the Romeo and Juliet of musical theatre.

This 2015 Tony Award-winner for Best Revival of a Musical includes such beloved classics as “Getting to the Know You,” “Shall We Dance?” and “Something Wonderful.”

“I doubt I’ll see a better production in my lifetime,” says Terry Teachout of The Wall Street Journal.

Here are some fun facts about The King and I …

The real-life Anna Leonowens was Boris Karloff’s (the original Frankenstein) aunt.
Cole Porter was originally offered the opportunity to write the score for The King and I but declined it, passing it off to Rodgers & Hammerstein.
The woman who played the original Anna on Broadway, Gertrude Lawrence, was buried in one of her costumes from the role.

Check out this video to learn more about this award-winning production.

Photo courtesy of Paul Kolnik.