Sing along with the Powers that be in The King and I
There's something about 19th-century Siam that just makes you wish you lived there. Come on, everyone wore fancy gold hats and bright silk outfits and danced around with fans. And all the children sang happy little songs about getting to know each other. At least this is the Siam of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I, opening this weekend at the Hobby Center. It tells the story of a widowed Englishwoman, Anna, who travels to Siam, hoop skirts in tow, to be the governess of the king's many children. After initially thinking the king's an arrogant prick (though she conveys this with subtler language), she grows to love him. Prime-time '80s TV star Stefanie Powers stars as Anna; whistle a happy tune with her at 8 p.m. Thursday, March 17. 800 Bagby. For tickets, showtimes and information, call 713-558-8887 or visit www.tuts.com. $27 to $72.
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Sunday, March 13, 2005
HoustonChronicle.com - Zest Calendar
The King and I: Stefanie Powers stars in the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, set in 1860s Bangkok, depicting the clash of wills between the king of Siam and the Welsh widow who becomes governess to his children. National tour presented by Theatre Under The Stars. Opens Wednesday. 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, through April 3. Sarofim Hall, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, 800 Bagby; 713-558-8887.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
Seattle: 5th Avenue lists productions for its new season
Seattle: The 5th Avenue Music Theatre Company's 2005-2006 season of musicals range from rock and pop to the sophisticated music of Stephen Sondheim and classic Broadway show tunes.
"The King and I" opens the season Sept. 20-Oct. 9. This touring production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical stars Stefanie Powers, a stage and television actress who starred in TV's "Hart to Hart."
"The King and I" opens the season Sept. 20-Oct. 9. This touring production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical stars Stefanie Powers, a stage and television actress who starred in TV's "Hart to Hart."
Friday, March 11, 2005
Private Zoo Tour
A private tour of the LA Zoo on April 5, 2005 has been confirmed for anyone in the fan club who will be (or lives) in the Los Angeles area, and will be attending the WHWF benefit that evening.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Stefanie Powers in "THE KING AND I" at Theatre Under The Stars
March 16 - April 3, 2005 at Hobby Center for the Performing Arts
HOUSTON, TX -- East meets West in the timeless love story between a stubborn, autocratic king and a determined governess. Theatre Under The Stars is thrilled to present star of stage and screen Stefanie Powers as Anna in the new National Tour of Rodgers' & Hammerstein's The King and I, playing March 16 - April 3 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (800 Bagby at Walker).
TUTS is producing this new tour in cooperation with Theater of the Stars in Atlanta and the Independent Presenters' Network. Featuring a dazzling score by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, The King and I is five-time Tony Award-winning musical showcasing some of the most memorable songs of the musical theatre including "Shall We Dance?," "Getting To Know You," and "I Whistle A Happy Tune." This new production boasts ornate sets and costumes and features direction by Baayork Lee, who made her professional stage debut in the original Broadway production at age 5. Ronobir Lahiri will join Powers as The King.
Powers, who may be best known as the stunning renaissance woman Jennifer Hart, the character she portrayed on the hit television series, "Hart to Hart," is recreating the role of Anna that she recently played in a UK revival of The King and I. Her numerous stage credits include Oliver, Annie Get Your Gun, My Fair Lady and the London production of Matador. Powers was last seen on the TUTS stage in the National tour of Love Letters, which also starred her fellow "Hart to Hart" co-star Robert Wagner.
Lahiri was last seen as the King of Siam on the U.K. National Tour opposite Powers. He first came to The King and I in 1997, as the understudy to the King in the Broadway production. New York credits include Antigone at Pearl Theater and The Three Sisters at La Mama Etc.
Set in the 1860's in the exotic capital city of Bangkok, The King and I is the timeless love story between a powerful and stubborn king and a determined governess named Anna. Based on the real life adventures of the English widow Anna Leonowens, and the best-selling 1944 novel, Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, The King and I is a fascinating tale about a clash of customs. Over time Anna earns the admiration of the royal family, and eventually she wins the respect of the king himself.
Director Baayork Lee's artistic ventures span five continents around the globe. On Broadway, she created the role of Connie in A Chorus Line, serving as Assistant Choreographer to Michael Bennett, and recently directed and choreographed TUTS' production. Lee has directed a number of productions over the past 12 years for the Washington Opera at the Kennedy Center, including Goya with Placido Domingo. Susan Kikuchi will oversee choreography, while musical direction will be provided by Kevin Farrell, scenic design by Kenneth Foy, costume design by Roger Kirk, lighting design by John McLain and sound design by Abe Jacob and Mark Cowburn.
Single tickets for The King and I ($27-$72) are available to the public by phone at (713) 558-8887 or outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882; or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, (800 Bagby at Walker, Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm); or on-line at www.tuts.com. Audio described performances are available March 27 at 2 p.m.; open captioning March 27 at 7:30 p.m. & March 31 at 8 p.m. Wheelchair accessible. Student and Seniors (60+) discounted tickets available one hour before performance. Group discounts available for 15 or more and may be purchased by calling (713) 558-8888.
Sponsors of The King and I include The Downtown Club, Sterling Bank, EIM, Humana, Mr. & Mrs. Edward E. Hickam and Ernst & Young. Air transportation is provided by Continental Airlines the official airline of Theatre Under The Stars. Media sponsors are ABC-13 and the Houston Chronicle.
Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), one of America's largest producers of non-profit musical theatre, was founded in 1968 by Frank M. Young. Theatre Under The Stars was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, and has since performed there each summer, giving Houston 46 lavish musicals such as South Pacific and The Who's Tommy. Since its founding, TUTS has produced more than 275 major musicals including many local, national and world premieres and is currently represented on Broadway with Beauty and the Beast. TUTS is also noted for mounting many International tours, including Debbie Reynolds in The nsinkable Molly Brown and the Tony Award-winning Carousel. As a way to continue the tradition of musical theatre, TUTS' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre provides instruction and stage experience for more than 1,700 students annually. Now housed in the new Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, TUTS also annually presents the Tommy Tune Awards, honoring the best and brightest in Houston's high school musical theatre programs.
HOUSTON, TX -- East meets West in the timeless love story between a stubborn, autocratic king and a determined governess. Theatre Under The Stars is thrilled to present star of stage and screen Stefanie Powers as Anna in the new National Tour of Rodgers' & Hammerstein's The King and I, playing March 16 - April 3 at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (800 Bagby at Walker).
TUTS is producing this new tour in cooperation with Theater of the Stars in Atlanta and the Independent Presenters' Network. Featuring a dazzling score by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, The King and I is five-time Tony Award-winning musical showcasing some of the most memorable songs of the musical theatre including "Shall We Dance?," "Getting To Know You," and "I Whistle A Happy Tune." This new production boasts ornate sets and costumes and features direction by Baayork Lee, who made her professional stage debut in the original Broadway production at age 5. Ronobir Lahiri will join Powers as The King.
Powers, who may be best known as the stunning renaissance woman Jennifer Hart, the character she portrayed on the hit television series, "Hart to Hart," is recreating the role of Anna that she recently played in a UK revival of The King and I. Her numerous stage credits include Oliver, Annie Get Your Gun, My Fair Lady and the London production of Matador. Powers was last seen on the TUTS stage in the National tour of Love Letters, which also starred her fellow "Hart to Hart" co-star Robert Wagner.
Lahiri was last seen as the King of Siam on the U.K. National Tour opposite Powers. He first came to The King and I in 1997, as the understudy to the King in the Broadway production. New York credits include Antigone at Pearl Theater and The Three Sisters at La Mama Etc.
Set in the 1860's in the exotic capital city of Bangkok, The King and I is the timeless love story between a powerful and stubborn king and a determined governess named Anna. Based on the real life adventures of the English widow Anna Leonowens, and the best-selling 1944 novel, Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, The King and I is a fascinating tale about a clash of customs. Over time Anna earns the admiration of the royal family, and eventually she wins the respect of the king himself.
Director Baayork Lee's artistic ventures span five continents around the globe. On Broadway, she created the role of Connie in A Chorus Line, serving as Assistant Choreographer to Michael Bennett, and recently directed and choreographed TUTS' production. Lee has directed a number of productions over the past 12 years for the Washington Opera at the Kennedy Center, including Goya with Placido Domingo. Susan Kikuchi will oversee choreography, while musical direction will be provided by Kevin Farrell, scenic design by Kenneth Foy, costume design by Roger Kirk, lighting design by John McLain and sound design by Abe Jacob and Mark Cowburn.
Single tickets for The King and I ($27-$72) are available to the public by phone at (713) 558-8887 or outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882; or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, (800 Bagby at Walker, Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm); or on-line at www.tuts.com. Audio described performances are available March 27 at 2 p.m.; open captioning March 27 at 7:30 p.m. & March 31 at 8 p.m. Wheelchair accessible. Student and Seniors (60+) discounted tickets available one hour before performance. Group discounts available for 15 or more and may be purchased by calling (713) 558-8888.
Sponsors of The King and I include The Downtown Club, Sterling Bank, EIM, Humana, Mr. & Mrs. Edward E. Hickam and Ernst & Young. Air transportation is provided by Continental Airlines the official airline of Theatre Under The Stars. Media sponsors are ABC-13 and the Houston Chronicle.
Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS), one of America's largest producers of non-profit musical theatre, was founded in 1968 by Frank M. Young. Theatre Under The Stars was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, and has since performed there each summer, giving Houston 46 lavish musicals such as South Pacific and The Who's Tommy. Since its founding, TUTS has produced more than 275 major musicals including many local, national and world premieres and is currently represented on Broadway with Beauty and the Beast. TUTS is also noted for mounting many International tours, including Debbie Reynolds in The nsinkable Molly Brown and the Tony Award-winning Carousel. As a way to continue the tradition of musical theatre, TUTS' Humphreys School of Musical Theatre provides instruction and stage experience for more than 1,700 students annually. Now housed in the new Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, TUTS also annually presents the Tommy Tune Awards, honoring the best and brightest in Houston's high school musical theatre programs.
Friday, March 04, 2005
Role of Anna in the ‘King’ is a perfect fit for Powers
WILMINGTON, Del. -- Stefanie Powers covers as much territory as CNN.
The actress, due in Wilmington tonight to begin a 10-day run in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s "The King and I," is more than bi-coastal. She’s intercontinental, with homes in California, England, and East Africa. Consider that "The King and I" is set in Asia, and following Stefanie Powers’ itinerary is like taking a world tour.
East Africa is the intriguing place. If you think of Powers as half of the married detective team on television’s "Hart to Hart," you think of glamour and champagne with some action. You don’t picture an exotic outpost where Powers does a lot of important work in animal preservation and habitat conservation.
Stefanie Powers wears many hats. Her stage, film, and TV performances account for her most visible occupations. She is also a writer and the producer/star of fitness videos. The work that Powers says is most important to her, though, is protecting wildlife in Africa via the William Holden Wildlife Conservancy, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the well-being of 37 species of animals whose existence may be threatened without it.
The Holden Conservancy, named for the great American actor who became interested in Africa and wildlife after making films there, has an educational program that trains people - 10,000 students per year -- in conservation, an idea which Powers says is still in some ways new.
"It is not in the popular vocabulary of some people, and this endangers the animals and their habitat. The William Holden Conservancy protects the animals and preserves their natural habitat. I began it as a posthumous honor after Bill’s death. It is situated on land Bill owned in East Kenya. He bought it in the late 1950s, when conservation was a brand new concept."
Powers has also turned her attention to Central America where she has begun the Jaguar Conservancy in Belize. Cleverly, she sought and received funding from Britain’s Jaguar motor company and its partner, Land Rover. This initiative, Powers says, is a year-and-a-half old, and she will speak about the Jaguar Conservancy during her time in Wilmington.
"Conservation makes good sense," Powers says. "It takes work and time to get that message across and make both conservation and preservation a part of our culture as humans."
Among the reasons that Powers tours in shows like "The King and I," writes books like her current volume about Pilates, "Power Pilates," and makes CDs, like her current jazz album, is to raise money for her conservancy causes.
"To make sure all public donations to the William Holden Conservancy go directly to its education and conservation programs, I pay all administrative costs, including staff salaries and wages, out of my own pocket. I am a working actress and would perform as long as I can. That said, it’s especially important for me to be on the road and to have sources of income that allow the Conservancy to devote all gifts to program."
Powers said she works hard in several fields to make sure the Conservancy is financed and can do its work. Charities are often hurt by the overhead. I personally take care of the Conservancy’s overhead. The book and CD contribute to that."
"The King and I" is not a new role for Stefanie Powers. She has played Anna Leonowens, the widow who comes to make her living as the teacher to the King’s children in mid-19th century Siam (Thailand), in England and says the acclaim she received there encouraged her to repeat the role for an American tour.
Powers says she does not want to discuss the contrast between the prim, cultured Anna and the more modern, sophisticated characters she’s created for movies and television. She is more interested in the history behind Leonowens and the true story of the woman who left colonial India to take her job in Siam.
"When you read the book on which this play is based, Mrs. Leonowens’s own book about her experiences, you see that she understood her position clearly. She was of British birth, but she had lived for many years, before and after marriage, in colonial India. She had a sense of life in Asia, even if Siam, without a British community and with customs of its own, would be different from India," Powers explained.
"Gertrude Lawrence saw Anna’s story as a great role for her, especially after the movie, ‘Anna and the King of Siam,’ came out with Irene Dunne in 1946. Lawrence went to work to have a commercial musical created for her. When you read Leonowens’s original text and see how Oscar Hammerstein II adapted it for the musical stage, you appreciate what an artist Hammerstein is and what a brilliant piece ‘The King and I’ is."
Powers is set to stay with "The King and I" through April. The last two weeks of her run will take her to her California home, Los Angeles. She will remain on the road to talk about her Pilates book and jazz CD. After all, their sales affect the finances of the William Holden Conservancy. Powers also said she will be making a movie this year. She added she did not want to speak about it because she says she prefers to wait until the movie is finished with her scenes intact before saying too much. Spoken like a veteran.
Appearing with Powers in "The King and I’s" other title role, the King, is Ronobir Lahiri, who understudied Lou Diamond Phillips in the 1996 Broadway production.
If You Go
* "The King and I" runs tonight through next Sunday, March 13, at the Du Pont Theatre, 10th and Market streets, in Wilmington, Del. Show times are 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets range from $67 to $49 and can be ordered by calling (302) 656-4401 or (800) 338-0881.
The actress, due in Wilmington tonight to begin a 10-day run in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s "The King and I," is more than bi-coastal. She’s intercontinental, with homes in California, England, and East Africa. Consider that "The King and I" is set in Asia, and following Stefanie Powers’ itinerary is like taking a world tour.
East Africa is the intriguing place. If you think of Powers as half of the married detective team on television’s "Hart to Hart," you think of glamour and champagne with some action. You don’t picture an exotic outpost where Powers does a lot of important work in animal preservation and habitat conservation.
Stefanie Powers wears many hats. Her stage, film, and TV performances account for her most visible occupations. She is also a writer and the producer/star of fitness videos. The work that Powers says is most important to her, though, is protecting wildlife in Africa via the William Holden Wildlife Conservancy, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the well-being of 37 species of animals whose existence may be threatened without it.
The Holden Conservancy, named for the great American actor who became interested in Africa and wildlife after making films there, has an educational program that trains people - 10,000 students per year -- in conservation, an idea which Powers says is still in some ways new.
"It is not in the popular vocabulary of some people, and this endangers the animals and their habitat. The William Holden Conservancy protects the animals and preserves their natural habitat. I began it as a posthumous honor after Bill’s death. It is situated on land Bill owned in East Kenya. He bought it in the late 1950s, when conservation was a brand new concept."
Powers has also turned her attention to Central America where she has begun the Jaguar Conservancy in Belize. Cleverly, she sought and received funding from Britain’s Jaguar motor company and its partner, Land Rover. This initiative, Powers says, is a year-and-a-half old, and she will speak about the Jaguar Conservancy during her time in Wilmington.
"Conservation makes good sense," Powers says. "It takes work and time to get that message across and make both conservation and preservation a part of our culture as humans."
Among the reasons that Powers tours in shows like "The King and I," writes books like her current volume about Pilates, "Power Pilates," and makes CDs, like her current jazz album, is to raise money for her conservancy causes.
"To make sure all public donations to the William Holden Conservancy go directly to its education and conservation programs, I pay all administrative costs, including staff salaries and wages, out of my own pocket. I am a working actress and would perform as long as I can. That said, it’s especially important for me to be on the road and to have sources of income that allow the Conservancy to devote all gifts to program."
Powers said she works hard in several fields to make sure the Conservancy is financed and can do its work. Charities are often hurt by the overhead. I personally take care of the Conservancy’s overhead. The book and CD contribute to that."
"The King and I" is not a new role for Stefanie Powers. She has played Anna Leonowens, the widow who comes to make her living as the teacher to the King’s children in mid-19th century Siam (Thailand), in England and says the acclaim she received there encouraged her to repeat the role for an American tour.
Powers says she does not want to discuss the contrast between the prim, cultured Anna and the more modern, sophisticated characters she’s created for movies and television. She is more interested in the history behind Leonowens and the true story of the woman who left colonial India to take her job in Siam.
"When you read the book on which this play is based, Mrs. Leonowens’s own book about her experiences, you see that she understood her position clearly. She was of British birth, but she had lived for many years, before and after marriage, in colonial India. She had a sense of life in Asia, even if Siam, without a British community and with customs of its own, would be different from India," Powers explained.
"Gertrude Lawrence saw Anna’s story as a great role for her, especially after the movie, ‘Anna and the King of Siam,’ came out with Irene Dunne in 1946. Lawrence went to work to have a commercial musical created for her. When you read Leonowens’s original text and see how Oscar Hammerstein II adapted it for the musical stage, you appreciate what an artist Hammerstein is and what a brilliant piece ‘The King and I’ is."
Powers is set to stay with "The King and I" through April. The last two weeks of her run will take her to her California home, Los Angeles. She will remain on the road to talk about her Pilates book and jazz CD. After all, their sales affect the finances of the William Holden Conservancy. Powers also said she will be making a movie this year. She added she did not want to speak about it because she says she prefers to wait until the movie is finished with her scenes intact before saying too much. Spoken like a veteran.
Appearing with Powers in "The King and I’s" other title role, the King, is Ronobir Lahiri, who understudied Lou Diamond Phillips in the 1996 Broadway production.
If You Go
* "The King and I" runs tonight through next Sunday, March 13, at the Du Pont Theatre, 10th and Market streets, in Wilmington, Del. Show times are 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Tickets range from $67 to $49 and can be ordered by calling (302) 656-4401 or (800) 338-0881.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
'King and I' revival beautifully performed
FLINT, MI - A decent number of sturdy souls braved the stormy weather Tuesday evening, trudged into The Whiting, and were rewarded with a truly sumptuous performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein's exotic "The King and I."
Based on Margaret Landon's book "Anna and the King of Siam," the story follows the 19th-century exploits of a widow arriving from England to teach Western ways to the children of the Siamese court. It is a story about clashing cultures. It is also a story about understanding, conciliation and compromise.
Any time you march adorable children across the stage, you can be sure to engage even the most critical viewer, and this show has no shortage of delightful youngsters. Indeed, director Baayork Lee's first parade of the children was a scene-stealer as each showed off their individuality in their specific approach to the King.
Of course, Stefanie Powers in the role of Anna Leonowens was a huge drawing card and proved to be a worthy one. Her voice was up to the task, and her diction through a feigned British accent was clear. Powers moved with a certainty and purpose that gave grit to this strong woman in a land that generally devalued women.
Powers was supported to no small degree by Ronobir Lahiri as the King. His demeanor, vocal power and slight accent combined to infuse the role with a magnetic sense of humanity and strength. Lahiri's King is a many-faceted ruler with an impish sense of humor that endears the character.
Michelle Liu Coughlin was glowing as Tuptim, and it wasn't just her gorgeous gold and diamond-studded costume that gleamed. Her voice was strong as well. As Lady Thiang, Catherine MiEun Choi's voice soared in her outstanding rendition of "Something Wonderful."
One of this show's most spectacular production numbers is the "Small House of Uncle Thomas" ballet. Beautifully set and performed, it was a true highlight.
This entire production is lavishly decorated. Rich crimsons and golds adorn the sets as well as many of the gorgeous costumes, while
large gilt statues of gods and warriors anchor several scenes.
The signature image of this show has always been the "Shall We Dance?" scene between Anna and the King. True to expectations, Powers swept about the stage in yards of gloriously swirling pale-pink satin accompanied by Lahiri in plush red and gold.
As with many of the recent musical revivals, this production has kept what was good about the original show and allowed modern technology to improve on the rest.
"The King and I" concludes tonight at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, contact the box office at (810) 237-7333.
Based on Margaret Landon's book "Anna and the King of Siam," the story follows the 19th-century exploits of a widow arriving from England to teach Western ways to the children of the Siamese court. It is a story about clashing cultures. It is also a story about understanding, conciliation and compromise.
Any time you march adorable children across the stage, you can be sure to engage even the most critical viewer, and this show has no shortage of delightful youngsters. Indeed, director Baayork Lee's first parade of the children was a scene-stealer as each showed off their individuality in their specific approach to the King.
Of course, Stefanie Powers in the role of Anna Leonowens was a huge drawing card and proved to be a worthy one. Her voice was up to the task, and her diction through a feigned British accent was clear. Powers moved with a certainty and purpose that gave grit to this strong woman in a land that generally devalued women.
Powers was supported to no small degree by Ronobir Lahiri as the King. His demeanor, vocal power and slight accent combined to infuse the role with a magnetic sense of humanity and strength. Lahiri's King is a many-faceted ruler with an impish sense of humor that endears the character.
Michelle Liu Coughlin was glowing as Tuptim, and it wasn't just her gorgeous gold and diamond-studded costume that gleamed. Her voice was strong as well. As Lady Thiang, Catherine MiEun Choi's voice soared in her outstanding rendition of "Something Wonderful."
One of this show's most spectacular production numbers is the "Small House of Uncle Thomas" ballet. Beautifully set and performed, it was a true highlight.
This entire production is lavishly decorated. Rich crimsons and golds adorn the sets as well as many of the gorgeous costumes, while
large gilt statues of gods and warriors anchor several scenes.
The signature image of this show has always been the "Shall We Dance?" scene between Anna and the King. True to expectations, Powers swept about the stage in yards of gloriously swirling pale-pink satin accompanied by Lahiri in plush red and gold.
As with many of the recent musical revivals, this production has kept what was good about the original show and allowed modern technology to improve on the rest.
"The King and I" concludes tonight at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, contact the box office at (810) 237-7333.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
Powers' fans can get discount for 'King and I' - Flint, MI
Want to stretch your theater-going dollar?
Show up for Stefanie Powers' 12:30 p.m. Wednesday appearance at Borders Books & Music, and you can get a coupon for $10 off the price of a ticket for her performance that night in the musical "The King and I" at The Whiting.
Powers will sign copies of her new book, "Powers Pilates: Stefanie Powers' Guide to Longevity and Well-being Through Pilates," at the Flint Township store.
In addition to the discount coupons, fans can enter a drawing for two free tickets to that night's 7:30 performance. The drawing will be conducted at 1:30 p.m.
Powers appears in "The King and I" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Whiting. Tickets are $29, 39 and $59 at the box office and thewhiting.com. Details: (810) 237-7333, (888) 8-CENTER.
Show up for Stefanie Powers' 12:30 p.m. Wednesday appearance at Borders Books & Music, and you can get a coupon for $10 off the price of a ticket for her performance that night in the musical "The King and I" at The Whiting.
Powers will sign copies of her new book, "Powers Pilates: Stefanie Powers' Guide to Longevity and Well-being Through Pilates," at the Flint Township store.
In addition to the discount coupons, fans can enter a drawing for two free tickets to that night's 7:30 performance. The drawing will be conducted at 1:30 p.m.
Powers appears in "The King and I" at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at The Whiting. Tickets are $29, 39 and $59 at the box office and thewhiting.com. Details: (810) 237-7333, (888) 8-CENTER.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Stefanie Powers visits Petoskey, MI
Actress Stefanie Powers currently is traveling the Midwest to perform in a stage production of "The King and I," but a stop she made Monday in Petoskey had a business and environmental, rather than theatrical, focus.
While en route from a performance in Milwaukee to two more in Flint, Powers visited Petoskey Plastics' plant on U.S. 31 South to learn more about the company's use of plastic recycling in the creation of many of its product lines.
Along with acting credits such as the television series "Hart to Hart" and "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.," Powers' background also includes more than three decades of involvement in wildlife conservation and environmental advocacy in Africa.
Having noted a litter problem involving plastic bags around that continent, Powers is exploring whether recycling of plastics to create new products would present viable business opportunities - and a chance to boost people's living standard - in developing countries.
Powers has cooperated with Ford Motor Co. on various environmental pursuits. Staff from the Dearborn-based automaker - which purchases products such as protective plastic seatcovers from Petoskey Plastics - arranged Powers' visit Monday.
"She's taken the opportunity to visit Petoskey Plastics knowing how much they've done for Ford and the environment," said Andrew Acho, Ford's worldwide director for environmental outreach and strategy who accompanied Powers to the plant.
In 2004, Petoskey Plastics supplied Ford with 2.6 million pounds of plastic products which contain a minimum of 25 percent recycled material.
After a plant tour and discussion, Powers and Petoskey Plastics officials agreed that there's more exploration to be done as to whether plastic recycling enterprises would be a workable option in the developing world.
Petoskey Plastics general manager Jim Eklund said he expects his company will have additional dialogue with Powers and those working with her on such issues.
"It sounds like they want to leverage some of our expertise in solving some of these problems in Africa," he said.
Powers said she found encouragement in Petoskey Plastics' reuse of plastic wastes in the production process.
"It gives hope to all of us who are working in conservation and environmental protection," she said.
While en route from a performance in Milwaukee to two more in Flint, Powers visited Petoskey Plastics' plant on U.S. 31 South to learn more about the company's use of plastic recycling in the creation of many of its product lines.
Along with acting credits such as the television series "Hart to Hart" and "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.," Powers' background also includes more than three decades of involvement in wildlife conservation and environmental advocacy in Africa.
Having noted a litter problem involving plastic bags around that continent, Powers is exploring whether recycling of plastics to create new products would present viable business opportunities - and a chance to boost people's living standard - in developing countries.
Powers has cooperated with Ford Motor Co. on various environmental pursuits. Staff from the Dearborn-based automaker - which purchases products such as protective plastic seatcovers from Petoskey Plastics - arranged Powers' visit Monday.
"She's taken the opportunity to visit Petoskey Plastics knowing how much they've done for Ford and the environment," said Andrew Acho, Ford's worldwide director for environmental outreach and strategy who accompanied Powers to the plant.
In 2004, Petoskey Plastics supplied Ford with 2.6 million pounds of plastic products which contain a minimum of 25 percent recycled material.
After a plant tour and discussion, Powers and Petoskey Plastics officials agreed that there's more exploration to be done as to whether plastic recycling enterprises would be a workable option in the developing world.
Petoskey Plastics general manager Jim Eklund said he expects his company will have additional dialogue with Powers and those working with her on such issues.
"It sounds like they want to leverage some of our expertise in solving some of these problems in Africa," he said.
Powers said she found encouragement in Petoskey Plastics' reuse of plastic wastes in the production process.
"It gives hope to all of us who are working in conservation and environmental protection," she said.
Interview with and a Recipe from Stefanie
Co-starring with Robert Wagner on the romantic TV hit, "Hart to Hart", was only one facet of Stefanie Powers' remarkable career as an actress, author, and tireless humanitarian. Beginning in January 2005, you can catch her starring in the new national tour of the beloved Broadway hit, "The King and I." You can hear her sing a dozen American standard tunes on her CD, "On The Same Page," and in March her exercise book, "Powers Pilates" will be in bookstores everywhere. Ms. Powers helped to found the William Holden Wildlife Foundation, which is dedicated to the preservation of wild animals and the education of thousands of students yearly at the Foundation's facilities in Kenya.
Give us the appetizer, main course, and dessert for the perfect hotel room service romantic dinner.
"Caviar and bellinis, caviar and baked potato, and caviar and whipped cream with lots and lots of lovely champagne, either Vintage Krug or Louise by Pommery"
You are conversant in seven languages. So what's your favorite name for a food dish?
"Ma Po Dough Fu is a spicy Szechuan bean curd. The literal English translation of the name is roughly 'Pockmarked, or pimpled Mother,' so-called because of the look of the seeds of the chili contained in the sauce."
Everyone wants a food-related tale from the set of Hart to Hart.
"How about a closely guarded secret? Lionel Stander, who played Max, could not cook, and he even made awful coffee!"
Regarding the WH Wildlife Foundation, tell us about a typical breakfast in that part of the world.
"The local diet in Kenya has a mainstay of corn meal in the form of a porridge, which is to Sub-Saharan Africa what rice is to the Orient."
Name a restaurant somewhere in the U.S. at which you could dine every day.
"Zen Palette vegetarian restaurant in Manhattan... because they use a sort of Asian infusion approach to tofu and vegetable protein in ways that delight the palette and feed the body beautifully."
Old-Fashioned Pierogies
2 1/2 cups self rising white flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 teaspoons oil
3/4 cup warm water
2 tablespoons grated onion
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup cottage or hoop cheese
2 1/2 cups cold mashed potatoes
For Pockets:
Mix flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the egg, oil and water to make a soft dough. Knead dough until smooth, divide in half and let sit in covered bowl for 10-15 minutes.
For Cheese and Potato Filling:
Cook onion in butter on skillet until soft, then combine it with cheese, potatoes, and egg. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Prepare a large pot of boiling water. Roll dough thin on a floured board. Use biscuit cutter to make large rounds. Place a round in your hand and place a spoonful of filling into it. Fold over edge to make a half circle, and crimp the edges. Drop two pierogies at a time into boiling water. Stir gently so they don’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Boil 3-4 minutes until puffed, and remove from water with a slotted spoon. Allow to cool. Drizzle with melted butter and crisp chopped bacon. Serves 4.
Give us the appetizer, main course, and dessert for the perfect hotel room service romantic dinner.
"Caviar and bellinis, caviar and baked potato, and caviar and whipped cream with lots and lots of lovely champagne, either Vintage Krug or Louise by Pommery"
You are conversant in seven languages. So what's your favorite name for a food dish?
"Ma Po Dough Fu is a spicy Szechuan bean curd. The literal English translation of the name is roughly 'Pockmarked, or pimpled Mother,' so-called because of the look of the seeds of the chili contained in the sauce."
Everyone wants a food-related tale from the set of Hart to Hart.
"How about a closely guarded secret? Lionel Stander, who played Max, could not cook, and he even made awful coffee!"
Regarding the WH Wildlife Foundation, tell us about a typical breakfast in that part of the world.
"The local diet in Kenya has a mainstay of corn meal in the form of a porridge, which is to Sub-Saharan Africa what rice is to the Orient."
Name a restaurant somewhere in the U.S. at which you could dine every day.
"Zen Palette vegetarian restaurant in Manhattan... because they use a sort of Asian infusion approach to tofu and vegetable protein in ways that delight the palette and feed the body beautifully."
Old-Fashioned Pierogies
2 1/2 cups self rising white flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 teaspoons oil
3/4 cup warm water
2 tablespoons grated onion
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup cottage or hoop cheese
2 1/2 cups cold mashed potatoes
For Pockets:
Mix flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the egg, oil and water to make a soft dough. Knead dough until smooth, divide in half and let sit in covered bowl for 10-15 minutes.
For Cheese and Potato Filling:
Cook onion in butter on skillet until soft, then combine it with cheese, potatoes, and egg. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Prepare a large pot of boiling water. Roll dough thin on a floured board. Use biscuit cutter to make large rounds. Place a round in your hand and place a spoonful of filling into it. Fold over edge to make a half circle, and crimp the edges. Drop two pierogies at a time into boiling water. Stir gently so they don’t stick to the bottom of the pot. Boil 3-4 minutes until puffed, and remove from water with a slotted spoon. Allow to cool. Drizzle with melted butter and crisp chopped bacon. Serves 4.
Fund-raiser for WHWF April 5, 2005
It has just been confirmed that the Opening Night of "The King and I" starring Stefanie Powers at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood on Tuesday,
April 5th will be a fund-raiser for the William Holden Wildlife Foundation. There will be an after show party following the performance.
April 5th will be a fund-raiser for the William Holden Wildlife Foundation. There will be an after show party following the performance.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Hart to Hart on DVD
H2H is coming to DVD. Season One (with extras) should be put together for release more than likely in October (perhaps sooner depending on the assembly) with the remaining seasons to follow in intervals of about four months apart, so the entire series should be completed and available by early 2007.
Stefanie Powers adds 'singer' to impressive resume
"The King and I," starring Stefanie Powers
WHERE: THE WHITING, 1241 E. KEARSLEY ST., FLINT, MI
WHEN: 7:30 P.M. TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY
TICKETS: $29, $39, $59 AT THE BOX OFFICE
DETAILS: (810) 237-7333, (888) 8-CENTER
Stefanie Powers - actress, activist, humanitarian ... singer?
Yes, not surprisingly. The star of TV's "Hart to Hart" and "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E." cut an album of Great American Songbook selections, "Stefanie Powers - On the Same Page," last year under the supervision of legendary musician/arranger Page Cavanaugh.
And she's now touring the country as Anna in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical staple "The King and I," which comes to The Whiting on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Powers is accustomed to people telling her how surprised they are that she can sing, although her stage experience dates back to the start of her career in the late 1950s.
"I guess as an actor you're always proving yourself, no matter what it is, or no matter how many times you do it," Powers, 62, told The Journal in a recent interview.
Although TV and movies ("Experiment in Terror," "Stagecoach," "McLintock!") took up most of her time in the '60s and '70s, Powers used to tour in the old straw hat theater circuit. More recently, she showcased her singing and dancing abilities in tours of "Applause" and "Annie Get Your Gun," among others, and in an original English musical, "Matador."
She calls her jazz-pop CD "a labor of love between great friends," especially Cavanaugh, the California-based pianist who has fronted his acclaimed jazz trio since the 1940s.
"It was a wonderful experience to work with such a consummate musician," said Powers, who is heard singing such standards as "They All Laughed," "Last Night When We Were Young" and "Ten Cents a Dance."
The later-life adventures of stage and studio seem characteristric of Powers, who never has been one to sit back and relax. She maintains her longtime connection with the William Holden Wildlife Foundation (named for the late actor, a close friend), a public charity in Kenya that she founded on behalf of the preservation of wild animals. She is working with the Jaguar car people on what she calls "a precedent-setting effort" dedicated to the preservation of the animal that bears its name.
Powers also is touting a new book, "Powers Pilates: Stefanie Powers' Guide to Longevity and Well-Being Through Pilates" (Fireside, $16), co-authored with Kathy Corey. Her step-by-step fitness program, targeted to people 50 and older, incorporates the classic exercise system with gentler muscle-strengthening movements.
"The title of the book has to do with longevity and well-being," Powers said. "Pilates is very difficult to explain to those who have not worked with their bodies before, so the point of the book is to try to explain in very simple terms how to actually feel the benefits of Pilates work."
Despite her endeavors outside of performing, Powers is, of course, most recognized for her starring roles as superspy Angel Dancer in "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E." (1966-67) and globetrotting detective Jennifer Hart in "Hart to Hart" (1979-84).
She and co-star Robert Wagner have appeared in a series of eight made-for-TV "Hart to Hart" reunion movies, the last ("Till Death Do Us Hart") in 1996.
Powers doubts that such an elegant series could start from scratch on the small screen these days.
"I don't think a show like 'Hart to Hart' could get on today because it would require a certain kind of leadership (within the TV business) that we don't have anymore. We don't have the kind of independent producers like ("Hart to Hart" executves Aaron) Spelling and (Leonard) Goldberg, now that we have corporate minds dealing only with things they feel safe doing.
"I'm afraid we've put a period at the end of the sentence for 'Hart to Hart,' but it was a nice, long sentence."
Stefanie Powers will sign copies of "Powers Pilates: Stefanie Powers' Guide to Longevity and Well-Being Through Pilates" at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Borders Books & Music, 4135 Miller Road, Flint Township. Details: (810) 230-8830.
WHERE: THE WHITING, 1241 E. KEARSLEY ST., FLINT, MI
WHEN: 7:30 P.M. TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY
TICKETS: $29, $39, $59 AT THE BOX OFFICE
DETAILS: (810) 237-7333, (888) 8-CENTER
Stefanie Powers - actress, activist, humanitarian ... singer?
Yes, not surprisingly. The star of TV's "Hart to Hart" and "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E." cut an album of Great American Songbook selections, "Stefanie Powers - On the Same Page," last year under the supervision of legendary musician/arranger Page Cavanaugh.
And she's now touring the country as Anna in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical staple "The King and I," which comes to The Whiting on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
Powers is accustomed to people telling her how surprised they are that she can sing, although her stage experience dates back to the start of her career in the late 1950s.
"I guess as an actor you're always proving yourself, no matter what it is, or no matter how many times you do it," Powers, 62, told The Journal in a recent interview.
Although TV and movies ("Experiment in Terror," "Stagecoach," "McLintock!") took up most of her time in the '60s and '70s, Powers used to tour in the old straw hat theater circuit. More recently, she showcased her singing and dancing abilities in tours of "Applause" and "Annie Get Your Gun," among others, and in an original English musical, "Matador."
She calls her jazz-pop CD "a labor of love between great friends," especially Cavanaugh, the California-based pianist who has fronted his acclaimed jazz trio since the 1940s.
"It was a wonderful experience to work with such a consummate musician," said Powers, who is heard singing such standards as "They All Laughed," "Last Night When We Were Young" and "Ten Cents a Dance."
The later-life adventures of stage and studio seem characteristric of Powers, who never has been one to sit back and relax. She maintains her longtime connection with the William Holden Wildlife Foundation (named for the late actor, a close friend), a public charity in Kenya that she founded on behalf of the preservation of wild animals. She is working with the Jaguar car people on what she calls "a precedent-setting effort" dedicated to the preservation of the animal that bears its name.
Powers also is touting a new book, "Powers Pilates: Stefanie Powers' Guide to Longevity and Well-Being Through Pilates" (Fireside, $16), co-authored with Kathy Corey. Her step-by-step fitness program, targeted to people 50 and older, incorporates the classic exercise system with gentler muscle-strengthening movements.
"The title of the book has to do with longevity and well-being," Powers said. "Pilates is very difficult to explain to those who have not worked with their bodies before, so the point of the book is to try to explain in very simple terms how to actually feel the benefits of Pilates work."
Despite her endeavors outside of performing, Powers is, of course, most recognized for her starring roles as superspy Angel Dancer in "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E." (1966-67) and globetrotting detective Jennifer Hart in "Hart to Hart" (1979-84).
She and co-star Robert Wagner have appeared in a series of eight made-for-TV "Hart to Hart" reunion movies, the last ("Till Death Do Us Hart") in 1996.
Powers doubts that such an elegant series could start from scratch on the small screen these days.
"I don't think a show like 'Hart to Hart' could get on today because it would require a certain kind of leadership (within the TV business) that we don't have anymore. We don't have the kind of independent producers like ("Hart to Hart" executves Aaron) Spelling and (Leonard) Goldberg, now that we have corporate minds dealing only with things they feel safe doing.
"I'm afraid we've put a period at the end of the sentence for 'Hart to Hart,' but it was a nice, long sentence."
Stefanie Powers will sign copies of "Powers Pilates: Stefanie Powers' Guide to Longevity and Well-Being Through Pilates" at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Borders Books & Music, 4135 Miller Road, Flint Township. Details: (810) 230-8830.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Getting to know Stefanie, in a classic
Stefanie Powers is a figure out of old Hollywood. She's now starring in one of the best examples of old Broadway.
We mean both in a good way.
The Broadway show, for instance, is Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The King and I," first staged in 1951. Powers will play Anna Leonowens, Victorian governess for the children of the King of Siam, in the national touring production that opens Friday at the DuPont Theatre in Wilmington, Delaware. (Call 656-4401 or visit www.duponttheatre.com.)
The show contains some of the best show tunes ever, including "Getting to Know You," "Hello, Young Lovers" and "I Whistle a Happy Tune."
Powers has stage performances on her résumé, but she made her first splash in the movies and a little later starred on television in the breezy detective show "Hart to Hart."
After her 1960 debut in an obscure movie called "Among the Thorns," she was invited to study acting with contract players from Hollywood studios. Director Blake Edwards then cast her in "Experiment in Terror," which led to a contract with Columbia at age 16. She shared movie bills with John Wayne, Bing Crosby and other stars before taking the role of April Dancer in 1966 on television's "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E."
Powers played various TV roles after that and in 1979 landed the role in "Hart to Hart." She and Robert Wagner played a husband-and-wife detective team for five seasons.
Wagner himself is one of the last of the old-Hollywood types, but Powers' big romantic relationship was with an actor who went back to the Golden Age itself: the late William Holden. Through Holden she developed an interest in nature conservation, in which she is still active.
We mean both in a good way.
The Broadway show, for instance, is Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The King and I," first staged in 1951. Powers will play Anna Leonowens, Victorian governess for the children of the King of Siam, in the national touring production that opens Friday at the DuPont Theatre in Wilmington, Delaware. (Call 656-4401 or visit www.duponttheatre.com.)
The show contains some of the best show tunes ever, including "Getting to Know You," "Hello, Young Lovers" and "I Whistle a Happy Tune."
Powers has stage performances on her résumé, but she made her first splash in the movies and a little later starred on television in the breezy detective show "Hart to Hart."
After her 1960 debut in an obscure movie called "Among the Thorns," she was invited to study acting with contract players from Hollywood studios. Director Blake Edwards then cast her in "Experiment in Terror," which led to a contract with Columbia at age 16. She shared movie bills with John Wayne, Bing Crosby and other stars before taking the role of April Dancer in 1966 on television's "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E."
Powers played various TV roles after that and in 1979 landed the role in "Hart to Hart." She and Robert Wagner played a husband-and-wife detective team for five seasons.
Wagner himself is one of the last of the old-Hollywood types, but Powers' big romantic relationship was with an actor who went back to the Golden Age itself: the late William Holden. Through Holden she developed an interest in nature conservation, in which she is still active.
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Stefanie Powers 'Takes Five'
Actress keeps career, activism going strong
Baby boomers have progressed through life with Stefanie Powers entertaining them. In the 1960s, she was April Dancer, "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E." In the '70s, she made family movies, "The Boatniks" and "Herbie Rides Again," and lots of TV movies. Her biggest claim to fame, playing amateur detective Jennifer Hart on the popular TV series "Hart to Hart," began in 1979. The series was on the air to 1984, and the Harts reappeared in TV movie format for several encores in the '90s. Powers, 62, has also worked on the stage, and it is in that capacity that she will be coming to the Milwaukee Theatre on Tuesday to play Anna in a national touring company production of "The King and I." The show plays through Feb. 27. Tickets are on sale at the Milwaukee Theatre box office, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave., online at www.ticketmaster.com, and by phone at (414) 276-4545. Journal Sentinel theater critic Damien Jaques interviewed Powers by e-mail.
'Takes Five'
Q. You are spending several months on the road with this show. How do you survive all of the different hotel rooms, different stages and daily restaurant meals?
A. It's not easy, but since we are in most cities for at least a week, I do eventually fall into some sort of routine. I do the best I can with what is
available and try to be careful about what I eat and that I remember to eat at all. I also try to exercise regularly. I like to run, and I do Pilates. In fact, I have a book called "Powers Pilates" coming out on March 1 from Simon & Schuster that contains a lot of simple exercises that can be done without equipment.
Q."The King and I" is an old, albeit beloved, musical. How do you make it fresh and exciting for 21st-century audiences?
A. This is a classical piece of theater, much beloved all over the world. We are trying to replicate the original production with the help of our director, Baayork Lee, who played the original Princess Ying Yaowlak in the original Gertrude Lawrence-Yul Brynner production, and our choreographer, Susan Kikuchi, whose mother was the original lead dancer. We are using the original Jerome Robbins choreography and consider this to be a celebration of the great American art form, the musical comedy, as brilliantly created by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Q. This musical debuted on Broadway in 1951. Our perception of Asian people has substantially changed since then. Have any changes been made in the show to reflect that?
A. Once again, we are doing the original play, which has stood the test of time. I would have to think very hard to come up with anything that has been produced in even the last 10 years that would still feel relevant 50 years later.
Q.You play Anna Leonowens, an actual British teacher who accepted an invitation in the 1860s to move to Siam and tutor the king's many children. How did you prepare for the role?
A. I did the role two years ago in England, where the biggest challenge, as an American, was to be accepted in the role of a Victorian woman. Since it went down rather well there, I suppose my homework at the time, learning about the history of the woman I was playing, paid off. I also prepared by working with a vocal coach to build up my stamina and vocal range, and I sing whenever I can.
Q.As well as being a screen and stage actress, you are known as a conservation and wildlife activist. Are you still involved in that cause?
A. That is a life-long commitment for me and is becoming an increasingly greater dimension in my life. I am the president and co-founder of the William Holden Wildlife Foundation, which has its own Web site (www.whwf.org), where
people can keep up with our activities. They include an education center in Kenya that has hosted nearly 100,000 people since its programs began. I am also a principal in the Jaguar Conservation Trust, having authored the by-laws. I determine who receives grants for programs that are designed to preserve the endangered jaguar cat. . . . I am also extremely involved in current legislation pertaining to the future of the American wild horse, the mustang.
Baby boomers have progressed through life with Stefanie Powers entertaining them. In the 1960s, she was April Dancer, "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E." In the '70s, she made family movies, "The Boatniks" and "Herbie Rides Again," and lots of TV movies. Her biggest claim to fame, playing amateur detective Jennifer Hart on the popular TV series "Hart to Hart," began in 1979. The series was on the air to 1984, and the Harts reappeared in TV movie format for several encores in the '90s. Powers, 62, has also worked on the stage, and it is in that capacity that she will be coming to the Milwaukee Theatre on Tuesday to play Anna in a national touring company production of "The King and I." The show plays through Feb. 27. Tickets are on sale at the Milwaukee Theatre box office, 500 W. Kilbourn Ave., online at www.ticketmaster.com, and by phone at (414) 276-4545. Journal Sentinel theater critic Damien Jaques interviewed Powers by e-mail.
'Takes Five'
Q. You are spending several months on the road with this show. How do you survive all of the different hotel rooms, different stages and daily restaurant meals?
A. It's not easy, but since we are in most cities for at least a week, I do eventually fall into some sort of routine. I do the best I can with what is
available and try to be careful about what I eat and that I remember to eat at all. I also try to exercise regularly. I like to run, and I do Pilates. In fact, I have a book called "Powers Pilates" coming out on March 1 from Simon & Schuster that contains a lot of simple exercises that can be done without equipment.
Q."The King and I" is an old, albeit beloved, musical. How do you make it fresh and exciting for 21st-century audiences?
A. This is a classical piece of theater, much beloved all over the world. We are trying to replicate the original production with the help of our director, Baayork Lee, who played the original Princess Ying Yaowlak in the original Gertrude Lawrence-Yul Brynner production, and our choreographer, Susan Kikuchi, whose mother was the original lead dancer. We are using the original Jerome Robbins choreography and consider this to be a celebration of the great American art form, the musical comedy, as brilliantly created by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Q. This musical debuted on Broadway in 1951. Our perception of Asian people has substantially changed since then. Have any changes been made in the show to reflect that?
A. Once again, we are doing the original play, which has stood the test of time. I would have to think very hard to come up with anything that has been produced in even the last 10 years that would still feel relevant 50 years later.
Q.You play Anna Leonowens, an actual British teacher who accepted an invitation in the 1860s to move to Siam and tutor the king's many children. How did you prepare for the role?
A. I did the role two years ago in England, where the biggest challenge, as an American, was to be accepted in the role of a Victorian woman. Since it went down rather well there, I suppose my homework at the time, learning about the history of the woman I was playing, paid off. I also prepared by working with a vocal coach to build up my stamina and vocal range, and I sing whenever I can.
Q.As well as being a screen and stage actress, you are known as a conservation and wildlife activist. Are you still involved in that cause?
A. That is a life-long commitment for me and is becoming an increasingly greater dimension in my life. I am the president and co-founder of the William Holden Wildlife Foundation, which has its own Web site (www.whwf.org), where
people can keep up with our activities. They include an education center in Kenya that has hosted nearly 100,000 people since its programs began. I am also a principal in the Jaguar Conservation Trust, having authored the by-laws. I determine who receives grants for programs that are designed to preserve the endangered jaguar cat. . . . I am also extremely involved in current legislation pertaining to the future of the American wild horse, the mustang.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Reign may be over for 'King'
Adequate. That is the succinct description of the production of "The King and I" brought to the Milwaukee Theatre this week by a national touring company. The show opened Tuesday night.
Longtime television and film star Stefanie Powers holds her own as Anna, the British widow hired in the 1860s by the king of Siam to tutor his small army of children. Although her stage credits are not extensive, she sings well and assumes the bearing of a Victorian schoolmarm.
It's too bad Powers lacks a strong partner to play off of. The king of Siam doesn't have to be physically large, but he must project a commanding presence. We should feel his power when we don't like him and his charm when we do.
Ronobir Lahiri works hard at trying to scale that mountain. He sputters and flails and ultimately does a lot of posing. His determined profile might look good on a Siamese coin, but it is not enough to convince us that his king is an absolute ruler with the personality to match.
The power shortage removes the context that makes the monarch's vulnerability poignant, and it changes the chemistry of the relationship between Anna and the king. Unfortunately, Powers and Lahiri don't share any chemistry.
A mechanical quality runs through the entire show, but there are some vivid exceptions that snap the piece back into sharp focus. Catherine MiEun Choi possesses a compelling and dignified presence in her portrayal of the king's head wife, Lady Thiang.
When Choi opens her mouth to sing, fasten your seat belts. Her voice training at Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory is instantly evident.
The extended "The Small House of Uncle Thomas" ballet, re-created by Susan Kikuchi from Jerome Robbins' original choreography, is positively enchanting. It is danced extremely well in gorgeous costumes.
A basic level of competency is met by the large cast, and some easily exceed that mark. Production values are good. An argument can be made that, at 54, "The King and I" is not aging as well as most other Rodgers and Hammerstein classics. Even after taking into account the show's 19th-century period and its 1951 sensibilities, the mostly fictional story and cartoonish portrayal of Asians has become unsettling if not embarrassing.
The globe has shrunk, the U.S. has become much more ethnically diverse, and we see the world very differently in 2005. Perhaps "The King and I's" familiar hummable score should live on while the dated and problematic book goes the way of minstrel shows. Not every hit from the golden age of American musical theater is timeless.
Longtime television and film star Stefanie Powers holds her own as Anna, the British widow hired in the 1860s by the king of Siam to tutor his small army of children. Although her stage credits are not extensive, she sings well and assumes the bearing of a Victorian schoolmarm.
It's too bad Powers lacks a strong partner to play off of. The king of Siam doesn't have to be physically large, but he must project a commanding presence. We should feel his power when we don't like him and his charm when we do.
Ronobir Lahiri works hard at trying to scale that mountain. He sputters and flails and ultimately does a lot of posing. His determined profile might look good on a Siamese coin, but it is not enough to convince us that his king is an absolute ruler with the personality to match.
The power shortage removes the context that makes the monarch's vulnerability poignant, and it changes the chemistry of the relationship between Anna and the king. Unfortunately, Powers and Lahiri don't share any chemistry.
A mechanical quality runs through the entire show, but there are some vivid exceptions that snap the piece back into sharp focus. Catherine MiEun Choi possesses a compelling and dignified presence in her portrayal of the king's head wife, Lady Thiang.
When Choi opens her mouth to sing, fasten your seat belts. Her voice training at Baltimore's Peabody Conservatory is instantly evident.
The extended "The Small House of Uncle Thomas" ballet, re-created by Susan Kikuchi from Jerome Robbins' original choreography, is positively enchanting. It is danced extremely well in gorgeous costumes.
A basic level of competency is met by the large cast, and some easily exceed that mark. Production values are good. An argument can be made that, at 54, "The King and I" is not aging as well as most other Rodgers and Hammerstein classics. Even after taking into account the show's 19th-century period and its 1951 sensibilities, the mostly fictional story and cartoonish portrayal of Asians has become unsettling if not embarrassing.
The globe has shrunk, the U.S. has become much more ethnically diverse, and we see the world very differently in 2005. Perhaps "The King and I's" familiar hummable score should live on while the dated and problematic book goes the way of minstrel shows. Not every hit from the golden age of American musical theater is timeless.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
WHWF Benefit
The date is Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood: Hollywood Blvd. near Vine. ??? 8 PM start.
Excellent orchestra seats are $125 which includes the party afterwards (location nearby to be determined).
Very good mezzanine seats are selling for $75 without the party.
There are packages to make extra money:
1. "The King and I-Mac" - Includes an I-Mac computer, four primo orchestra seats and party.
2. "Lord of the Rings" - Return of the King limited edition DVD set for $2000.
3. "Getting to Know You" - Package with four primo seats, party and a backstage visit immediately after the performance for $1000.
Checks are to be made out to WHWF.
Excellent orchestra seats are $125 which includes the party afterwards (location nearby to be determined).
Very good mezzanine seats are selling for $75 without the party.
There are packages to make extra money:
1. "The King and I-Mac" - Includes an I-Mac computer, four primo orchestra seats and party.
2. "Lord of the Rings" - Return of the King limited edition DVD set for $2000.
3. "Getting to Know You" - Package with four primo seats, party and a backstage visit immediately after the performance for $1000.
Checks are to be made out to WHWF.
Friday, February 18, 2005
The Pooch and I
It seems Stefanie Powers doesn't like to go far without her pooch. In Baltimore last week performing in The King and I at the Hippodrome, Powers took family and friends out to dinner Saturday night at Little Italy's Da Mimmo. Also in tow, reports owner Mary Ann Cricchio, was Powers' miniature pinscher/Shih Tzu mix, Bounce. Mary Ann says she and restaurant manager Masood Masoodi quickly set up a play date outside with their "best friends," Masood's white Maltese, Malta, and Mary Ann's Yorkie, Rover.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Romantic TV couples
Kevin Thompson's Valentine's Day picks for the TV couples that snagged our hearts.
Monday, February 14, 2005
Valentine's Day is a time for chocolate covered cherries, mushy cards, candlelight dinners and some really good lovin'.
For a TV critic, it's also a time to ponder which memorable TV couples have made our hearts skip a beat over the years.
No. 1: Mulder and Scully (The X-Files)
The truth is these two alien-chasing FBI agents exuded more sexual heat than most TV couples who fall into bed each week. Mulder and Scully did it with a knowing look. A quick embrace. A soft brush of the other's hair. A frantic cellphone call. The truth was out there: You knew their love was real. And you knew Mulder was the father of Scully's baby.
And the other 49 lovebirds . . .
2. Cliff and Clair Huxtable (The Cosby Show)
They slow danced with each other. They listened to John Coltrane together. They lovingly showed affection in front of their kids. Simply put, they had the kind of rock solid marriage everyone wants.
3. Lucy and Ricky Ricardo (I Love Lucy)
If they weren't on this list, I'd have some 'splainin' to do.
4. Rick and Lily (Once and Again)
They showed that divorced parents over 40 could actually act like lustful teens.
5. Bobby and Pam Ewing (Dallas)
For being a modern-day version of Romeo and Juliet. Aw, forget that. Remember, Bobby's six-pack abs? Pam's smokin' bod? That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!
6. David and Maddie (Moonlighting)
They fought. They solved crimes. They flirted. They fought. They flirted some more.
7. Ralph and Alice Kramden (The Honeymooners)
For all his "bang, zoom, to the moon" theatrics, deep down blustery Ralph knew his stand-by-your-man Alice was "the greatest." So did we.
8. Diane and Bobby (NYPD Blue)
Ever see them getting it on in a steamy shower? If so, you'd understand.
9. Buffy and Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
He was a brooding vampire. She was a sassy vampire killer. Which meant Buffy and Angel didn't go on many dreamy-eyed dates. But when they were together, their undying passion could raise the dead.
10. Barney and Betty Rubble (The Flintstones)
Because Barney can still make Betty giggle after all these years.
11. Sam and Diane (Cheers)
Their delightful verbal fencing, not all those barflies, made Cheers an instant TV classic.
12. Luke and Laura (General Hospital)
A couple who can survive sexual assaults, kidnappings and living life on the lam before getting hitched. That's love!
13. Doug and Carol (ER)
George Clooney. Juliana Marguilies. What else is there to say?
14. Ross and Rachel (Friends)
Because they were destined to be together. It just took forever.
15. Kevin and Winnie (The Wonder Years)
Ah, young love. So sweet. So innocent. Remember that first kiss in the very first show? 16. Blake and Krystle Carrington (Dynasty)
Sure, bling-blinging Blake sometimes treated his trophy wife like another pricey possession. But he loved Krystle and she loved him right back. Alexis who?
17. Rob and Laura Petrie (The Dick Van Dyke Show)
The way Laura fondly cried, "Ohhh, Robbbbb" oozed a deep-rooted passion that a '60s sitcom couldn't really explore. Rob and Laura slept in separate beds, for crying out loud!
18. Ward and June Cleaver (Leave It To Beaver)
There's something hopelessly romantic about two parents united in their parental duties. Who said every TV couple had to be all sexy?
19. Mike and Gloria Stivic (All in the Family)
They made out an awful lot, didn't they?
20. George and Gracie (The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show)
One of the all-time great show business couples. Say goodnight, Gracie.
21. Sydney and Vaughn (Alias)
Make love in the morning. Thwart a terrorist plot in the afternoon. Make love again at night.
22. Batman and Robin (Batman)
Holy close quarters! Let's face it: The Dynamic Duo spent way too much time alone in the Batcave. You do the math.
23. Martin and Gina (Martin)
Despite their off-screen problems, Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell boasted a sizzling on-screen comedic chemistry.
24. Herman and Lily Munster (The Munsters)
How often do you see Frankenstein whispering sweet nothings to his vampire squeeze? Never.
25. Mr. and Mrs. C (Happy Days)
They would excitedly rush upstairs for some afternoon delight whenever the kids weren't home. As a thumbs-up Fonz would say, "Aaayyh!"
26. Isabel and Leo (Relativity)
Kimberly Williams and David Conrad kissed like they meant it in this little-watched series that skillfully dealt with the complexities of twentysomething romance and relationships.
27. Joyce and Frank (Hill Street Blues)
No couple looked sexier in bed than those secret lovers played by the ruggedly handsome Daniel J. Travanti (Pizza Man!) and the fetching Veronica Hamel.
28. Niles and Daphne (Frasier)
Because sometimes nice, nerdy, opera-loving guys do get the girl of their dreams.
29. Jonathan and Jennifer Hart (Hart to Hart)
It's Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers, people! Hellooooooo!
30. Gomez and Morticia Addams (The Addams Family)
They did a mean tango. Only really passionate people can do a mean tango.
31. Latka and Simka (Taxi)
The funny accents made 'em so darn cute! Tank you berry much!
32. Kermit and Miss Piggy (The Muppet Show)
We needed a carefree frog and a showboating pig on the list. Seriously.
33. Paul and Jamie Buchman (Mad About You)
For showing that marriage can be hard work — and worth the effort.
34. Ozzie and Harriet (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet)
See Ward and June Cleaver.
35. Lois and Clark (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman)
Lois Lane and Clark Kent never looked that pretty in the D.C. Comics version. You can thank Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain for that.
36. Carrie and Big (Sex and the City)
OK, so Big was a first-class cad who often treated Carrie like crud on the bottom of his shoe. But they had chemistry. And all was forgotten when the big lug finally told Carrie, "You're the one."
37. Dharma and Greg (Dharma & Greg)
Dharma was a free-spirited yoga trainer. Greg was an uptight attorney. Yes, sometimes opposites do attract — and make you laugh.
38. Mike and Carol Brady (The Brady Bunch)
It's not easy looking chirpy and romantic when six kids are running your house. Go ahead, you try it!
39. Trista and Ryan (The Bachelorette)
Before America got sick of the attention-happy Trista, it actually loved this sweet, made-for-reality-TV couple. Well, they mostly loved the painfully shy, poetry-spouting Ryan.
40. James and Florida Evans (Good Times)
They lived with the buffoonish J.J. and still managed to keep their marriage strong. Big ups to James and Florida for that.
41. Turk and Carla (Scrubs)
They still have that newlywed glow.
42. Boston Rob and Amber (Survivor: All-Stars)
Any couple that can make living in the jungle with 16 smelly castaways look like a tropical vacation deserves a mention, don't ya think?
43. Ren and Stimpy (Ren & Stimpy)
If a scrawny, hot-headed Chihuahua (that's Ren) is gonna spend that much time with his kitty kat roomie (that's Stimpy), it must be love.
44. Remington and Laura (Remington Steele)
It's hard not to look all weak in the knees when you're standing next to the future 007.
45. Marge and Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)
Why not? At 16 years, The Simpsons is the longest-running sitcom on TV. You know Homer and Marge have had some serious lovin' in at least half of those years. D'oh!
46. Pebbles and Bamm Bamm (The Flintstones)
OK, they're babies, but they played so well together. Besides, when they grew up and got their own show, we kinda figured that Pebbles and Bamm Bamm were doing more than goo-goo and gaa-gaa-ing together.
47. The Donald and . . . The Donald (The Apprentice)
No one loves himself — or his companies, hotels, casinos and TV shows — more than The Trumpster.
48. Sandy and Kirsten Cohen (The O.C.)
Sandy singing to his wife on their 20th wedding anniversary probably melted every woman's heart in America.
49. Stewart and Sally McMillan (McMillan and Wife)
Rock Hudson was a grizzled police commissioner. Susan St. James was the wife who just wanted to help. Isn't support in a marriage a beautiful thing?
50. Flavor Flav and Brigitte Nielsen (Strange Love)
The cartoonish black rapper and the statuesque Danish actress are TV's oddest freak show couple since, well . . . give me a minute, I'll think of another one. Well, probably not.
Monday, February 14, 2005
Valentine's Day is a time for chocolate covered cherries, mushy cards, candlelight dinners and some really good lovin'.
For a TV critic, it's also a time to ponder which memorable TV couples have made our hearts skip a beat over the years.
No. 1: Mulder and Scully (The X-Files)
The truth is these two alien-chasing FBI agents exuded more sexual heat than most TV couples who fall into bed each week. Mulder and Scully did it with a knowing look. A quick embrace. A soft brush of the other's hair. A frantic cellphone call. The truth was out there: You knew their love was real. And you knew Mulder was the father of Scully's baby.
And the other 49 lovebirds . . .
2. Cliff and Clair Huxtable (The Cosby Show)
They slow danced with each other. They listened to John Coltrane together. They lovingly showed affection in front of their kids. Simply put, they had the kind of rock solid marriage everyone wants.
3. Lucy and Ricky Ricardo (I Love Lucy)
If they weren't on this list, I'd have some 'splainin' to do.
4. Rick and Lily (Once and Again)
They showed that divorced parents over 40 could actually act like lustful teens.
5. Bobby and Pam Ewing (Dallas)
For being a modern-day version of Romeo and Juliet. Aw, forget that. Remember, Bobby's six-pack abs? Pam's smokin' bod? That's what I'm talkin' 'bout!
6. David and Maddie (Moonlighting)
They fought. They solved crimes. They flirted. They fought. They flirted some more.
7. Ralph and Alice Kramden (The Honeymooners)
For all his "bang, zoom, to the moon" theatrics, deep down blustery Ralph knew his stand-by-your-man Alice was "the greatest." So did we.
8. Diane and Bobby (NYPD Blue)
Ever see them getting it on in a steamy shower? If so, you'd understand.
9. Buffy and Angel (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
He was a brooding vampire. She was a sassy vampire killer. Which meant Buffy and Angel didn't go on many dreamy-eyed dates. But when they were together, their undying passion could raise the dead.
10. Barney and Betty Rubble (The Flintstones)
Because Barney can still make Betty giggle after all these years.
11. Sam and Diane (Cheers)
Their delightful verbal fencing, not all those barflies, made Cheers an instant TV classic.
12. Luke and Laura (General Hospital)
A couple who can survive sexual assaults, kidnappings and living life on the lam before getting hitched. That's love!
13. Doug and Carol (ER)
George Clooney. Juliana Marguilies. What else is there to say?
14. Ross and Rachel (Friends)
Because they were destined to be together. It just took forever.
15. Kevin and Winnie (The Wonder Years)
Ah, young love. So sweet. So innocent. Remember that first kiss in the very first show? 16. Blake and Krystle Carrington (Dynasty)
Sure, bling-blinging Blake sometimes treated his trophy wife like another pricey possession. But he loved Krystle and she loved him right back. Alexis who?
17. Rob and Laura Petrie (The Dick Van Dyke Show)
The way Laura fondly cried, "Ohhh, Robbbbb" oozed a deep-rooted passion that a '60s sitcom couldn't really explore. Rob and Laura slept in separate beds, for crying out loud!
18. Ward and June Cleaver (Leave It To Beaver)
There's something hopelessly romantic about two parents united in their parental duties. Who said every TV couple had to be all sexy?
19. Mike and Gloria Stivic (All in the Family)
They made out an awful lot, didn't they?
20. George and Gracie (The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show)
One of the all-time great show business couples. Say goodnight, Gracie.
21. Sydney and Vaughn (Alias)
Make love in the morning. Thwart a terrorist plot in the afternoon. Make love again at night.
22. Batman and Robin (Batman)
Holy close quarters! Let's face it: The Dynamic Duo spent way too much time alone in the Batcave. You do the math.
23. Martin and Gina (Martin)
Despite their off-screen problems, Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell boasted a sizzling on-screen comedic chemistry.
24. Herman and Lily Munster (The Munsters)
How often do you see Frankenstein whispering sweet nothings to his vampire squeeze? Never.
25. Mr. and Mrs. C (Happy Days)
They would excitedly rush upstairs for some afternoon delight whenever the kids weren't home. As a thumbs-up Fonz would say, "Aaayyh!"
26. Isabel and Leo (Relativity)
Kimberly Williams and David Conrad kissed like they meant it in this little-watched series that skillfully dealt with the complexities of twentysomething romance and relationships.
27. Joyce and Frank (Hill Street Blues)
No couple looked sexier in bed than those secret lovers played by the ruggedly handsome Daniel J. Travanti (Pizza Man!) and the fetching Veronica Hamel.
28. Niles and Daphne (Frasier)
Because sometimes nice, nerdy, opera-loving guys do get the girl of their dreams.
29. Jonathan and Jennifer Hart (Hart to Hart)
It's Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers, people! Hellooooooo!
30. Gomez and Morticia Addams (The Addams Family)
They did a mean tango. Only really passionate people can do a mean tango.
31. Latka and Simka (Taxi)
The funny accents made 'em so darn cute! Tank you berry much!
32. Kermit and Miss Piggy (The Muppet Show)
We needed a carefree frog and a showboating pig on the list. Seriously.
33. Paul and Jamie Buchman (Mad About You)
For showing that marriage can be hard work — and worth the effort.
34. Ozzie and Harriet (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet)
See Ward and June Cleaver.
35. Lois and Clark (Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman)
Lois Lane and Clark Kent never looked that pretty in the D.C. Comics version. You can thank Teri Hatcher and Dean Cain for that.
36. Carrie and Big (Sex and the City)
OK, so Big was a first-class cad who often treated Carrie like crud on the bottom of his shoe. But they had chemistry. And all was forgotten when the big lug finally told Carrie, "You're the one."
37. Dharma and Greg (Dharma & Greg)
Dharma was a free-spirited yoga trainer. Greg was an uptight attorney. Yes, sometimes opposites do attract — and make you laugh.
38. Mike and Carol Brady (The Brady Bunch)
It's not easy looking chirpy and romantic when six kids are running your house. Go ahead, you try it!
39. Trista and Ryan (The Bachelorette)
Before America got sick of the attention-happy Trista, it actually loved this sweet, made-for-reality-TV couple. Well, they mostly loved the painfully shy, poetry-spouting Ryan.
40. James and Florida Evans (Good Times)
They lived with the buffoonish J.J. and still managed to keep their marriage strong. Big ups to James and Florida for that.
41. Turk and Carla (Scrubs)
They still have that newlywed glow.
42. Boston Rob and Amber (Survivor: All-Stars)
Any couple that can make living in the jungle with 16 smelly castaways look like a tropical vacation deserves a mention, don't ya think?
43. Ren and Stimpy (Ren & Stimpy)
If a scrawny, hot-headed Chihuahua (that's Ren) is gonna spend that much time with his kitty kat roomie (that's Stimpy), it must be love.
44. Remington and Laura (Remington Steele)
It's hard not to look all weak in the knees when you're standing next to the future 007.
45. Marge and Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)
Why not? At 16 years, The Simpsons is the longest-running sitcom on TV. You know Homer and Marge have had some serious lovin' in at least half of those years. D'oh!
46. Pebbles and Bamm Bamm (The Flintstones)
OK, they're babies, but they played so well together. Besides, when they grew up and got their own show, we kinda figured that Pebbles and Bamm Bamm were doing more than goo-goo and gaa-gaa-ing together.
47. The Donald and . . . The Donald (The Apprentice)
No one loves himself — or his companies, hotels, casinos and TV shows — more than The Trumpster.
48. Sandy and Kirsten Cohen (The O.C.)
Sandy singing to his wife on their 20th wedding anniversary probably melted every woman's heart in America.
49. Stewart and Sally McMillan (McMillan and Wife)
Rock Hudson was a grizzled police commissioner. Susan St. James was the wife who just wanted to help. Isn't support in a marriage a beautiful thing?
50. Flavor Flav and Brigitte Nielsen (Strange Love)
The cartoonish black rapper and the statuesque Danish actress are TV's oddest freak show couple since, well . . . give me a minute, I'll think of another one. Well, probably not.
Thursday, February 03, 2005
Long live 'The King'
As the king himself might put it, there's a lot of "etc., etc., etc." in The King and I.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical works best when it's showcased with all the trimmings. It demands opulence and splendor. And Kenneth Foy's red, gold and black set and Roger Kirk's glittery, silk, Tony Award-winning costumes meet those demands.
But at its core, as the title indicates, The King and I is the story of two people - the headstrong king of 1860s Siam (now Thailand) and the equally headstrong British teacher he hires to instruct his children.
The King and I was originally created as a star vehicle - not for Yul Brynner, though he became inextricably associated with the role of the king. No, Rodgers and Hammerstein were writing for Gertrude Lawrence, the actress who created the role of the teacher, Anna Leonowens.
Under the direction of Baayork Lee, the touring version at the Hippodrome Theatre once again assigns star billing to the actress playing Anna. This time, that actress is Stefanie Powers, and though she looks elegant and displays plenty of Anna's innate gumption, her casting is - as the king again might put it - something of a "puzzlement."
The problem isn't entirely that Powers is a bit old for Anna (the last time she starred in Baltimore, in 1996, she played long-in-the-tooth Margo Channing in Applause). Powers' acting has enough gusto to allow a gracious audience to overlook age.
A bigger problem is that a voice that sounded nasal in Applause now sounds brash, even strained. While Powers can get away with a character actress' delivery of "I Whistle a Happy Tune," she's simply not up to the lush strains of a romantic ballad like "Hello, Young Lovers."
As the king, Ronobir Lahiri is vocally adept, and he also finds the wit and intelligence hidden beneath the king's arrogance. His king is a complex man - tied to tradition, but modern-thinking; smart enough to know what he doesn't know; proud enough of his heritage not to let it be overrun by Western ways.
Along with all the opulence, The King and I also requires a bevy of adorable children, and the current youngsters easily pass that test. In addition, Catherine MiEun Choi as the king's No. 1 wife and Luz Lor as unlucky-in-love Tuptim make such chestnuts as "Something Wonderful" and "I Have Dreamed," respectively, the musical high points. And, as re-created by Susan Kikuchi, Jerome Robbins' choreography continues to enchant.
In the end, despite Powers' vocal limitations, when she and Lahiri's king break into a rousing polka in "Shall We Dance?" two stubborn individuals and two disparate cultures come together in a whirl of music and dance. A lesson in cultural understanding, for better or worse, it remains as poignant and pertinent as it did when the show debuted a half-century ago.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical works best when it's showcased with all the trimmings. It demands opulence and splendor. And Kenneth Foy's red, gold and black set and Roger Kirk's glittery, silk, Tony Award-winning costumes meet those demands.
But at its core, as the title indicates, The King and I is the story of two people - the headstrong king of 1860s Siam (now Thailand) and the equally headstrong British teacher he hires to instruct his children.
The King and I was originally created as a star vehicle - not for Yul Brynner, though he became inextricably associated with the role of the king. No, Rodgers and Hammerstein were writing for Gertrude Lawrence, the actress who created the role of the teacher, Anna Leonowens.
Under the direction of Baayork Lee, the touring version at the Hippodrome Theatre once again assigns star billing to the actress playing Anna. This time, that actress is Stefanie Powers, and though she looks elegant and displays plenty of Anna's innate gumption, her casting is - as the king again might put it - something of a "puzzlement."
The problem isn't entirely that Powers is a bit old for Anna (the last time she starred in Baltimore, in 1996, she played long-in-the-tooth Margo Channing in Applause). Powers' acting has enough gusto to allow a gracious audience to overlook age.
A bigger problem is that a voice that sounded nasal in Applause now sounds brash, even strained. While Powers can get away with a character actress' delivery of "I Whistle a Happy Tune," she's simply not up to the lush strains of a romantic ballad like "Hello, Young Lovers."
As the king, Ronobir Lahiri is vocally adept, and he also finds the wit and intelligence hidden beneath the king's arrogance. His king is a complex man - tied to tradition, but modern-thinking; smart enough to know what he doesn't know; proud enough of his heritage not to let it be overrun by Western ways.
Along with all the opulence, The King and I also requires a bevy of adorable children, and the current youngsters easily pass that test. In addition, Catherine MiEun Choi as the king's No. 1 wife and Luz Lor as unlucky-in-love Tuptim make such chestnuts as "Something Wonderful" and "I Have Dreamed," respectively, the musical high points. And, as re-created by Susan Kikuchi, Jerome Robbins' choreography continues to enchant.
In the end, despite Powers' vocal limitations, when she and Lahiri's king break into a rousing polka in "Shall We Dance?" two stubborn individuals and two disparate cultures come together in a whirl of music and dance. A lesson in cultural understanding, for better or worse, it remains as poignant and pertinent as it did when the show debuted a half-century ago.
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