Ruthie Ann Miles to Reprise Her Tony-Winning Role in The King and I
(© Paul Kolnik)
Ruthie Ann Miles will reprise her Tony Award-winning performance as Lady Thiang in the West End transfer of The King and I, beginning performances at the London Palladium on June 21. She joins her fellow stars of the 2015 Broadway cast, Tony Award winner Kelli O'Hara (Anna) and Tony and Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe (The King), for the London production, which has now extended its run through September 8. All three will be making their West End debuts.
Miles originated the role of Imelda Marcos in the Public Theater production of Here Lies Love, for which she received the Lucille Lortel Award and the Theatre World Award. For her portrayal of Lady Thiang, she won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and the 2015 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical. She was last seen on Broadway as Frieda/Betty in the 2017 revival of Sunday in the Park With George, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford.
Inspired by Margaret Landon's novel Anna and the King of Siam, The King and I features music by Richard Rodgers and a book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Set in 1860s Bangkok, the story follows the relationship of British schoolteacher Anna Leonowens and the King of Siam, who employs her as a tutor for his many wives and children.
The 2015 Tony-winning Broadway revival ran for 16 months at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater, with direction by Tony winner Bartlett Sher, who returns to direct the West End transfer.
