The King and I is a 1951 Broadway musical by Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers, which was later turned into a 1956 film. Based on the book Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, the musical was the sixth collaboration for Rodgers and Hammerstein, and ran for 1,246 performances in its first theatrical run.

Many songs from the musical have become standards in the American Songbook, including "I Whistle a Happy Tune" and "Shall We Dance?", and have been performed by the Muppets multiple times.

References

• The musical was one of the many referenced in the 1973 special Julie on Sesame Street during the Broadway medley. Bert portrays the king, who has Julie Andrews dance with Snuffy while singing "Shall We Dance".

• It was once again spoofed on Sesame Street in a Monsterpiece Theater sketch, with Grover as the King of Siam dancing with a lower case I to an instrumental version of "Shall We Dance?".

• In the Elmo's World episode "Getting Dressed," the Getting Dressed Channel advises viewers to stay tuned for "Shall We Pants?" starring Shirt Reynolds.

• The Count sings "Getting to Count You" in a Sesame Street insert, a song that parodies "Getting to Know You."

• In The Sesame Street Dictionary, Oscar reads "The Rotten Egg and I."

• Miss Piggy's Rules spoofs the song title "Getting to Know You" with the section "Getting to Know Vous, Getting to Know Too Much About Vous."

Connections

• Lexine Bondoc played Princess Yaowlak in the 1996 Broadway revival
• Barbara Cook played Anna in the 1960 Broadway revival
• Alan Muraoka played the interpreter and other ensemble roles in the 1996 Broadway revival
• Marie Osmond assumed the role of Anna Leonowens during the 1996 Broadway revival.
• Lou Diamond Phillips played the King in the 1996 Broadway revival
• Rankin/Bass were producers of the 1999 animated adaptation
• Miranda Richardson voiced Anna in the 1999 animated adaptation
• Brian Tochi voiced a soldier in the 1999 animated version
• Jenna Ushkowitz (then Jenna Noelle Ushkowitz) played Royal Child in the 1996 Broadway revival

External links

• Internet Broadway Database