The King and I is based on a play.
The King and I is the fifth musical by the team of composer Richard Rodgers and dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II .. Richard Rodgers. Richard Rodgers. Oscar Hammerstein II. Oscar Hammerstein II. musical. musical theatre. the team. Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on Margaret Landon 's novel , Anna and the King of Siam -LRB- 1944 -RRB- , which is in turn derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens , governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s .. Anna and the King of Siam. Anna and the King of Siam ( novel ). Margaret Landon. Margaret Landon. Anna Leonowens. Anna Leonowens. governess. governess. King Mongkut. Mongkut. Siam. Thailand. The musical 's plot relates the experiences of Anna , a British schoolteacher hired as part of the King 's drive to modernize his country .. musical. musical theatre. The relationship between the King and Anna is marked by conflict through much of the piece , as well as by a love to which neither can admit .. The musical premiered on March 29 , 1951 , at Broadway 's St. James Theatre .. Broadway. Broadway theatre. musical. musical theatre. St. James Theatre. St. James Theatre. It ran for nearly three years , making it the fourth longest-running Broadway musical in history at the time , and has had many tours and revivals .. Broadway. Broadway theatre. musical. musical theatre. In 1950 , theatrical attorney Fanny Holtzmann was looking for a part for her client , veteran leading lady Gertrude Lawrence .. Fanny Holtzmann. Fanny Holtzmann. Gertrude Lawrence. Gertrude Lawrence. Holtzmann realized that Landon 's book would provide an ideal vehicle and contacted Rodgers and Hammerstein , who were initially reluctant but agreed to write the musical .. musical. musical theatre. Rodgers and Hammerstein. Rodgers and Hammerstein. The pair initially sought Rex Harrison to play the supporting part of the King , a role he had played in the 1946 film made from Landon 's book , but he was unavailable .. Rex Harrison. Rex Harrison. the 1946 film. Anna and the King of Siam ( film ). They settled on the young actor and television director Yul Brynner .. Yul Brynner. Yul Brynner. The musical was an immediate hit , winning Tony Awards for Best Musical , Best Actress -LRB- for Lawrence -RRB- and Best Featured Actor -LRB- for Brynner -RRB- .. musical. musical theatre. Best Musical. Tony Award for Best Musical. Best Actress. Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Best Featured Actor. Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Lawrence died unexpectedly of cancer a year and a half after the opening , and the role of Anna was played by several actresses during the remainder of the Broadway run of 1,246 performances .. Broadway. Broadway theatre. A hit London run and U.S. national tour followed , together with a 1956 film for which Brynner won an Academy Award , and the musical was recorded several times .. musical. musical theatre. a 1956 film. The King and I ( 1956 film ). Academy Award. Academy Award. In later revivals , Brynner came to dominate his role and the musical , starring in a four-year national tour culminating in a 1985 Broadway run shortly before his death .. Broadway. Broadway theatre. musical. musical theatre. Christopher Renshaw directed major revivals on Broadway -LRB- 1996 -RRB- , winning the Tony Award for Best Revival , and in the West End -LRB- 2000 -RRB- .. Broadway. Broadway theatre. West End. West End theatre. Tony Award for Best Revival. Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. Tony Award. Tony Award. Christopher Renshaw. Christopher Renshaw. A 2015 Broadway revival won another Tony for Best Revival .. Broadway. Broadway theatre. revival. revival ( theatre ). Both professional and amateur revivals of The King and I continue to be staged regularly throughout the English-speaking world .