New return date for Ken Watanabe in The King and I

After undergoing treatment for stomach cancer, it has been confirmed that Tony and Academy Award nominee Ken Watanabe will return to the role of The King of Siam slightly later than scheduled. He will now begin performances in the Tony Award-winning revival of The King and I on 17 March 2016 (instead of 1 March) and play a limited engagement through to 17 April 2016. Current King of Siam Hoon Lee will now continue in the role through to 16 March 2016.

As previously announced, Jose Llana will then reprise the role from his run last Summer and play the King of Siam from 19 April to 1 May. And finally, TV star of "Lost" and "Hawaii Five-0" Daniel Dae Kim will make his Broadway debut from 3 May to 26 June 2016 for a strictly limited eight week engagement in the role.

The principal cast currently includes Tony winner Kelli O'Hara (Anna Leonowens), Hoon Lee (King of Siam), Tony winner Ruthie Ann Miles (Lady Thiang), Ashley Park (as Tuptim), Conrad Ricamora (Lun Tha), Edward Baker-Duly (Sir Edward Ramsey), Jon Viktor Corpuz (Prince Chulalongkorn), Murphy Guyer (Captain Orton), Jake Lucas (Louis), Paul Nakauchi (Kralahome), and Marc Oka (Phra Alack).

This Broadway revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I , directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher, opened at LCT's Vivian Beaumont Theatre on 16 April 2015, following previews from 12 March 2015, where it is currently booking to 26 June 2016.

The production opened to glowing reviews and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, eventually winning four: Best Revival of a Musical, Best Actress in a Musical (Kelli O'Hara), Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Ruthie Ann Miles), and Best Costume Design of a Musical (Catherine Zuber).

The creative team behind The King and I features scenic design by Michael Yeargan, costume design by Catherine Zuber, lighting design by Donald Holder, and sound design by Scott Lehrer.

Ken Watanabe made his Broadway debut as the King of Siam in 2015, which also earned him a Tony nomination. His Japanese theatre credits include 'Dialogue with Horowitz,' 'Hamlet,' 'Shitayamannen-cho monogatari,' 'The Lion in Winter,' and 'The Royal Hunt of the Sun.' On screen Watanabe earned Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations in 2004 for "The Last Samurai." Other notable credits include "Inception," "Letters from Iwo Jima," "Memoirs of a Geisha," "Batman Begins," and "Godzilla."

Jose Llana starred as President Marcos in the hit musical 'Here Lies Love' at the Public Theater. His Broadway credits include 'Wonderland,' 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,' 'Flower Drum Song,' 'Rent,' 'Streetcorner Symphony,' and the 1996 production of 'The King and I,' in which he performed the role of Lun Tha.

Daniel Dae Kim is perhaps best known for his recurring TV roles as Jin Kwon in "Lost" and Chin Ho Kelly in "Hawaii Five-0." Other notable screen credits include "Insurgent," "Crash," "24," "Angel," "Crusade," "The Jackal," and "Spider-Man 2."

Hoon Lee appeared on Broadway in 'Pacific Overtures' (Roundabout Theatre Company), 'Flower Drum Song,' and 'Urinetown.' His off-Broadway credits include the Public Theater productions of 'Yellow Face' and 'Love's Labour's Lost.'

- by Tom Millward