It didn’t take long for the song “We Kiss in a Shadow” to become a Gay anthem in 1951. There wasn’t a bar in New York City that didn’t have the song on their jukebox, usually the Perry Como recording, or in a piano bar wasn’t requested from the piano player to play and sing it at least a dozen times. (Yes I was only 15 but back then the drinking age was 18 and not only did I look older I also had a phony ID card!)

This is a recording by Jose Llana who played Lun Tha in this Broadway rival and took over the role of the King for 11 weeks on Broadway and is now starring in that role on tour opening in Miami tomorrow night.

“We Kiss in a Shadow” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dOXbILvZwQ

“The King and I” was revived in NYC 5 times and won a total of 15 Tony awards including best musical in 1951 and best revival in 1996 and for the current production.

Yul Brynner played the role of the King 4,625 times plus in the movie. When the show opened he was a ‘featured’ player until, Gertrude Lawrence, knowing she was dying, asked Rodgers and Hammerstein to put his name above the title.

Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein are considered the greatest musical partnership of the 20^th century writing 22 shows together for Broadway, the movies and television. Among their works are “Oklahoma”, “Carousel”, “South Pacific”, “Sound of Music” with “The King and I” considered one of their best and most successful scores. These 15 song videos from the current “The King and I” revival to open at the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center in Miami will show you why.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypK2l4QvkTw&list=PL8YeGqOUYwM_reNudnsh46OgKAjfxqG2a