A MAJOR new production and national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'The King and I' opens at Liverpool Empire on Friday 21 January.

Kevin Gray will reprise his Broadway role as the King alongside Elizabeth Renihan as Anna, in a brand new production of the much-loved musical. Directed by Stephen Rayne, this new production will use its inspiration 'Anna and the King of Siam', the original Margaret Landon novel on which this all-time classic musical is based.

Celebrating the fiftieth year since the release of the Oscar Winning movie, it will explore some of the myths behind this enchanting story, set in the early 1860s in the Royal capital city of Bangkok in the Kingdom of Siam.

Kevin Gray's extensive US theatre credits include Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon and Jesus Christ Superstar, whilst Elizabeth Renihan has worked extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.

'The King and I' is set to one of the most glorious, beautiful and unforgettable scores ever written for the stage, including 'Shall we dance?', 'I whistle a happy tune', 'Getting to know you', 'Something wonderful' and 'I have dreamed'. The original production of 'The King and I' with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and music by Richard Rodgers, opened on Broadway in 1951 and has captured millions in the decades since with its delightful story of Anna Leonowens, brought to the court of Siam, as tutor to the King's 67 children.

This new stage production will appear at Liverpool Empire from Friday 21 January until Saturday 29 January (Ticket line 0870 6063536), moving on to the Palace Theatre Manchester from Tuesday 1 February- Saturday 12 February (0870 4013000), ahead of a year long national tour.