Meet the stars of The King and I

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The musical revival on Broadway now is a classic show that seems very fresh, which is a tribute to its performers and to its universal themes of tolerance and respect.

"The King and I" earned a total of nine Tony nominations including two for its stars, Ken Watanabe and Kelli O'Hara.

A luminous star with such a beautiful voice singing memorable tunes makes just about any Broadway revival worth seeing, but O'Hara suggests another reason to go and see this revival.

"It was so ahead of its time that this kind of gender equality subject matter is so relevant right now. All we had to do was dig into that subject, and it becomes very relevant," O'Hara said.

'Anna' is a teacher brought to Southeast Asia by a king who is trying to modernize his country in the 19th century, but when his strong will meets hers, the story becomes timeless.

"She really learned to respect and admire and love this man on an equal plane because he did the same for her," she said.

Watanabe is a movie star and a legend in his native Japan, but this is his Broadway debut and his first stage production in English.

"And, also musical. It's a big challenge for me in my life," he said.

"Other countries, different cultures getting to know each other and coming together. That never gets old and should never get old," O'Hara added.

To hear more from them and other stars on Broadway, we invite you to tune in this coming Saturday at 7pm on ABC 7 for "Broadway Backstage: Spring Preview." The hosts are our own Michelle Charlesworth and James Monroe Iglehart, the 'Genie' from "Aladdin." It's a great guide to all the shows on the boards.