Broadway Audition Calls
When a Richard Rodgers musical is about to go into production, it brings out swarms of hopeful actors. This image shows the multitudes of boys and young men vying for a role in the original run of The King and I, first produced at the St. James Theater in New York in 1951. The line extends from the entrance door, outside the theater, and down the block. The group gathered to wait their turn on stage are a diverse bunch.
Some dress with businesslike seriousness in their best suits and ties, others go for a more casual look with a sports jacket and collar unbuttoned. One saucy-looking boy wears a casual jacket and stands in an informal pose. Some look excited to go in, others look bored, yet others look nervous to audition for such a major production.