Though the New York producers of the Donna Murphy/Lou Diamond Phillips revival of The King and I hoped to keep the news under wraps for a while longer, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC has gone public with the announcement that the show will stop at the Center's Opera House April 15-May 25, 1997 as part of a national tour. No casting for the tour has been announced. Dodger Productions will co-produce the stop, and possibly the tour, with the Kennedy Center. A spokesperson for Dodger Productions declined to provide information about other stops on the tour, saying contracts are still being negotiated. Playbill On-Line will announce them when they become public.

Also on the schedule for the Kennedy Center:
* Mrs. Klein, the off-Broadway hit starring two-time Tony-winner Uta Hagen. (Sept. 24-Oct. 20)
* Having Our Say the Broadway hit adapated by Emily Mann. (Nov. 4-Dec. 8)
* Damn Yankees starring Jerry Lewis. (Dec. 10-Jan. 12)
* Hysteria drama about Sigmund Feud by Terry Johnson. (Feb. 18-March 30, 1997)
* The King and I (April 15-May 25)
* Valley Song, off-Broadway hit by Athol Fugard. (Spring dates TBA)
* The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. (June 13-TBA)
* Wise Guys world premiere of new musical by Stephen Sondheim. (June 30-TBA)