Anna Leonowens eccentric Victorian female traveler". The novel was adapted as a hit musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, "The King and I" (1951), starring Gertrude Lawrence and Yul Brynner, which ran 1,246 performances on Broadway and was also a hit in London and on tour. In 1956, a film version was released, with Deborah Kerr starring in the role of Leonowens and Brynner reprising his role as the king. Revived many times on stage (with Brynner starring in revivals until 1985), the musical has remained a favourite of the theatregoing public. The humorous depiction of Mongkut as a polka-dancing despot, as well
Deborah Woodson Theater in Washington, D.C., where she sang before the President of the United States of America. Deborah moved to Germany in 1997. She was an immediate success, performing frequently on the RTL "Saturday Night Live Show". Deborah was vocal coach in the nationally televised "Deutschland sucht den Superstar" ("The German Idol"). and served on the jury for European Gospel Awards 2004, 2005 and 2006. She has traveled the world conducting gospel workshops and performing with her gospel group, The Gospel Soulmates. Deborah played Motormouth Maybelle in the original German version of the musical "Hairspray" 2009 in the Musical Dome in