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Broadway Heartthrobs Put Gay Spin on Classic “The King and I” Duet

Jelani Alladin and Matt Doyle have come out of the shadows.

Hello, young lovers!

Broadway stars Jelani Alladin and Matt Doyle have teamed up with arranger Will Van Dyke to reimagine “We Kiss in a Shadow” from the 1951 musical The King and I as part of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization’s new “R&H Goes Pop!” YouTube series.

As two men taking on the classic duet, Alladin and Doyle bring the love song into the modern era. It's something wonderful indeed.

In The King and I, which was adapted into a hit 1956 film, “We Kiss in a Shadow” is performed by slave Tuptim and scholar Lun Tha, who must keep their relationship a secret from the King of Siam.

"Anyone who has felt like they weren’t able to express who they are or how they love can listen to this song and find a connection," says Doyle in a statement.

"Unfortunately, we are living in a world, in a space, that doesn’t value love of all kinds," Alladin adds. "This song is our way of understanding how we can begin to accept love of all kinds, to embrace the ugliness, the beautifulness of all of it and understand that we are all human."

Cheyenne Jackson and Michael Feinstein memorably recorded “We Kiss in a Shadow” as a same-sex duet on their 2009 album The Power of Two.

Doyle, a singer-songwriter, is known for his work in Broadway musicals Spring Awakening, Bye Bye Birdie, and The Book of Mormon. Alladin made his Broadway debut last year originating the role of Kristoff in the Broadway adaptation of Disney's Frozen.

"R&H Goes Pop," hosted by Broadway star Laura Osnes, launched in January with Jeremy Jordan reimagining “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’” from Oklahoma! Future guests in the series include Gavin Creel, Katrina Lenk, and Anthony Rapp.

Watch “We Kiss in a Shadow” below.

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