A beloved Broadway star wowed audience members in her first performance since a tragic car crash earlier this year killed her 5-year-old daughter and her unborn baby.
35-year-old Ruthie Ann Miles took to the stage on Friday in the revival of The King and I, where she gave a stunning performance and showed her strength after loss. She reprised her role as Lady Thiang — a part that won her a Tony Award in 2015. She is sharing the role with Naoko Mori in the production, which moved from New York City’s Lincoln Center Theater to London’s West End in July.
This particular performance of the famous Rodgers & Hammerstein musical received standing ovations, as many fellow performers took to social media to share their praise.
“Last night, our friend @RuthieAnnMiles was a triumph in @KingandIWestEnd,” wrote Miles’ costar Kelli O’Hara. “Every moment was a gift and continues to be. She is singing like an angel and commanding the stage with a heavenly force. An inspiration to all.”
Mile’s former costar and Tony-nominated Mean Girls star Ashley Park shared her sentiments on Instagram, writing: “Sending all my love to @ruthieannmiles who performed for the first time in London tonight. Unspeakable bravery, rawness, and brilliance. What I would have given to be there. With angel cards, pranks, and apple cider vinegar for you. Thrilled she is surrounded by Bart, Kelli, Ken, and KING AND I family.”
An amazed audience member shared this message on Twitter: “@RuthieAnnMiles gave the bravest performance I have ever seen and was just incredible.”
“Tonight was @RuthieAnnMiles first night and it was an absolute masterclass in strength and courage,” tweeted another. “I will be forever in awe of her performance and of her.”
In March, a seven-months pregnant Miles and her family were traumatized by a horrible accident that took the life of her 4-year-old daughter Abigail Blumenstein. The mother and daughter duo were walking on the sidewalk in Brooklyn when an erratic driver struck them. The driver also hit and killed 1-year-old Joshua Lew, the son of Miles’ friend Lauren, who was hurt in the incident.
On May 17, Miles’ family lawyer, Ben Rubinowitz, shared on Instagram on her behalf that their unborn child did not make it, due to Miles’ severe injuries. He revealed the couple had chosen the name Sophia Rosemary Wong Blumenstein for their unborn daughter and said “The pain suffered by Ruthie and Jonathan is nearly impossible to fathom.”
44-year-old Dorothy Bruns of State Island was charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault in the March 5 crash that claimed the lives of these two innocent children. Bruns’ lawyer entered a not guilty plea in the case. Some sources say Bruns claimed she had a seizure at the time of the incident, which involved her running a red light and crashing into parked cars.
Photo: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ruthie-ann-miles-apos-sang-204826991.html