Aurora – The lush, captivating Broadway blockbuster, “The King and I”, opens Apr. 27 at Aurora Community Theatre, 115 E. Pioneer Trail. The 10-performance run continues at 8 pm Fridays and Saturdays through May 17, plus 3 pm Sunday May, 6 and 13.
The award-winning musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II features such beloved songs as: “I Whistle a Happy Tune”, “Getting to Know You”, “Hello, Young Lovers”, and “Shall We Dance?”
Set in 1862, “The King and I” explores the mysteries and cultural challenges of East versus West as it tells the story of Anna, a British schoolteacher brought by the King of Siam to help modernize his country. Their relationship, marked by polite but potent cultural conflict, is underscored by a love that neither can admit. The story is based on Margaret Landon’s novel, Anna and the King of Siam, which is derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who served as governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam (now Thailand).
Dustin Oliver directs “The King and I” with Kristen Johnson, music director, and Amie W. Gabel, choreographer. D. Keith Stiver and Marc C. Howard, are co-producers, with Ann Nyenhuis, stage manager/technical director.
Ellie Kelly plays Anna Leonowens, with Owen Bass as her son, Louis Leonowens. Joey Cayabyab takes on the role of The King of Siam with Aiden Hills as his son and heir to the throne, Prince Chulalongkorn.
Mari McCloud will perform Lady Thiang, the King’s chief wife and mother of Prince Chulalongkorn. Paolo Parodi will play Lun Tha, the young scholar who falls in love with Tuptim, a Burmese slave brought to be a junior wife to the King, performed by Shelby Carlisle.
Royal Children include: Jane Gerdes, Kerrigan Riley, McKenzie Kaplan, Mia Custer, Rose Zabik, Payton Griffith, Ashley Miller, Alayna Stachiw, Emma Robb, Gianna Malie, Rachel Marzullo.
Royal Wives will be performed by: Liz Fuller, Theresa Benyo-Marzullo, Evelyn DeLiso, and Amie W.Gabel.
The cast also will feature: Eric Grow (The Kralahome), Aurora McCloud (Princess Ying Yaowalak), Glen Johnston (Captain Orton), Scott Stachiw (Sir Edward Ramsay), Oscar Waters (Phra Alack and Uncle Thomas), Jerry Schaber (The Interpreter). Bernie Keister, Guy Custer and Ken Parsons will play the King’s slaves. Custer will also be seen on stage as the palace guard and Parsons as a deckhand.
“The Small House of Uncle Thomas Ballet” will include: Robb, Malie, Gabel, DeLiso, Custer and Parsons, featuring solo performances by Fuller, Benyo-Marzullo, Griffith, Miller and Stachiw.
April Lasich is in charge of costumes, including the hugely hooped skirts of Anna and the elegant, richly hued garments of the King, his wives and court. T.L. Codella designed the lighting. Maggie Hamilton is in charge of sound. Laura Nosek served as board liaison, while Marianne Gingras designed posters and signs.
The set construction crew, led by Ann Nyenhuis, included: Joe Mira, Jerry Schaber, Marty Pekarcik, Neil Rubin, Mike Guffey, Craig McCloud, Dave Nyenhuis, April Sike, Glen Johnston, Brandon Johnston, Olivia Johnston with Linda Weinkamer as scenic artist
Kristen Johnson will serve as pianist while she conducts the live orchestra featuring: Jonathan “Skip” Edwards, bass, Marianne Paul, cello, Sarah Severa, French horn, Gregg Cross, percussion, David Betts, trombone, Heather Kovach, violin, Jeff Bodkin and Ron Nelson, both on woodwinds.
“The King & I” is the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical premiered on March 29, 1951, at Broadway’s St. James Theatre. It ran for nearly three years, making it the fourth longest-running Broadway musical in history at the time, and has had many tours and revivals.
Aurora Community Theatre is located at 115 E. Pioneer Trail, near the intersection of SR 43 and 306, at the gazebo, in the center of Aurora. ACT extends appreciation to The Denise G. & Norman E. Wells, Jr. Family Foundation for their generous underwriting of the Wells Main Stage.
