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Niles West High puts on production of ‘The King and I’
Kyla Marie Pomer (left) and Mary Vo dance in a scene during the dress rehearsal for the classic musical "The King and I" which the Niles West Fine Arts Department will be performing May 5 to May 7 in the high school's auditorium. The production features more than 90 students in the cast, crew and pit orchestra. | Ryan Pagelow~Sun-Times Media.
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Updated: November 24, 2011 3:34AM
Niles West High School’s fine arts department will bring to life the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic about a widow who takes a job as a live-in governess for the King of Siam’s children.
The presentation of the “The King and I” will be performed at the school Thursday through Saturday and consist of more than 100 students — 34 high school students in the cast, 36 in the pit orchestra, 10 in the crew, and 15 grade school youngsters from five to 12-years-old playing the princes and princesses.
The story revolves around the experiences of British school teacher Anna Leonowens, who was hired by the King in 1862 to help modernize his country, said Andrew Sinclair, drama teacher and director of the show. The relationship between the King and Anna is marked by conflict, love and eventually respect, as Western ideals confront Eastern tradition, he added. Musical theater standards such as “Getting to Know You,” “Shall We Dance?” and “I Whistle a Happy Tune” punctuate the performance.
Aleks Krapivkin plays the king; Lauren Langer, Anna Leonowens; Nicole Yoon, Lady Thiang; Elizabeth Mangulabnan, Tuptim; Ravi Patel, Lun Tha; Cameron Broderick, Louis Leonowens; Surdeep Chauhan, Prince Chulalongkorn; Aaron Ruderman, Sir Edward Ramsay/ensemble; Rishi Patel, Captain Orton/ensemble; Julia Zasso, the interpreter/dancer; Rachel Flink, Phra Alack/dancer; and Cristina Castro, head princess.
The priests of Siam are played by Daniel Bedoya, Gabe Flippo, Jason Magel, Danny Morrison and Bryan Taico. The royal wives are Katie Buckley, Soojin Choi, Caleigh Havansek, Jessie Jun, Anahita Karimi, Jieun Kim, Michelle Kim, Merrick McWherter, Sharon Mathew, Sarah Meehan, Kyler Pomer, Rachel Prale, Carly Tennes, Mary Vo, Maddy Weil and Rachel Weisbecker. The royal princes and princesses are Vitarose DiGiorgio, Colin Graham, Olivia Hofeld, Chloe Ibardaloza, Summer Levin, Charlie Luz, Kyle Moy, Tricia Pabst, Kara Marie Pomer, Alexander Powell, Briana Reid, Gwendolyn Shepherd, Amaad Syed, Roland Teivans and Anton Tomacic.
The production team includes Andrew Sinclair, director; Amy Branahl, vocal director; Patti-Anne Davis, choreographer; Mary Jo Papich, pit director; Steven George, technical director/scenic design; and Kimberly Morris, costume/properties design. Performances will be held at 7:30 p.m. each of the three days in the school’s Robert L. Johnson Auditorium, 5701 W. Oakton St.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for students, senior citizens and children. Seating is reserved, so contact the box office at (847) 626-2633 for tickets. A free community performance will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday.
