Music by Richard Rodgers
Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on "Anna and the King of Siam" by Margaret Landon
Original Choreography by Jerome Robbins
Directed & Designed (Sets, Lights, Costumes) by Thomas B. Mitchell *
Musical Direction by Jean Hersey
Orchestral Direction by Paul Hefner **
Choreography by Valerie Alpert

PERFORMANCE DATES & TIMES:
July 14, 15, 20, 21 & 22 at 7:30 PM
July 23 at 2:00 PM

The taking of video, audio, or still recordings is prohibited by International Copyright Laws

The Cast

The Royal Princes

The Royal Princesses

The Royal Wives

Priests / Dancers

The Royal Concubines / Dancers

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The Orchestra

* Concert Master

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The Production Staff

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Set Construction

Costume Construction

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical classic, “The King and I,” will be presented by the College of Lake County theatre, music and dance departments July 14-15 and 20, 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. and July 23 at 2 p.m. in the Mainstage Theatre of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the CLC Grayslake campus. The cast of 64 includes CLC students and members of the community from children to adults.

The show is directed by Thomas Mitchell, with musical direction by Jean Hersey, orchestral direction by Paul Hefner, choreography by Valerie Alpert and production design by Thomas Mitchell. The show is based on “Anna and the King of Siam” by Margaret Landon with original choreography by Jerome Robbins.

“The King and I” is a dramatic, richly textured and poignant tale, where Western culture and Eastern culture collide in the beautiful land of Siam. Set in 1862, at the same time as our Civil War, the ideals of freedom and the social structure of colonialism form the backdrop for this tale of love and respect between a cultured Englishwoman and the King of Siam, modern day Thailand. A winner of four Tony Awards, six Academy Awards, four Drama Desk Awards and three Outer Critics Circle Awards, the dazzling score includes “I Whistle a Happy Tune,” “Hello Young Lovers,” “Getting to Know You” and “Shall We Dance.”

Marc Nicholson, who plays the king, is a former CLC student who earned a master’s degree in vocal performance. He teaches voice lessons and is a teacher and director for several area theatre programs, including the Round Lake Park District and The Wishing Star Theatre in Libertyville. He played Annas in CLC’s 2005 summer musical in “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

“I knew Tom Mitchell when I was a 19-year-old student at CLC, so to come back at age 27 in this role is very fun for me. CLC provides a very special theatre opportunity, the chance to be involved in a large-scale musical production with a full orchestra and a talented production team. That’s not something you normally get in a community theatre production. It’s a great opportunity and I felt very welcomed.”

The large cast also includes several family groups, including three sisters, Elizabeth, Emily and Sarah Erickson of Gurnee and three Grayslake siblings, Brett, Anna and Paula Yoder and their mother, Karen Yoder.

Tickets are $15 for the general public and $12 for CLC students, staff, Alumni Association members and seniors 65 and over. For more information or tickets, call (847) 543-2300 or visit www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. The James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts is located on the CLC Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington Ave.

(from the CLC Press release of June 23rd, 2006)

A Miracle Link

Trivia

• In Family Guy episode "The King Is Dead" Lois Griffin is named director of the Quahog Players theatre group production, and she decides to produce The King and I. However it turns out completely different from the original musical when Peter Griffin takes over the production.
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• In 2005 the musical version came fourth in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals" (wherein Nation refers to the United Kingdom). [1]
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• Costumes for the film were made of original Thai silk supplied by Jim Thompson Company in Bangkok.
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• Mary Martin had worked on South Pacific with Rogers and Hammerstein a few years previously and was an investor in The King and I. When Gertrude Lawrence wanted having a song with the children, Martin suggested that Rogers and Hammerstein write new lyrics for "Something Lucky," which had been cut from South Pacific. The song then became "Getting to Know You."
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• The musical is mentioned in Billy Joel's history themed song "We Didn't Start the Fire".

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  Broadway

  The musical opened on Broadway on March 29, 1951 and starred Gertrude Lawrence as Anna, and a then mostly unknown Yul Brynner as the King. Brynner reprised the role twice on Broadway in 1977 and 1985 and eventually played it over 4,000 times over the course of his life. He often stated he was far too young for the role when he originated it and felt more comfortable in the part in later years.

  Another Broadway revival opened on April 11, 1996 starring Lou Diamond Phillips as King Mongkut in his Broadway debut and Donna Murphy as Anna Leonowens. The production ran for 780 performances and closed February 22, 1998. The production was nominated for eight Tony Awards and won four, including the awards for Best Musical (Revival) and Best Actress in a Musical.

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  History

      The Royal Barges of Siam

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* just kidding ya, Tom; the Thomas Mitchell we all know...and one for all...and all for one

** No, no, not he same Paul Hefner at all; but this one

The Trivia and Broadway sections were from: