THE KING AND I OPENS DEC. 1 AT THE REP
Sarah Solie and Enrique Acevedo as Anna Leonowens and The King. 11/15/2006

"Lush and lavish The Rep’s The King and I is a fantastic holiday play…the pomp, the costumes and the richness hit all the right notes. The sets are stunning. The costumes are amazing. The cast of almost 50 is in control and near perfection. The Rep’s holiday production is truly a family treat for the season…see this magical musical." - Arkansas Times

1 PM Family Matinees added for the following dates: December 21, 23, 27 and 30! Great seats still available!

Arkansas Repertory Theatre continues its tradition of creating fine family musicals for the holidays with a lavish production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical The King and I on its MainStage Dec. 1-31.

Set against the lush backdrop of Bangkok in the mid-1800s, The King and I is one of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most enchanting love stories. Cultures clash when Anna, a young English widow, is hired by the willful king of Siam to tutor his many children in Western ways. The show’s memorable songs include I Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You, Shall We Dance, Hello Young Lovers, Something Wonderful and more.

Winner of five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, The King and I opened March 29, 1951, starring Gertrude Lawrence and Yul Brynner as Anna Leonowens and The King. This opulent show was the first Rodgers and Hammerstein musical based on a true story, Anna and the King of Siam, and has enjoyed three Broadway revivals, two of which featured Brynner reprising his title role (in 1977 and 1985), and one featuring Lou Diamond Phillips as The King (1996).

"Get set for a beautiful historical romance,” said Brad Mooy, director and Rep artistic associate and literary manager. “This is one of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s best musicals: the music soars, the choreography shimmers and the costumes gleam. Best of all, though, the beloved classic wins with surprising intelligence, humor and vitality. This one should warm every heart."

Mooy directs a cast of 47 actors, including 21 local children. Principal roles are played by Enrique Acevedo (The King), Sarah Solie (Anna Leonowens), Wayne Hu (Lun Tha) and Luz Lor (Tuptim). Acevedo’s credits include a regional tour of The King and I and European touring productions in Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas) and Grease (Danny). Solie’s Broadway credits include the original casts of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Kander and Ebb’s Steel Pier, High Society and, most recently, Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s Lestat. Hu’s credits include Sciarrone with Hudson Opera Theatre, and Lor’s credits include a national tour of The King and I and a Broadway production of Miss Saigon.

Set and sound design are by Rep Resident Set Designer and Technical Director Mike Nichols and Sound Designer M. Jason Pruzin. Production Manager Rafael Colon Castanera serves as costume coordinator, supervising the maintenance for more than 200 19th-century royal Thai costumes, many of which were featured in a recent national tour and a 2000 West End production of The King and I.

Lighting design is by Andrew Meyers, a returning guest artist whose designs appeared in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast last season. Resident musical director Kristy L. Templet directs a 7-member band, and choreography is by Zhenjun Zhang. Zhang’s credits include the 1996 Broadway and 2000 West End productions of The King and I. He was assistant choreographer and dance captain for the 2004-2005 national tour of The King and I.

Performances for The King and I are 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays and 2 p.m. Sundays, Dec. 1-31, with additional public evening performances Dec. 19 and Dec. 26 at 7 p.m. Additional public matinee performances are Dec. 2, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 23, Dec. 27 and Dec. 30 at 1 p.m. There are no evening performances Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve. A special sneak preview performance Thursday, Nov. 30, includes a pre-show discussion with the director at 6:15 p.m. Opening Night, Friday, Dec. 1, includes a post-show reception with the cast in the lobby. The Dec. 6 performance is sign-interpreted for the hearing impaired. Tickets are $50 for orchestra seating, $40 for first mezzanine seating and $30 for second mezzanine seating and may be purchased by calling the box office at 501-378-0405 or 1-866-6-THEREP or online at www.therep.org.