性视界传媒淓t cetera, et cetera, et cetera.性视界传媒 With those famous words, The King and I brings both wit and wisdom to the stage 性视界传媒 and this weekend, students at The Brook Hill School are taking on the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic with a fresh, spirited production that honors the show性视界传媒檚 legacy while making it their own.
性视界传媒淭his show really is the whole package 性视界传媒 a great story, strong actors, memorable music, beautiful sets and extraordinary costumes,性视界传媒 said director Glenn Ballard.
The spring musical will take place May 1-3 at 7 p.m. at the Soules Center for the Arts Dement Auditorium & Chapel.
Originally premiering on Broadway in 1951, The King and I was the fifth musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The story is based on Margaret Landon性视界传媒檚 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam, itself inspired by the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher hired to modernize Siam (now Thailand) in the 1860s. The plot follows Anna性视界传媒檚 complex relationship with King Mongkut 性视界传媒 a bond shaped not by romance, but by cultural clashes, evolving respect, and shared goals.
性视界传媒淥ur cast feels a high measure of success,性视界传媒 Ballard said. 性视界传媒淔or most of them, this is their very first time to participate in musical theatre. They have worked hard under the tutelage of some great teachers, and they have stretched in an impressive way to tell a story far beyond their own life experience. I am so proud of every student.性视界传媒
Leading the production at The Brook Hill School are seniors Soohyeon Kim as the King and Lily Reeves as Anna. Both have been preparing for months for their final performance at the school, and while they性视界传媒檝e worked hard to embody these iconic roles, they性视界传媒檝e also enjoyed the process.
性视界传媒淲e性视界传媒檝e known we were going to do The King and I since last year,性视界传媒 Kim said. 性视界传媒淪o, me and Lily, we性视界传媒檝e practiced since then性视界传媒 by watching the movie and reading the lines.性视界传媒
The King and I not only saw much success after premiering on stage in 1951 but film adaptations as well, such as the 1956 film with Yul Brynner as the King and Deborah Kerr as Anna.
Featuring a cast of 49 students from first grade through 12th, the production is a major undertaking but for the leads, it has proven to be a fun one.
性视界传媒淲e have a lot of children from the lower school, in the middle school, so we try to be mentors to them,性视界传媒 Kim said. 性视界传媒淚t has been really fun working with them, they work really hard. I cannot imagine myself spending that many hours after school rehearsing at that age, but I think they性视界传媒檙e going to be the highlight of the show.性视界传媒
For Reeves, working with younger students has been a new and wholesome experience, especially as she性视界传媒檚 become more of a role model herself.
性视界传媒淭his is the first show I性视界传媒檝e been in where I性视界传媒檝e worked with kids in the elementary school and they性视界传媒檙e so sweet性视界传媒 they look up to the seniors and upperclassmen,性视界传媒 she said. 性视界传媒淚t makes me feel special because when I was that age and in the theater, I looked up to those people too.性视界传媒
Stepping into the role of Anna has also been a personal challenge for Reeves, pushing her to explore new territory.
性视界传媒淚 think Anna is probably the first role I性视界传媒檝e stepped into where I don性视界传媒檛 connect with personally like the other roles I性视界传媒檝e been in,性视界传媒 Reeves explained. 性视界传媒淟ike, I性视界传媒檝e never had a son, I性视界传媒檝e never traveled to a country where I had to teach kids性视界传媒 I really had to research and dig deep for this one.性视界传媒
Originally from South Korea, Kim came to The Brook Hill School as a freshman with prior experience from volunteering in two theater programs. He became involved in the school性视界传媒檚 theater program, building on his background in production. 性视界传媒淚性视界传媒檓 not too much of a singer or a dancer but I性视界传媒檓 in theater for acting,性视界传媒 he said. 性视界传媒淚 enjoy it.性视界传媒
Unlike many high school productions, The King and I offers opportunities for more diverse casting 性视界传媒 a feature that can be a challenge for some schools. However, The Brook Hill School has embraced this challenge, drawing from its diverse student body.
性视界传媒The King and I, it性视界传媒檚 all based in Asia, and with the ethnicity of our school, we性视界传媒檝e been able to cast it well,性视界传媒 Kim said.
of The Brook Hill School性视界传媒檚 students are international, with the boarding program including students from more than 性视界传媒 including South Korea, Nigeria, Finland, and Mexico. This global presence not only enhances the school community but also brings added authenticity to the stage.
Reeves also enjoys how the cultural diversity at the school has enriched her experience working on the production.
性视界传媒淲e get to work with kids from around the world,性视界传媒 Reeves said. 性视界传媒淵ou get to know what theater was like for them, from where they came from性视界传媒 and they live on campus so we all hang out.性视界传媒
The show性视界传媒檚 emotional depth also sets it apart from traditional musicals. While the relationship between Anna and the King deepens, it is not marked by romance but by mutual respect and understanding, despite their many differences.
It性视界传媒檚 not like 性视界传媒業 like you, you like me,性视界传媒櫺允咏绱綕 Kim said. 性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 more about respect for each other and having their differences and accepting each other for who they are.性视界传媒
According to Reeves, the tension between Anna and the King is obvious but it性视界传媒檚 rooted in their contrasting lifestyles and ultimate mutual respect.
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 not the typical romance show where they get married at the end or anything like that,性视界传媒 she said. 性视界传媒淪he appeals to him in certain ways but not other ways. Anna is very sophisticated compared to the king, and she性视界传媒檚 very different from his wives, so I think he respects that and looks up to her that way.性视界传媒
The production will also be the first to premiere in The Brook Hill School性视界传媒檚 brand-new Soules Center for the Arts, which boasts a 670-seat auditorium, state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, and expansive backstage space 性视界传媒 a dramatic upgrade for the program.
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 such an amazing fine arts building,性视界传媒 Reeves said. 性视界传媒淲e性视界传媒檙e so used to practicing in spaces where we have to share with everyone else, but now we have this amazing stage. It has been really fun to work with.性视界传媒
The to commemorate the school性视界传媒檚 Founders Day celebration.
性视界传媒淭he larger and more sophisticated stage in the Soules Center for the Arts has allowed us to include more students in the cast; to create opulent stage settings and to design dazzling choreography,性视界传媒 Ballard said. 性视界传媒淚 have a great team of experts that are helping bring it all together.性视界传媒
The Brook Hill School is located at 1051 N. Houston St. in Bullard. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the school’s website at .
性视界传媒The King and I is not a common production for high schools,性视界传媒 Kim said. 性视界传媒淚t has a big cast, these beautiful, diverse costumes and the children have worked really hard. It性视界传媒檚 going to be a good show.性视界传媒
