Kilauea Drama and Entertainment Network will present its annual summer musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I.” ADVERTISING Kilauea Drama and Entertainment Network will present its annual summer musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I.” Performances are slated
Kilauea Drama and Entertainment Network will present its annual summer musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I.”
Performances are slated Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. from July 10 to 26 at Kilauea Military Camp’s Kilauea Theater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The musical, the fifth by the team of composer Richard Rodgers and dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II, is based on the 1944 novel “Anna and the King of Siam” by Margaret Landon, which is derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s.
The musical’s plot tells of the experiences of Anna, a British schoolteacher, hired as part of the king’s drive to modernize his country. The king is largely considered to be a barbarian by those in the west, and he seeks Anna’s assistance in changing his image, if not his ways. The relationship between the king and Anna is marked by conflict, as well as by a love that neither can admit. Along with the dazzling score, which includes “Shall We Dance,” “Getting to Know You,” and “Hello Young Lovers,” is the Jerome Robbins ballet, “The Small House of Uncle Thomas.”
The cast is led by Norman Arancon as The King and newcomer to the stage, Jeanette Gilbert as Anna. They are joined by Rachel Edwards as Lady Thiang; Samantha Saiki and Grayson Mento as the lovers Tuptim and Lun Tha; Deakon Temple as Prince Chulalongkorn; and Sawyer Becher as Anna’s son, Louis Leonowens. Stephen Bond is the Kralahome and Sydney Romo is Phra Alack, while Steve Peyton takes on the roles of Captain Orton and Sir Edward Ramsey. Angie
Jara is Eliza in the “Small House of Uncle Thomas” ballet and is a dance captain. The wives are portrayed by Lauris Aragion-Mata, Stephanie Becher, Asia Helfrich and Dwan pelletire. The children are Fiona Broward, Kamaile Carvalho, Joanne and John Farias, Gordon and Gracxelynn Greenlaw, Susie halemano, Ella Johnson and Macy Orr. Anjanette Jara, Roch Jones, Katie Kluzak, Haley Pereira, Teagan Rutkowski, Briana Tucker-Archie and Elizabeth Young round out the cast.
Suzi Bond directs the cast of 31 with musical direction by Kait Wilson and choreography by Carmen Richardson. Pedro Kaawaloa returns from New York to conduct the 21-piece orchestra. The sets are designed by Jonathan Sudler and John Patrick Kea is sound and light designer. Helie Rock heads a crew of seamstresses. Bryan Furer is the makeup consultant.
Kilauea Drama and Entertainment Network is a community theater organization founded in 2002 by experienced community theater organizers and performing artists. Its mission is to provide and promote top quality community theater in East Hawaii, seeking to enrich and unite our community through participation in the performing arts. KDEN provides community theater opportunities for people of all ages, experience levels, and backgrounds.
Tickets are $14 general admission, $12 for seniors and students and $10 for children 12 and under. Presale tickets are available at Kilauea General Store, Keaau Natural Foods and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Tickets are also available at the door.
For more information, call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.
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