Directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford, the cast will be led by Lorenzo Lamas as the King of Siam and Kate Fisher as Anna with Joshua Dela Cruz (Lun Tha), Mel Sagrado Maghuyop (The Kralahome), Manna Nichols (Tuptim), Ron Wisniski (Captain Orton, Sir Ramsey) and Lisa Yuen (Lady Thiang) as well as two local young performers, Gloucester resident Jack Favazza as Anna’s son Louis and Methuen resident Ellis Gage as the Prince.
The ensemble includes Karl Josef Co, Lynn Craig, Jan Javier, Anna Laghezza, Paul HeeSang Miller, Rommel Pierre O'Choa, Rumi Oyama, Marcus Shane, Laura Yen Solito, Sai Somboon, Maxine Stewart, Jee Teo and Tiffany Toh.
Rounding out the cast are eight additional local young performers: Beverly residents Nekhebet Juch (age 12) and Uatchet Juch (age 12), Middleton resident Kendall Klipper (age 9), Needham residents Alana Tow (age 8) and Mikayla Tow (age 5), Revere resident Brandon Barbosa (age 9), Salem resident Elizabeth Pasquale (age 9) and Wenham resident Abby Spinney (age 8).
"Set against an exotic background, The King and I," according to the North Shore, "is the moving true story of a young English widow and her son who travel to Siam to tutor the King's children. In Siam, she encounters an unfamiliar world full of grand beauty, but mixed with rigid Old World traditions. As the King decides how to bring his country into a new age, he and Anna begin to see beyond traditions and prejudices into what makes people special and what makes a man a true king." The lush Rodgers and Hammerstein score includes “Getting to Know You,” “Shall We Dance?” “I Whistle A Happy Tune” and “Hello, Young Lovers.”
The creative team also includes Craig Barna (musical director), Erik D. Diaz (scenic designer), Jack Mehler (lighting designer), Paula Ninestein (costume coordinator), Gerard Kelly (wigs and hair designer), Melissa Daroff (production stage manager), Cassandra Marsh (assistant musical director), Jesse Factor (associate choreographer) and Natalie A. Lynch (assistant stage manager). The local children’s ensemble will be taught by Karen Maria Pisani (choreography) and Robert L. Rucinski (music). For tickets call (978) 232-7200, visit www.nsmt.org, or visit the box office in person at 62 Dunham Rd., Beverly.
