Nick Bowling directs the production that officially opens Oct. 29 for a run through Jan. 4, 2015. Choreography is by Tommy Rapley.
In addition to Guilarte (Macbeth) as the King of Siam and Kettenring as Anna (Wicked), the cast includes Megan Masako Haley as Tuptim, Devin Ilaw as Lun Tha, Kristen Choi as Lady Thiang, Joseph Anthony Foranda as Kralahome, Michael Semanic as Louis Leonowens, Matthew Uzarraga as Prince Chulalongkorn and Rod Thomas as Sir Edward and Captain Orton.
Completing the cast are Alexis Aponte, Audrey Billings, W. Blaine Brown, Nicholas Dantes, Jasmine Ejan, Lilly S. Fujioka, Monique Haley, Raymond Interior, Jillian Jocson, Scott Alan Jones, Dylan M. Lainez, Rika Nishikawa, Sayiga Eugene Peabody, Hanna Savella, Scott Shimizu, Yu Suzuki, Rose Le Tran, Zachary Uzarraga, Janelle Villas and Sophia Woo.
The creative team also includes set designer Tom Ryan, costume designer Nancy Missimi, lighting designer Jesse Klug, sound designer Bob Gilmartin and prop designer Sally Weiss. Jill Walmsley Zager is the dialect coach.
According to the Marriott, "Set against a dazzling and exotic backdrop of 19th century Siam, The King and I follows the tumultuous relationship of the strong-willed British Governess Anna and the larger than life King of Siam, as they try to find common ground between Siamese and British traditions. In an attempt to modernize his country, the King seeks Anna’s assistance in teaching his children and wives about Western culture. Conflicts arise, however, as both refuse to give up their respective traditions and values. As the story unfolds, Anna and the King grow to understand and respect one another, and ultimately, fall in love in a truly unique romance." The Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical, based on the life of Anna Leonowens as well as Margaret Landon's 1944 novel "Anna and the King of Siam," includes classics such as "Hello Young Lovers," "I Whistle A Happy Tune," "Shall We Dance?" and "Getting To Know You."
The Marriott Theatre is located at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. Visit MarriotTheatre.com for more information.
