PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Winter Time on Walnut Street With King and I Star Mel MaghuyopMel Sagrado Maghuyop, fresh from his acclaimed performance in Miss Saigon, is back at Philly's historic Walnut Street Theatre starring in The King and I.
By
Matthew Blank
December 28, 2011
He offers an extensive look at the production and his routines around the city. Follow Mel on a rigorous morning workout, meet the cast and staff at WST and embark on a quick day-off trip to NYC.
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Winter Time on Walnut Street With King and I Star Mel Maghuyop
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Winter Time on Walnut Street With King and I Star Mel Maghuyop
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop, fresh from his acclaimed performance in Miss Saigon, is back at Philly's historic Walnut Street Theatre starring in The King and I. He offers an extensive look at the production and his routines around the city. Follow Mel on a rigorous morning workout, meet the cast and staff at WST and embark on a quick day-off trip to NYC. Read the Playbill.com story.
82 PHOTOS
So here it is... my winter time in the City of Brotherly Love, doing my version of the King in Walnut Street Theatre's The King and I.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Starting my day with my cup of coffee for a morning run.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Run Forrest run! Actually ... run Mel run ... near a "forest."
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Love running by Schuylkill River!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
You know I had to do it. I am in Philly! ROCKY!!!!
Not sure if this is right... I look like I'm doing a scene from "Platoon."
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Up and up the stairs. No pain no gain.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
One of the gorgeous sculptures by the museum of fine arts in Philadelphia. What a beautiful city!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
The beautiful assistant who helped with some of the pics you are seeing: my girlfriend Anne. Yup she likes to run also!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Anne is thinking about the run back and how I can repay her for making her take pics of me running... oh boy.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Time to turn back to prepare for the rest of my day and get ready for the show!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Back at the hotel after our run.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Gotta hoard the quarters for laundry day!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Studying a script for an Off-Broadway show I'll be doing in NYC right after my contract ends in Philadelphia. It's called Tokio Confidential by Eric Schorr. Performances start in February 2012. (I know ... shameless plug)
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Into the elevator and off to work!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
I HAVE to make a Wawa stop for my coffee! I really love Wawa!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Stopped off by Rittenhouse Square to check out the Christmas tree. Note: I do not have an ornament attached to my backpack.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Walking by one of my favorite Philly stops for food!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
For her help with my photo project, I guess I had to take Anne out for lunch.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
It's a little warmer in the sun so I take off my hat to even out my head tan.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Took a picture of this theatre because my first time in Philadelphia was in 2003 when I toured here with Miss Saigon.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Yay! Flags from our show on the streets of Philadelphia!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
And... flags of my parents' homeland on the streets of Philadelphia! Philippines... Phil - a - delphia... get it? (awkward silence)
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Finally made it to work! I love working at The Walnut Street Theatre and The King and I.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Hey, that poster has me on it! Sweet!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Our cast and orchestra pics in lobby.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
One of the great box offices guys who I get to see before I enter backstage. Hi Rick!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Our amazing house manager Angie!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
I wanted to say hello to some of the amazing staff I found working that day. Here is WST Controller Len Karabell.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Hooray for Mark D. Sylvester, WST's Managing Director.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
This is Jessica Doheny, Company Manager and Assistant to the Managing Director.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Doug Lutz our Musical Director! I had the honor of following him this past summer when we did Miss Saigon.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Time to enter the Green Room. Unfortunately there are no arcade games in the Arcadia Green Room. I do miss playing Galaga.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
More of the King and I team: Child Wrangler Brielle, Assistant Stage Managers Katie and Annie and cast members Adam and Janelle.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Our weekend ROYAL CHILDREN! Whoa... they are already in costume! I'd better hurry up!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
The sign in board and yes, they recycle at the Walnut Street Theatre!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
The Royal Children have made snow flakes to decorate our green room windows. "Snow?"
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
And these are our weekday ROYAL CHILDREN!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Here is my good friend Angelica-Lee (aka "Lady Thiang) signing some posters. We have the exact same birthday! Just different years. She is my long lost sister!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Signing in. Note the announcement of my Playbill photo project.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
The hallway going toward my dressing room is lined with posters from the past. Yes ... even Captain Kirk has done a show here!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Our sweet and amazing kids in the show like to leave us notes. I placed some of mine on the door.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
I love this card given to me by one of the kids. It's amazing! Look at the detail, it's basically our set. Oh and I love the drawing of me that another one of our "Royal Children" drew. I will reference it again later.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
I practice with my whip before the show.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Leaving stage right, over the cross-over hallway and into my dressing room. Yes, it's really just right off stage. Thank goodness.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Our awesome Stage Manager Lori!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
At my dressing room table. An actor prepares... or at least tries to look like it.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
All of my costumes.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Okay! Before...
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
... after!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Me and my dresser Steve. He rocks. Please note... I do have pants on. It's hot in Siam but not that hot.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Almost ready to go on stage for the show. Just doing some last-minute humidifier breathing.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
The amazing Philly theatre star Jeff Coon. You need to see his "Sir Edward Ramsay."
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
The talented actor/guitarist Greg as "Captain Orton." We salute each other as part of my pre-show routine.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Some of the amazing and beautiful Royal Wives: Yumiko, Rumi, Minami and Rei.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Our musical director Doug on the monitor off stage right. I believe he is getting the "go" to start the show.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
A view of the beautiful set from offstage.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Here are JP and Rommel warming up their bodies for the Act II ballet. Please note that the leopard skin JP is wearing is not part of his costume... I think it was one of those huggie blankets.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
My "Son" Chulalongkorn, played by Noah. Obviously he did not get the balding gene from his father.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
The door of two of my castmates Angelica-Lee and Manna. They are into the Holiday Spirit.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
... I mean check out the inside of their room. Angelica is demonstrating the music box above her head while Manna, who plays Tuptim, enjoys the demonstration.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Do your homework! I love how Angelica does her research. Details, details, details. THIS is why I love working with her!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Tuptim, King and Lady Thiang. I have been working with these ladies in numerous different shows this past year and half! Let's hope we have more. Anyone need us for a show?
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
After the end of Act 1, I go back to my dressing room to do another workout during intermission. TRX rocks!!!!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Remember how I said I would reference this picture again? Well here is the "Drawing Me" and...
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
... this is the real me! Close resemblance? Well except for the fact that I am kicking my hip to the right.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
During break some of the guys like to play bannagrams. You can do it Alan, Adam and Jee!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Some people used the bannagrams to build a replica of our set. I believe cast member Julian did this. Pretty cool huh?! Well except for the fact that I look like E.T. here.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Right before Act II Paul, Rommel and Julian like to rehearse moves from the ballet... and sometimes some other moves. Julian has some breakdancing to dish out.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Hamming it up before Act II.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
When I have downtime I have also been known to play Minecraft. So sad, but so addicting!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Here I am with the star of the show Rachel York! I am so lucky to work with such an AMAZING actress. Thanks Rachel for making my job easy and the experience priceless!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
A pic with the amazing Chelsea and Amy (who work on Public Relations for WST), me and Manna and our brilliant costume designer Colleen. This is right after a radio interview.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Here is Patrick Niedo, author of the book "Histoires de comédies musicales." He came all the way from France to see our show! Thanks for the visit Patrick!
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
I run back to the hotel after the show to prepare for a trip back to NYC on our day off.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
At 30th Street Station to take the Amtrak back to NYC.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Back in NY, looking out my window at the West Side Highway, Pier 72 and the Hudson. A nice day off to recharge and catch up on home life.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
Taking the bus back. 34th and 8th, I know you so well. This bus saves me some money. And it has...
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
.. PLUGS AND INTERNET! I can watch some Netflix on the way back to work.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
I miss being home in NYC but am so thankful for the amazing show, cast, crew and production waiting for me back in Philly.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
I'm so thankful for the work I have found here for 6 months. I love NYC, but I have fallen in love with Philadelphia and the Walnut Street Theatre. Thanks again, City of Brotherly Love.
Mel Sagrado Maghuyop
And thanks King and I for giving my "King" life here in Philadelphia. We run through the 8th. Come see us if you're in town. 'Til next time!
The Walnut Street Theatre, established in 1809, is the oldest theatre in the United States.
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Director-choreographer Marc Robin stages the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical about a British teacher who brings English lessons (and notions of democracy) to 19th-century Siam. Maghuyop stars as the King of Siam opposite Broadway's Rachel York as Anna.
The famous score of The King and I, which was first sung in 1951 by Yul Brynner and Gertrude Lawrence, includes "Getting to Know You," "I Whistle a Happy Tune," "Hello Young Lovers" and "Shall We Dance?," among others.
The cast of The King and I includes veterans of WST's Miss Saigon: Angelica-Lee Aspiras as Lady Thiang, Jeffrey Coon as Sir Edward Ramsay, Nina Crupiti, Janelle Dote, Adam Michael Kaokept, LaMae, JP Moraga, Manna Nichols as Tuptim and Jee Teo. Walnut veteran Greg Wood (Amadeus, Fallen Angels) returns to the Walnut as Captain Orton. Joining them are newcomers Rei Akazawa, Alan Ariano as The Kralahome, Andrew Cheng, Julian Marcus DeGuzmán, Austin Ku as Lun Tha, Paul HeeSang Miller, Yumiko Niimi, Rommel Pierre O'Choa, Rumi Oyama and Minami Yusui.
The youngest members of the cast are bursting with immerging talent. Noah Breymeier of Garnet Valley, PA is featured as Prince Chulalongkorn and Conrad Sager of Phoenixville, PA is featured as Louis. The King’s many royal children will be played by local child actors including: Giuliana Alleva, Ian Bulack, Kaia Lin Chau, Jessica Halili, Isabella Le, Darlene Leohansson, Samantha Sam and Clarisse Surja of Philadelphia, PA; Marielle Barstow of Jamison, PA; Rachel Li Jordan of West Chester, PA; Aidan Killion and Jade Killion of Penn Valley, PA; Julia Kubo of Darby, PA; Valerie West of Broomall, PA; Ella Hampton of Cherry Hill, NJ; Anna Kralik of Mercerville, NJ; Alyrica Lackey, Johanna Lackey, Lael Lackey, Phoebe Fitzmaurice-Shean of Haddonfield, NJ; Mackenzie Lee of Bryn Mawr, PA; and Jenna Purviance of Woolwich Twp., NJ.
The creative team includes scenic designer Robert Andrew Kovach, lighting designer Paul Black, costume designer Colleen Grady and sound designer Joseph Simon.
Walnut Street Theatre is at 825 Walnut Street in Philadelphia, PA. For tickets and information, call (215) 574-3550 or (800) 982-2787 or visit www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.
