Kilauea Drama and Entertainment Network will perform Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I” live at the Kilauea Military Camp Theater from July 10 to July 26 in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
The performance will highlight a cast of 31 ranging from 4 to 64-years-old, under the direction of Suzi Bond, and a 21-piece orchestra, under the direction of Pedro Ka’awaloa, who will be returning from New York.
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The King and I” is the fifth musical by the duo. The plot follows Margaret Landon’s 1944 novel “Anna and the King of Siam,” a derivative of the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, the governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860’s.
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In the musical, Anna, a British school teacher, is hired as part of the King’s drive to modernize his country. The King seeks Anna’s assistance in changing his image, which is known as barbaric. Anna and the King fall into a conflict that, soon enough, becomes an unspoken and denied love. Musical features include “Shall We Dance,” “Getting to Know You,” and “Hello Young Lovers,” topped off with the Jerome Robbins ballet, “The Small House of Uncle Thomas.”
The wide-ranging cast is led by Norman Arancon as The King and Jeanette Gilbert, a newcomer, as Anna. Rachel Edwards will be featured as Lady Thiang, and Samantha Saiki and Grayson Mento are lovers Tuptim and Lun Tha. Price Chulalongkorn will be played by Deakon Temple, while Sawyer Becher will play Anna’s son Louis Leonowens. Stephen Bond will be portrayed as Kralahome, and Sydney Romo will be featured in the musical as Phra Alack. Steve Peyton will play dual roles as Captain Orton and Sir Edward Ramsey. Featured in the “Small House of Uncle Thomas” ballet, Angie Jara will play Eliza. She is also the dance captain. “The King and I” wives will be played by Lauris Aragion-Mata, Stephanie Becher, Asia Helfrich, and Dwan Pelletire. Children will be played by Fiona Broward, Kamaile Carvalho, Joanne and John Farias, Gordon and Gracxelynn Greenlaw, Susie Halemano, Ella Johnson, Macy Orr, Anjanette Jara, Roch Jones, Katie Kluzak, Haley Pereira, Teagan Rutkowski, Briana Tucker-Archie, and Elizabeth Young.
Set designs have been designed by Jonathan Sudler, while John Patrick Kea is the sound and light designer. Costumers for the musical were created by Helie Rock and a team of seamstresses. Make-up will be created by Bryan Furer.
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Performances will take place for three weekends, Friday and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $14 for general admission, $12 for seniors and students, and $10 for children 12 and under.
Pre-sale tickets can be purchased at Kilauea General Store, Kea’au Natural Foods, and The Most Irresistible Shop in Hilo. Tickets can also be purchased at the door.
KDEN was founded by experienced community theater organizers and performing artists in 2002. More than 20 shows have been produced by KDEN, in addition to a Living History program in HVNP.
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