SIDNEY — Lehman Catholic High School will present its 38th annual all-school musical, “The King and I,” on March 31, April 1, and April 2, 2016, at the school. The Thursday night curtain is at 7:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 8:00 p.m.
One of the masterpieces written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, “The King and I” is based on a Margaret Landon novel, “Anna and the King of Siam.” Set in Bangkok in the early 1860s, “The King and I” is the story of an English schoolteacher hired by the king to be a governess and teacher of his many children. The show addresses the conflicting views of the Far East and the Western world. The musical opened on Broadway in 1951 with Yul Brynner and Gertrude Lawrence in the lead roles. Five years later for the movie version, Brynner won an Academy Award playing the king opposite Deborah Kerr.
For Lehman’s production, senior Claudia Fatone is in the leading role of schoolteacher Anna Leonowens. She is the daughter of Andy and Amy Fatonem of Sidney. Her counterpart as the king is senior Nick Neumeier, son of Sam and Mary Neumeier, of Troy.
Playing Tuptim is freshman Sara Gibson, daughter of Joseph and Sonia Gibson, of Tipp City. In the role of Lun Tha is junior Will Hoersten, son of Pat and Jennifer Hoersten, of Sidney. Playing head wife Lady Thiang is junior Kaitrin O’Leary, daughter of David and Emily O’Leary, of Sidney. In the role of the kralahome is junior Jacob Schmiesing, son of Greg and Christina Schmiesing, of Sidney.
Other featured players are Max Schmiesing as Louis Leonowens, Jude Schmiesing as Prince Chululongkorn, David Potts as Sir Edward Ramsey, Conor O’Leary as Captain Orton, William Bollinger as Prince Ying Yaowlak, and Aidan Snyder as Phra Alak.
Featured dancers for the “Uncle Tom’s Cabin Ballet” are Emily Reinhart as Eliza, Megan Neumeier as Little Eva, Theresa Schmiesing as Little Topsy, Kassie Lee as Uncle Thomas, Leah Peoples as Simon of Legree, Jacob Schmiesing as Angel/George, and Josh Armstrong as Buddha.
The wives chorus includes Miriam Bezy, Diana Gibson, Kassie Lee, Megan Neumeier, Leah Peoples, Emily Reinhart, Jacquie Schemmel, Clare Schmiesing, Maria Schmiesing, Theresa Schmiesing, Emma Simpson, Caitlin Swallow, Kaylyn Armstrong, Jenna Allen, Mariana Reese and Magdelene Bezy. The men’s chorus includes Josh Armstrong, Malacki Bezy, Clayton Malone, John Meyer, Conor O’Leary, David Potts, Jacob Schmiesing and Aidan Snyder.
Members of the select children’s chorus are Nikolai Bollinger, William Bollinger, Heiley Dietz, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Matthew Galbreath, Rebecca Henry, Ruth “Grace” Perry, Jordyn Puthoff, Abe Schmiesing, Jude Schmiesing, Maggie Schmiesing, Max Schmiesing, Tim Schmiesing, Annamarie Stiver, Terry “TJ” Stotler, Grace Wiseman, Leah Zimmerman and Zoe Zimmerman.
Additional children in the chorus are Marcus Allen, Gracie Anderson, Rosemarie Armstrong, Ryan Armstrong, Hezekiah Bezy, Clara Bogan, Janessa Coverstone, Brooklyn Cruse,Nathaniel Davis, Christopher Galbreath, Callie Giguere, Ashlein Hamblin, Miley Heffelfinger, Bethany Henry, Kailey Higgins, Briana Lavender, Payton Meckstroth, Kyla McGinnis, Mara O’Leary, Hunter Puthoff, Milan Puthoff, Domonic Reese, Samantha Sargeant, Agnes Schmiesing and Gus Schmiesing.
The production staff includes Bill Zimmerman, director; Betsy Moorman, producer; Jenny Weber, vocal director and rehearsal pianist; Libby Galbreath Jacob, choreographer; and Elaine Schweller-Snyder, production consultant. Darla Cabe is overseeing costumes and Bradly Gravunder is chairing the design team. Karen Potts is in charge of props.
The pit orchestra includes Jenny Weber, piano; Scott Rocke, violin; Michele Rocke, viola; Natalie Rocke, cello; Mary Beth Monnier, bass; Betsy Moorman and Rachel Owen, flutes; Natalia Owsiany, clarinet; Kaye Humerickhouse, bassoon; Jen Hebert and Elaine Schweller-Snyder, trumpets; Skip Wolford, horn; Chad Heffelfinger, trombone; Ken Monnier, drums; and Elias Bezy, mallet percussion.
Student crew members are Liz Pax, stage manager; Theresa Flood, sound; Sam Ritze and Joe Schemmel, spotlights; Mary Deafenbaugh, curtain; Joe Ritze, Lindsey Elsner and Kyra Moos, props and backstage.
Reserved seat tickets for “The King and I” are $10. Bleacher general admission seating is $8. Tickets are available at the door or can be reserved by calling 937-498-1161, ext. 132.
