The Kuemper Theater Department takes to the stage tomorrow (Wednesday) for the opening night of the classic musical, ”The King and I.” The story is set in 1860’s Siam and follows an English school teacher named Anna tasked with instructing the king and his royal family about Western civilization, played by Payton Schenkelberg, . Tensions between the two appear when the pair cannot see eye-to-eye on a variety of issues due to differences in culture. The musical originally debuted on Broadway in 1951 and has become one of the most beloved productions in theater. Schenkelberg says it is a daunting task to reproduce such a well-known show, especially trying to incorporate 21st-century elements.
Angela Schulte plays the role of Tuptim, one of the king’s junior wives. According to her, the country and time period of the musical is a vital part of the plot. In order to do the show justice, Schulte says the crew needed to learn a lot of history, which they look forward to sharing with the audience.
Schulte encourages people of all ages to make it to at least one of their shows. She says the musical gets better as the crowd grows larger.
The cast and crew has put in countless hours preparing for this week’s showings. Junior, Isaac Meyers, says it is tough for everyone to give up so much of their free time, but all becomes worth it during the show.
“The King and I” will be shown at the Carroll Rec Center Theater with performances on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, all starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $6 for adults and $5 for students and seniors and can be purchased at the high school office or at the door prior to the show.
