February 2015 - Let Us Entertain You: The King and I

Provided by Jessica Quindlen of The Albuquerque Little Theatre

East versus West makes for a dramatic, richly-textured and ultimately uplifting tale of enormous fascination. It is 1862 in Siam when an English widow, Anna Leonowens, and her young son arrive at the Royal Palace in Bangkok, having been summoned by the King to serve as tutor to his many children and wives. The King is largely considered to be a barbarian by those in the West, and he seeks Anna’s assistance in changing his image, if not his ways. With both keeping a firm grip on their respective traditions and values, Annaand the King grow to understand and, eventually, respect one another, in a truly unique love story.

Albuquerque Little Theatre’s production of THE KING AND I will be led by Sharee Gariety and Dean Squibb as Anna and the King. Also in the cast will be Doe Kim, Courtney Awe, Carolyn Woolcott, Michaela Bateman, Alexander Baca and Dallin Gariety as well as an ensemble of more than 30 adults and children!

The creative team is led by Nancy Sellin. Nancy has directed over fifty plays and has acted in over sixty (Broadway, off-Broadwayand Regional). She wrote, produced, and acted in her one-woman show, The Lives Inside Me, over 1000 times around the United States. Nancy was a faculty member for seven years at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where she taught techniques in basic acting, Restoration Comedy, Greek Tragedy, Commedia Del Arté, Improvisation, and directed plays in the third-year production company. For three years, she was a resident director for the Performers At Work theatre company in New York City. She is working with Cheryl Sharps as Musical Director and Peter Bennett as Choreographer.

THE KING AND I opens February 27 and runs through March 22. Performances will be at Albuquerque Little Theatre, 224 San Pasquale SW. Curtain times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:00pm. There is a special Thursday performance at 7:30pm on March 12. Tickets are $24 for general public, $22 for seniors, $18 for students and $12 for children. We look forward to seeing you at the show!