Huge cast helps spark North Central's 'King and I'
Appearing in North Central College's community theater production of "The King and I" originally was going to be something for two of Mike Mitchell's daughters to get involved in over the summer.
Before they knew it, though, it had become a family affair.
Mitchell and his daughters, along with 136 other cast members, will display their talents in "The King and I" at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the college's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville.
The show opened last weekend and Sunday will be the last day for audiences to catch the performance.
Upon learning there were also openings for men, Mike Mitchell decided to join his daughters, 12-year-old Maddie and 7-year-old Mollie, on stage. This is the first time in 15 years that the Fenton High School theater teacher and Aurora resident has been on stage.
Mitchell and his wife, Maureen, met as theater education majors at Illinois State University, so theater always has been a part of their lives. They also have a 5-year-old daughter who is not in the performance.
"It's the first time (my daughters and I) have all been able to get involved together," he said. All three perform in the chorus, although Mollie also plays Princess Ying Yaawolak.
Maddie said she has enjoyed sharing the stage with her younger sister and father and is proud of Mollie in her first big performance.
The show also has turned into a family activity for the Duffin family, with five members performing in the show.
That sense of family shines through into the production.
"It's a family friendly show with great music that is basically about moving on from the past but at the same time honoring the past," said Hannah Toriumi, who plays Tuptim.
The Riverside resident and sophomore musical theater major at North Central College said the amount of energy produced by the large cast pours out to the audience, putting smiles on their faces.
Throughout the production, director and choreographer Suzy Olsen said she tried to stay as close to the script as possible while putting an original stamp on it.
Although this is her first time being involved with a production of "The King and I," she is no stranger to the stage. The Naperville resident has been in many productions over the years including the "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat" tour with Donny Osmond.
She also has directed shows for the college's community theater for the past several years and currently teaches jazz dance at North Central.
"It's a show about bringing new ideas to a very traditional place and seeing how those who are in charge cope and form relationships as the customs change," said Kathy Musselman, who plays as one of the Anna Leonowens and lives in Woodridge.
Musselman, who graduated from North Central College in 2006, has been performing in shows at the community theater for the past five years and says it compares to productions in Chicago.
"I think they do a great job in taking the talent in the community and making it work," she said.
The opening weekend was well attended and well received by the audience, Olsen said.
"I'm really proud of this production," she said. "It's been a really wonderful experience, and I think people will enjoy it."
Audience members are encouraged to get tickets ahead of time. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, online or at the door.
If you go
What: "The King and I"
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville
Tickets: $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors; there is an additional $2 fee when purchasing online.
Info: 630-637-SHOW or visit www.northcentralcollege.edu/show
'King and I' cast
Anna Leonowens: Kathy Musselman and Christie Schmidt
King: Jake Dewar and Tommy Rivera-Vega
Lady Thiang: Bequita Sipla
Lun Tha: Jordan DeLeon
Tuptim: Hannah Toriumi
Kralahome: Dave Kokandy
Louis Leonowens: Derek Rippe
Phra Alack: Nico Nepomuceno
Prince Chululongkorn: Liam Byrnes
Interpreter: Brett Bush
Princess Ying Yaawolak: Mollie Mitchell
Captain Orton: Chris Oechsel and Tom Paulsen
Sir Edward Ramsey: David Laib
Chorus dancers:
Jana Bruen, Brett Bush, Ryan Cap, Beka Ciolek, Kelly Cummings, Christina Graffagna, Christopher Hardin, Dan Leahy, Haley Lehn, Kerrilee Meeker, Mike Mitchell, Brittany Mote, Nico Nepomuceno, Victoria Newhuis, Chris Perchatsh, Adrian Rivera, Emily Rosenberg, Avery Sipla and Chelsea Ward
Guards/slaves/priests:
Brett Bush, Ryan Cap, Phil Duffin, Alex Gonzalez, Connor Hale, Christopher Hardin, Dan Leahy, Sean Lynch, Connor McLean, Mike Mitchell, Nico Nepomuceno, Chris Perchatsh and Adrian Rivera
Chorus wives:
Natalya Bagdady, Leigh Barbeau, Eileen Barry, Nellie Barry, Jana Bruen, Tori Buchholz, Megan Callison, Cha Charleston, Beka Ciolek, Emilie Cook, Jessica Conkright, Kelly Cummings, Claire Drews, Jane Drews, Julie Duffin, Molly Durava, Melanie Frewen, Malinee Ganahl, Kelly Genauldi, Rachel Gillhouse, Genna Gruendeman, Maria Hanna, Rachel Hancz, Elizabeth Hardin, Christina Harris, Hannah Killacky, Allison Kopicki, Kristin Kriegbaum, Anna Krainz, Deanna Marciniak, Kelsey Mark, Kerrilee Meeker, Brigid Moran, Brittany Mote, Victoria Newhuis, Alex Oechsel, Erin Oechsel, Sydney O'Leary, Megan Ozog, Kathryn Paulsen, Diana Peters, Carolyn Peters, Kjersten Piper, Emily Rosenberg, Megan Ruddy, Emily Rzeszutko, Eva Rzeszutko, Gwen Sanborn, Avery Sipla, Riana Sirmans, Audrey Stern, Mary Thomas, Abby Urbik, Julie Van de Wille, Shari Vasko, Kim Viehmann, Tiffany Vierra, Chelsea Ward, Kelly Winters, Marisa Wojcikiewicz, Kelly Worazek and Tracy Wysock
Chorus kids:
Michael Affatato, Austin Bagdady, Catie Bastable, Madeline Barbeau, Michaela Britt, Shannon Britt, Ripley Biggs, Nicholas Brunelle, Aidan Byrnes, Adam Cap, Meredith Conway, Marie Dix, Drew Duffin, Natalie Duffin, Olivia Duffin, Stephanie Eichamer, Trey Eichamer, Autumn Ganahl, Jeremy Gould, Christina Graffagna, Olivia Holtzinger, Eric Kopicki, Emma Lee, Justin Lee, Haley Lehn, Abby Malak, Carrie Malak, Maddie Mitchell, Mollie Mitchell, Kelly Noonan, Taylor Oechsel, Doris Olsen, Kendall Olsen, Connor Payne, Andrew Peck, Jennifer Remar, Sara Remar, Robbie Richter, Katherine Ruddy, Austin Rupert, Jeremy Russell, Maggie Sanborn, Olivia Sanborn, Ashley Santos, Jett Schrey, Tanner Schrey, Stephanie Snyder, Katie Stack, Katherine Stewart, Libby Thomas, Justin Vasko and Rachel Viehmann
Uncle Thomas Ballet:
Kerrilee Meeker, Kelly Cummings, Nico Nepomuceno, Haley Lehn, Chelsea Ward, Emily Rosenberg, Mike Mitchell, Chris Perchatsch, Adrian Rivera, Jana Bruen, Brett Bush, Ryan Cap, Dan Leahy, Avery Sipla, Brittany Mote, Beka Ciolek, Victoria Newhuis, Christina Graffagna, Chris Hardin