‘King and I’ coming to Prairie Center for the Arts
The Northwest suburban community theater group HOTT Productions-Helping Others Through Theatre begins its 20th season with Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “The King and I,” transporting audiences back to 1862 Siam.
The show will be at the Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, Nov. 9-16.
Set against an exotic background, “The King and I” is loosely based on Margaret Landon’s 1944 novel “Anna and the King of Siam.” “The King and I” tells the story of a young English widow, Anna Leonowens, and her son, who travel to Siam in the 1860s, to tutor King Mongkut’s children. In Siam, she encounters an unfamiliar world full of grand beauty, mixed with fierce, rigid old world traditions.
As the King (portrayed by Vince Rangel of Des Plaines) decides how to bring his country into a new age, he and Anna (portrayed by Ashley Pfenninger of Elk Grove Village) begin to see beyond traditions and prejudices into what makes people special and what makes a man a true king. With both keeping a firm grip on their respective traditions and values, Anna and the King grow to understand and, eventually, respect one another, in a truly unique love story.
This captivating and timeless treasure of wills, wits and wisdom includes the Rodgers and Hammerstein score, which highlights audience favorites such as: “Getting to Know You,” “Shall We Dance?,” “I Whistle A Happy Tune” and “Hello, Young Lovers.” And the Jerome Robbins ballet, “The Small House of Uncle Thomas,” is one of the marvels of the musical stage.
The 55-person cast ranges in age from 3 to 70 years and also includes: Judy Greene and Ron Prazuch of Arlington Heights; Ella Biernacki, Grace Biernacki, James Biernacki, Thomas Biernacki, Grace Jurgensen-Bloomingdale and Arlene Vombrack of Buffalo Grove; Jorge Alvarado, Julie Alvarado, Liliana Alvarado and Sophia Alvarado of Carol Stream; Jose Lopez and Erin Holden of Elgin; Samuel D. Gonzalez, Timothy D. Gonzalez, Alexandria Schultz and Sara Swatek of Elk Grove Village; Joshua Kiesel, Madeline Kiesel, Walter Kiesel, Andrew Luzwick, Anthony Luzwick, Dominic Luzwick, Donica Luzwick, Vincent Luzwick, Paige Melau, Elisabeth Pierce, Josh Pierce, Emiliano Rivas III and Erica Troha of Hanover Park; Noah Cotten and Dr. Jack Keehan of Hoffman Estates; Lindsey and Merrill Gad of Mundelein; Rance Clouser of Oak Park; Deming Carter Fanslau, Marissa Delaney Fanslau, Natalie Olivia Fanslau and Shannyn Kelli Fanslau of Roselle; Julian Magdaleno, Sasha Dall, Thailer Lietz, Paige Lovell, Amanda Mytych, Denise Lynn Schinberg, Trent Schinberg-Smidl, Bryan Silver, Nicole Silver, Ray Janz and Colin McGonagle of Schaumburg; Krystina Gaytan and Tina Wiethege of Streamwood; and Dove Kala of West Dundee.
The creative team for ‘The King and I” includes: Chris Seminaro of Schaumburg, director; Donica Luzwick of Hanover Park, choreographer and costume designer; David Luzwick of Hanover Park, vocal director; Jim Franklin of Inverness, conductor; and Bill Janz of Streamwood, scenic designer.
Tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for children 17 and younger and seniors 62 and older. Call (847) 895-2828. The box office is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
HOTT Productions is staffed by volunteers and donates proceeds to charitable organizations. The volunteer cast invests months of effort to provide a quality production. For information, contact Chris Seminaro at (847) 309-9342.