Grosse Pointe Theatre Presents THE KING AND I 11/8

Opulent and Highly Entertaining Grosse Pointe Theatre Presents The King and I, opening November 8th

Grosse Pointe Theatre presents one of Broadways most beloved musicals, The King and I, opening Sunday, November 8 with a 2 p.m. matinee at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial's Fries Auditorium, 32 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Farms. Tickets are $22. Group rates are available. Additional performances are November 12-14 at 8 p.m., November 15 at 2 p.m, November 18-20 at 8 p.m. and November 21 at 2 p.m. Call 313-881-4004 for tickets, or visit the ticket office at 315 Fisher Road, Grosse Pointe, Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The King and I with music by Richard Rodgers, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and original choreography by Jerome Robbins, is based on the book Anna and the King by Margaret Landon. In the play, East meets West in a dramatic, richly textured and 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, summoned by the King to serve as tutor to his many children and wives. The King is considered by westerners to be a barbarian, and he seeks Anna's help to change his image, if not his ways. Despite the firm grip that each has on their respective traditions and values, Anna and the King grow to understand and respect one another in a truly unique love story. With its dazzling score, this is one of the all-time marvels of the musical stage with such memorable songs as I Whistle a Happy Tune, Hello, Young Lovers, Getting to Know You and Something Wonderful.

Director Susan Davis of Grosse Pointe Farms has put together a cast and crew of the Grosse Pointe area's finest performing and technical talent to produce a lush and highly entertaining show for the whole family. In fact, the show involves a number of cast members with family ties in the show. Davis has designed a lavish set which incorporates the intricate and elaborate patterns and textures of Thailand..

The cast features Theresa Selvaggio of Grosse Pointe Farms as Anna Leonowens, Grosse Pointe Park residents Mike Trudel as the King and Allison McClelland as Tuptim, Grosse Pointe Farms resident Lisa Johnson as Lady Thiang, and Macomb Township resident Don Bischoff as Lun Tha, Algonac resident Randy Skotarczyk as the Kralahome and Birmingham resident Frank "Scott" Davis as Sir Edward Ramsay.

Other cast members include: Grosse Pointe Park residents Jimmy Menchl, Nick Muer, Claire Zimmeth, Elizabeth Trudel, Teresa Oxholm, Deidre McKeever, Perry Calisi, Tom Woodman, David Trudel, Gino Calisi, Bianca Calisi, Rae Anne Woodman, Evelyn Woodman, Elaina Calisi; City of Grosse Pointe residents Mike Evans, Emma Kruse, Charles Kruse, Catherine Hartz, Avery Platt, Olivia Baratta, Mia Turco, Emma Turco, Patricia Allen, and Wilson Livingston; Grosse Pointe Farms residents Alexandra Miller, Naphat Pewnorm, William Johnson and Greta Johnson; Grosse Pointe Woods residents Christina Amato, Becky Foglesong, Ian Leszczynski, and Sophie Leszczynski; Grosse Pointe Shores residents Joanna Harr and Leslie Jacobs; Harper Woods residents Sydney Yonkus and Ralph Cochrane; New Baltimore resident Megan Breen; Algonac resident Kat Skotarczyk; Harrison Township resident Kara Sogge; Warren resident Ethan Rymiszewski; St. Clair Shores resident Anneliese Lechner; and Detroit residents Clif Levin and Matt Becker. The show's producer is Jon Lechner of Warren.

The Grosse Pointe War Memorial offers dinner in the Fries Crystal Ballroom before evening shows, and a brunch on November 15th before the 2 pm matinee. Call the War Memorial at 313-881-7511 to make reservations.

Grosse Pointe Theatre will continue it's 62nd season in January 2010 with You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, based on the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz, book, music & lyrics by Clark M. Gesner, January 17, 21-24 and 27-30; The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, March 7, 11-14 and 17-20; and Grease, book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey , May 9, 13-16, 19-/22, 2010. Individual tickets, Mini subscriptions and group discounts are on sale now. Call 313-881-4004.

Grosse Pointe Theatre, a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization, is a community theatre which draws its members from throughout southeast Michigan. Membership is open to all persons aged 18 and above. Contributions to Grosse Pointe Theatre are tax deductible.

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