Yorktown Stage Presents THE KING AND I This Weekend

Yorktown Stage will open Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic musical The King and I, at the Theatre in Yorktown Heights tonight, April 25.

The King and I is based on the book Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon. The story was derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became school teacher to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. Leonowens' book, The English Governess of the Siaimese Court, was autobiographical, although its historical accuracy is questionable. The musical boasts familiar songs such as Whistle a Happy Tune, Getting to Know You, Something Wonderful and Shall We Dance? It also contains the ballet, Small House of Uncle Thomas, based upon Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin.

The musical originally opened on Broadway in 1951, and ran for 1,246 performances, winning the Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Actor (Yul Brenner), and Best Actress (Gertrude Lawrence) along with other awards. The musical was made into a popular film in 1956, for which Yul Brenner won an Oscar for Best Actor. There were also numerous stage revivals including 1996, starring Lou Diamond Phillips as the King.

The Yorktown Stage production features Bennett Pologe as The King, and Jennie Berkson of Hartsdale as Mrs. Anna. Also appearing are Veronica Decker (NYC) as Lady Thiang, Brian Conklin (Tappan) as Kralahome, Michael Sellers as Sir Edward Ramsay, Thomas Dalceredo (Somers) as the Prince and Marco Felipe (Ossining) as Louis. Featured as the secret Burmese lovers, Maria Jacobi (Tarrytown) portrays Tuptim and Ricky Romano (Stony Point) is Lun Tha. Erin Kei (NYC) recreates the role of Eliza in the ballet. The cast also boasts of 24 Royal Children, 10 Royal Wives, Royal Dancers and Royal Guards from Hopewell Junction, Armonk, Mt Kisco, Ossining, Mahopac, Mount Vernon, Putnam Valley and Yorktown. The cast totals 46 performers.

The production's Director is August Abatecola (Hawthorne). Musical Director is Assaf Gleizner, with Choreography by Carrie Silvernail (Hawthorne).

Performances for The King and I will be over one weekend, tonight, April 25 at 7:30 PM, April 26 at 1:00 pm and & 7:30 pm, and April 27 at 2:00 pm. at the theatre, 1974 Commerce Street, Yorktown Heights, NY. Tickets are $26 general admission, $21 senior citizens (62+) and students (12-22), and $19 for children under 12. They can be purchased at www.yorktownstage.org, by calling (914) 962-0606 or at the door.

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