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Getting to know you,
Getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you,
Getting to hope you like me.
Oscar Hammerstein’s show tune “Getting to Know You” from “The King and I” is a timeless classic, but it might not ring completely true with the City Theatre of Independence’s summer production.
That’s because four separate families have multiple members participating in the 58-year-old Richard Rogers and Hammerstein production, which opens tonight at the Roger T. Sermon Community Center.
Among the 40 cast members are Ryan, Carrie and Finoula Emmons; Cassie, Alyssa and Alexiya Mendez; Karen, Isaac and Andrew Letsch; and Ed and Keely McElligott.
Carrie Emmons says the first show with her children was the 2007 City Theatre of Independence production of “The Music Man.” Ryan Emmons, now a 10-year-old longtime aspiring actor, actually sparked the family’s interest as he first announced he would audition.
“I think that it teaches them the skills they need to interview for a job because they can speak in front of a crowd and look people in the eye,” Carrie says regarding Ryan and his younger 7-year-old sister, Finoula. “It also teaches them trust because when you’re on stage, you trust that someone will give you their cue line or catch you if you’re supposed to faint.”
Involvement in the arts also teaches children appreciation of other people whom they might not otherwise encounter in everyday living, as well as expressing professionalism among adults, Carrie says.
“The King and I,” a musical that opened on Broadway in 1951, is based on the memoirs of Anna Leonowens (portrayed in Independence by Sariah Pinick), who worked as a school teacher to King Mongkut of Siam’s children in the 1860s. Carrie says the experience has served as a history lesson with her children, as they checked out several books about Leonowens, as well as “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” The “Uncle Tom’s Cabin Ballet” is featured in “The King and I” production.
“It’s neat to see the people you are portraying and interacting with in the play,” Carrie says. “This play also has more children than others, so children have enjoyed getting to know other children.”
Because of the historical backdrop of “The King and I,” costuming played an integral and challenging role, says costume designer Patricia McLaughlin, who has worked with the City Theatre of Independence for 20 years.
Getting to know you,
Getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you,
Getting to hope you like me.
Oscar Hammerstein’s show tune “Getting to Know You” from “The King and I” is a timeless classic, but it might not ring completely true with the City Theatre of Independence’s summer production.
That’s because four separate families have multiple members participating in the 58-year-old Richard Rogers and Hammerstein production, which opens tonight at the Roger T. Sermon Community Center.
Among the 40 cast members are Ryan, Carrie and Finoula Emmons; Cassie, Alyssa and Alexiya Mendez; Karen, Isaac and Andrew Letsch; and Ed and Keely McElligott.
Carrie Emmons says the first show with her children was the 2007 City Theatre of Independence production of “The Music Man.” Ryan Emmons, now a 10-year-old longtime aspiring actor, actually sparked the family’s interest as he first announced he would audition.
“I think that it teaches them the skills they need to interview for a job because they can speak in front of a crowd and look people in the eye,” Carrie says regarding Ryan and his younger 7-year-old sister, Finoula. “It also teaches them trust because when you’re on stage, you trust that someone will give you their cue line or catch you if you’re supposed to faint.”
Involvement in the arts also teaches children appreciation of other people whom they might not otherwise encounter in everyday living, as well as expressing professionalism among adults, Carrie says.
“The King and I,” a musical that opened on Broadway in 1951, is based on the memoirs of Anna Leonowens (portrayed in Independence by Sariah Pinick), who worked as a school teacher to King Mongkut of Siam’s children in the 1860s. Carrie says the experience has served as a history lesson with her children, as they checked out several books about Leonowens, as well as “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” The “Uncle Tom’s Cabin Ballet” is featured in “The King and I” production.
“It’s neat to see the people you are portraying and interacting with in the play,” Carrie says. “This play also has more children than others, so children have enjoyed getting to know other children.”
Because of the historical backdrop of “The King and I,” costuming played an integral and challenging role, says costume designer Patricia McLaughlin, who has worked with the City Theatre of Independence for 20 years.
“The challenge of costuming is that so much has to be built. In community theater, we don’t have massive inventories of costumes,” she says. “So much of it had to be made – that’s what makes this show so unusual.”
After spending about 20 hours of research and discussions with “The King and I” Director Jack McCord, McLaughlin spent about 100 hours of sewing costumes with two assistants, which proved difficult, she says, with only a six-week rehearsal schedule.
“I’m responsible for bringing the director’s visualization and picture of the production to life,” she says. “It isn’t just making pretty clothes and hoping it all works out. It just takes patience and practice. I got really good at it (sewing) on this show.”
In keeping with the historical context, McLaughlin constructed the female cast’s costumes with high-waisted skirts. Blouses, she says, during that period were more like sleeves that wrapped, so she added layers to give more detailing in the tops.
All of the royal wives will wear rich colors, with the children dressed in pastels. The King is the only cast member wear black and gold simultaneously on stage, McLaughlin says.
“It’s using all of those subtle elements to frame the story for the audience,” she says.
Opening at 8 tonight, “The King and I” runs through June 21, with all show times and dates available at citytheatreofindependence.org. The Sermon Center is at the corners of Truman and Noland roads. To order tickets, contact the box office at 816-325-7367 or order online at the City Theatre of Independence’s Web site.
