Newton Country Day Upper and Middle School actresses brought an exciting and colorful Rogers and Hammerstein’s production of The King and I to the Sweeney Husson Theatre on November 10-11.  A cast of eighteen Upper School students sang in primary roles and thirty Middle School students starred as the Royal children.  

Based on Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, the 1951 musical was first performed at the King James Theatre in New York.  The Sacred Heart fall musical transformed the Sweeney Husson Theatre to a mid-1800’s King’s Palace located in Bangkok, Siam. K. O’Hara ’12 played Anna and Suffolk University student Michael Casey starred opposite her as the King.  Dressed in elegant costumes and magnificent headpieces fashioned by Emily Damron and Amber Voner, another eight seniors: E. Scala, M. Dalton, E. Chadwick, L. Hillerich, A. Ryan, M. Tran, J. Barros, and M. Drouillard sang in lead roles.  Underclassmen starring in The King and I were I. Capeci ’15, S. Fox ’13, C. Gallo ’14, C. Castellano ’13, E. Corcoran’13, D. Cottrell ’15, K. Fitzpatrick ’15, A. Manning ’15, and B. McDevitt ’13.  St. Sebastian’s sophomore W. Supple played a supporting role as Lun Tha.

Congratulations to the senior actresses whose passion and energy have transformed four years of theatre productions.  In the course of their Upper School career, these seniors have starred in dramatic productions, the Massachusetts Drama Festival, and musicals performances.  J. Barros ’12, M. Dalton ’12, L. Hillerich ’12, A. Ryan ’12, E. Scala’12, and M. Tran ’12 have sung in the musical each of their four years, including Cats (Spring 2009), Honk! (Spring 2010), andYou’re a Good Man Charlie Brown (Spring 2011).

TheThe King and I production was stage-directed by Mr. Charles Hodges, music-directed by Mr. John Sullivan and Mrs. Anne Tripp Miller, and choreographed by Mrs. Leigh Lucey.

View a slideshow of The King and I.