The King and I
(Press Release 4-14-03)
Office of Public Information

Theatre Eastern will present The King and I, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25, in Mitchell Hall Auditorium on the Eastern Oklahoma State College Wilburton campus.

Produced jointly by the theatre and music departments at the college, Director Ruth Askew Brelsford says this ever-popular musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein features guest artist Dottie Minshall from Nashoba as Anna and community favorite for his portrayals of Daddy Warbucks in last year’s Annie and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, Savannah sophomore Andrew Bryan as the King.

“This production features some of the most beloved tunes in Broadway musicals,” Brelsford says.

“Tunes like “Getting to Know You,” “Shall We Dance” and “Whistle a Happy Tune” to name just a few will be featured.

“The production boasts gorgeous costumes designed by Billie Boston from Oklahoma City University Music Theatre.”

Paul Enis serves as Music Director. Others in the cast include: Daniel Smith from McAlester; Clark Conner, Wilburton; Derek Earthman, Clayton; Erin Hallman, TX; Dory Francis, Wilburton; Terry Wilson, Wilburton; Megan McElroy, Holdenville; Sasha Rosalles, Wilburton; Lacy Dansby, Norman; Christian Guzman, Oklahoma City; Ashley Wallis, Buffalo Valley.

Other cast members include: Shelley Dennis and Lauren Helmke from Clayton; Beth Fields, Wister; Tonya Sorrels, Kiowa; Helen Scott and Sara Olive, Wilburton; Mike Battiest, Idabel; Tim Johnson and Laura Hunter, Savannah; Cody Pearce, Quinton; Christina Bentley, Muldrow and Todd Minshall, Nashobia.

The King’s children are actors drawn from the ranks of Children’s Theatre Workshop sponsored each January by the Eastern theatre department. Those students include: Taylor and Spencer Bray, Bradley and Lane Knight, Cody Donoley, Jessie Green, Hannah Royce, Hayley Myers, Heather Tolle, Justin Joslin, Eric Minshall, Skylar Bell, Marissa Scott, Paris Thomason, Cheyenne Raney and Emily Enis.

Eric Duesler from McAlester plays the Prince and Joseph Shaeffer, Panola, portrays Mrs. Anna’s son, Louis.

Tickets for the King and I are $5 at the door with general seating. Children under 12 are $3. Contact Brelsford at 918-564-2361, ext. 216, for additional information.

Cutline:

Dottie Minshall from Nashoba as Anna doesn’t always agree with the King portrayed by Savannah sophomore Andrew Bryan in Theatre Eastern’s production of the King and I .