Starting Thursday, May 5 through Saturday, May 7, Niles West Theatre will be putting on the musical The King and I in the Robert L. Johnson Auditorium.

The musical is based off of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical version of the beloved story of a woman who becomes the governess to the King of Siam’s  many children. A unique fact about Niles West’s version is that the children will be played by middle schoolers from our feeder schools.

The King and I is especially important to Theatre Director Andrew Sinclair because it was the first play that he had ever been involved in.

” We realized that students at this school had never been involved in a classical musical,” Sinclair says.

The play will begin on Thursday, May 5 at 10 a.m., a free community performance. Another performance will also be held May 5 at 7:30 p.m. More performances will be held Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m.  Ticket prices for adults are$10, and for students, senior citizens, and children under 12, the price is $7.

Sinclair feels that The King and I is relatable to worldly issues.

” The message speaks to our current society…. about learning and accepting other cultures,” Sinclair says.

The cast has been working for eight weeks on the production, and sophomore Sarah Meehan, who will be playing a royal wife, feels that people should attend the show.

“People should come see the show because we will be doing it like it’s never been done before,” Meehan says.

Senior Maddy Weil, who will also be playing a royal wife, agrees with Meehan.

“Musicals are always fun and the costumes are going to be really cool,” Weil says.