Notre Dame students to perform 'The King and I' this weekend

Editor's note: The following story has been edited to reflect Amber Vandeven is a sophomore.

Notre Dame Regional High School sophomore Amber Vandeven is following a family tradition -- playing the lead role of Anna in Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The King and I," set for today through Sunday in the school cafetorium.

The plot centers on Anna Leonowens, who, after the death of her husband, moves herself and her son, Louis, to Bangkok, where she has contracted to teach English to the children of the king of Siam. Anna and the king fall in love, but her British upbringing inhibits her from joining his harem. She is just about to leave Siam when she hears of the king's imminent death, and returns to help his son, her favorite pupil, rule his people, according to information from the school.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein show includes 66 cast members ranging from small children to high school seniors, theater arts teacher Cindy King said. Actors in previous productions are expected to attend performances, as well, she said.

"I've always wanted to play Anna," Vandeven said. " ... This is the third show of 'The King and I' that Notre Dame has done, and every single show has had a Vandeven woman in the show."

The cast of Notre Dame Regional High School’s production of “The King and I” perform Tuesday during a dress rehearsal at the high school. (Adam Vogler)

Her younger sister, Rori Beth Vandeven, is also in this year's production as a royal princess, Vandeven said.

"One of the things that has come up while we've been doing this is the last three years we did fluffly musicals," King said. "And part of our reason for picking this is to do something that it's not fluffy, because we do have students who go on in theater and they need that experience ... plus everybody ought to do at least one Rodgers and Hammerstein musical in their lifetime."

The more serious tone of the musical is something the cast has had to adjust to.

"All the cast is, in real life, we're all really comical and stuff, and this is really hard to get used to," said Lindsey Grojean, who plays Tuptim.

Still, Justin Keusenkothen said he's found a way to relate to his character, the king.

"I feel like a lot of people could relate to the king as in he's confused and doesn't really know what to believe," Keusenkothen said. "You have scientific stuff here from Western culture and you have what you're taught and brought up with your whole life. He's in the struggle of choosing the right path. He doesn't know whether to stick to his guns and say that he is right all the time because he's the king, or say he's wrong and learn these new ways in life. I feel like everybody encounters that at one point or the other in their life."

As a way to get into character, Grojean and Keusenkothen have dyed or restyled their hair. Other aspects expected to help is the costumes and makeup. Costume coordinator is chemistry teacher Angela Schaefer.

"I'm really excited for the costumes," Keusenkothen said. "It's just being able to put on a costume and be like, 'Oh, there's the king.' ... You can visualize what you've been working on ... the whole time whenever you put on the outfits you get."

Asked about nerves, Grojean said she doesn't think the seniors are too anxious because they've been looking forward to the production for a long time.

"I'm excited," Vandeven said. "I love having an audience. It's the best feeling when you finally have someone reacting to what you're saying instead of an empty space in front of you. You actually have people who interact with the crowd. It's just a great feeling when you actually have people appreciate what you've been working for."

Showtime is 7 p.m. and tickets are $10, theater arts teacher Cindy King said.

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