The King and I

Presented in Partnership with Higley Center for the Performing Arts

Two cultures collide in this touching Tony Award winning musical theatre classic. The story, based on the novel, Anna and the King of Siam, is derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens who became governess to the King of Siam's (modern-day Thailand) children in the 1860’s as part of the king's attempt to "modernize" his country. Set to a brilliant Rodgers and Hammerstein score, the story unfolds and teaches us how wonderful things can be when we look beyond cultural differences and truly get to know one another!

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Event Calendar

FEBRUARY 2012

Cast and Crew

Tom Chamberlain - The King

Tom is thrilled to finally have his children show him the respect he deserves by bowing at his every command. This is his second performance of The King and I having previously played the role of Luntha. Other credits include, Billy Bigelow in Carousel,Riff in West Side Story, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, and Rifka in Fiddler on the Roof. His greatest joy comes from being a husband and father to his own little royal family.

Nancy Button - Anna

Nancy has enjoyed a comeback to the stage. She earned her BA in Theatre/English from BYU-Hawaii and then took the necessary time to find the perfect man to marry and make gorgeous children. She has most recently been seen as the Sea Witch in Hale’s The Little Mermaid. She is grateful that her children are willing to sacrifice to let her play at night; greatest thanks to her darling husband and best friend Josh.

Andrew Nathan Briggs - Lun Tha

Andrew is a Doctoral student in voice at Arizona State University, where he also got his Masters in 2010. He is a graduate of Southern Utah University (‘06) where he graduated in Voice Performance and Music Education. He later taught choir and drama at Mesa Junior High. He has been seen most recently Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro at ASU. He also played Sweeney Todd and Anthony in Sweeney Todd (ASU) and as Dandini in La Cenerentola (ASU). In April he will be playing the role of Harold Hill in The Music Man (ASU). Andrew studied the roles of El Dancaïro/Morales with ASU/Ariona Opera’s Cover study program. Other favorite roles include; Enrique, Il Campanello, Olin Blitch, Susannah, Joseph, Joseph, and Harold Hill, The Music Man.
Andrew currently sings with the Arizona Opera chorus, as well as the Scottsdale Choral Artists as a section leader and soloist with his wife Kristin. Andrew is the director of Vocal Fix Jazz Entertainment. He currently teaches voice, choir, and Rock History at Mesa Community College. He is the father of two children (Nathan, 4, and Carson, 11 months), and lives and teaches voice in Mesa.

Sookyoung Kim - Tuptim

Sookyoung has studied Voice & Opera performance in Korea and played many opera stages in Korea and Singapore. Those operatic performances lead her to the US to study Broadway musicals from its birthplace. She was the first foreign student to earn Master degree in Broadway Musical Performance from ASU. She was casted in The Mulan, The King and I, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Into the Wood, Handel and Gratel during her study in America.

Sam Siaki - Kralahome

Sam started doing theatre with Copperstar in last December’s Annie, an adventure that has been on his bucket list. He had so much fun he decided to be in The King and I as well. Sam is very thankful for the opportunities Copperstar has given him and for all the friends he has made.

Dale Mortensen - Prince

Dale is excited to return to Copperstar, where he was Kurt von Trapp in Sound of Music. He has been in several productions with Actor’s Youth Theatre, including Gavroche in Les Miserables, for which he received an ariZoni award! He also played Young George in It’s a Wonderful Life at Hale Theatre and is currently performing in Are the Meadowlarks Still Singing? at Hale. Dale enjoys trumpet, unicycle, football and other sports.

Cameron Pinion - Louis

Cameron, a 4th grader at Edu-Prize Charter School, has recently performed as Johnathan in A Christmas Carol. Cameron was so excited to be nominated for an Arizoni Award for his Role of Winthrop in The Music Man at Copperstar. Other favorite performances include Annie, The Wizard of Oz, Grease, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, and The Drowsy Chaperone. He thanks MJ, Sam and Laura for this awesome opportunity!!

Lady Thiang -- Catherine Wong

Catherine is thrilled to be a part of The King and I! She is currently a junior majoring in Music Theatre Performance at ASU and studies voice with David Britton. Favorite credits include: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Curtains Up: A Musical Revue, bare, Little Shop of Horrors, The Secret Garden, The Wedding Singer, and The Who’s Tommy. Many thanks and love to my supportive friends, family, teachers, and, of course, RF.

Shanti Okawa - Eliza

Shanti is a junior at Mesquite High School and is returning for her 12th show with Copperstar. Her favorite roles include Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin and Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie. Shanti is excited to be a member of Mesquite High’s Advanced Vocal and continues to study dance. Shanti is going to try not to miss her brother while he is away at college. She is grateful to Copperstar, Sam and Laura for all that they have done for her. She would like to thank her wonderful friends and family for their support.

Mary-Jo Okawa - Director

Mary-Jo is Copperstar’s founder and Artistic Producing Director, Mary-Jo Okawa is an award winning educator who has been a professional director, choreographer and performer for over 25 years. A talented educator in theatre, dance and vocal music, Mary-Jo is also an accomplished professional singer who has traveled throughout the United States, Asia and Southeast Asia sharing her talents. She is proud to have entertained our troops in the USO. Over the past three years, Mary-Jo has built Copperstar into a reputable theatre company which offers enrichment, education and entertainment to community members of all ages through high quality theatrical productions, camps, workshops and classes. In 2010, Copperstar was honored with six Gilbert Mayor’s Arts Awards nominations and was awarded the Zelma Basha Salmeri Gallery Award for providing Gilbert with services enabling an expansion in the scope and quality of the arts. She is the proud mom of two amazing children, Shanti will be a junior at Mesquite High School and Chris will be entering University of Arizona as a Musical Theatre major. Mary-Jo teaches voice and acting privately and is grateful for her loving supportive husband David. Mary-Jo finds great joy in the journey of creating in the theatre, enriching the lives of community members of all ages.

Sam Henderson - Music Director

Sam is a recent graduate of the Lyric Opera Theatre’s Masters of Music in Music Directing program at Arizona State University where he now serves as a Faculty Associate and Music Director. In addition, Sam is the resident music director for Copperstar Repertory Company in Gilbert, AZ. Prior to coming to Arizona, he taught high school band in the Dallas/Ft. Worth (Texas!) area for 7 years after earning a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University.
Sam has music directed/conducted productions of SEUSSICAL, ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, LES MISERABLES, FOOTLOOSE, and LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. With Lyric Opera Theatre, he was the music director/conductor for THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW (for which he received an ariZoni Award for outstanding musical direction), and THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS.
Most recently, Sam co-created the original cabaret, THE LAZY “B” CABARET with colleague Lauren Margison. This specially commissioned work was presented in honor of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor at the annual benefit for The O’Connor House in Phoenix.
Upcoming productions include BYE, BYE, BIRDIE, and ANNIE with Copperstar, and YOU’RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN and CABARET at with Lyric Opera Theatre.

Laura Christian - Choreographer

Laura is excited to be involved with Copperstar Repertory Company once again! She recently choreographed The Music Man and Into the Woods as well as several camps and workshops for the company. She teaches dance and musical theatre classes for theatres around the valley including the Academy of Young Performers at Arizona Broadway Theatre, Greasepaint Youth Theatre, and Chandler Center for the Arts. Laura is also a performer, having appeared in numerous shows at Arizona Broadway Theatre and Phoenix Theatre. She graduated summa cum laude with a BA degree in Theatre, and is currently working on a Masters degree in secondary education to teach both theatre and math. Broadway Buddies will mark Laura's 10th production with Copperstar, and she looks forward to working with Copperstar in the upcoming season. Thanks to Matt, Mary-Jo, Sam and everyone at Copperstar!

Want to Audition for Copperstar's 2011-2012 Season?

Attend our Audition Workshop on August 13. Youth (9am to 1pm) and Adults (2pm-6pm) at the Higley Center for the Performing Arts. CLICK HERE to to register.

To audition for Copperstar's 2011-2012 Season visit our CURRENT AUDITIONS page.

Auditions will be August 24-27 at the Higley Center.

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THE KING AND I is licenced by HUSD. THE KING AND I is presented through special arrangment with R & H Theatricals: www.rnh.com THE KING AND I is licensed by HUSD.