This January, an event of epic proportions will come to the Fairfax High School auditorium. Fairfax High School Theatre department hopes to combine with the Chorus, Band, Orchestra, and Art departments, with the Fairfax Academy for Communication and the Arts Technical Theatre, Musical Theatre Performance, Dance, and Korean classes, as well as Lanier Middle School, Providence and Daniel’s Run Elementary Schools, Saturday Korean Language schools, the Thai embassy, and various other organizations in Fairfax City to produce the musical classic “The King and I.” Two years ago, Fairfax High School and Fairfax Academy successfully combined forces in the 1960s hit “How to Succeed in Business [without really trying],” and last year Fairfax High School Theatre department combined with Lanier Middle School and Providence and Daniel’s Run elementary schools to bring to life the family favorite “The Wizard of Oz.”
“This endeavor promises to be the biggest yet,” says Fairfax Academy’s Musical Theatre Performance instructor Michael Replogle. “Between the children, the ballet, and the lavish set and costumes… we are all really excited.”
Fairfax High School’s theatre department has chosen the theme “A Season of Power” for this year’s selection of plays. Wendy Flora Knight, Fairfax High’s Theatre director says, “It represents characters that look deep within themselves to find power and perseverance in the face of obstacles. Especially ‘The King and I,’ which is all about power — a king and his subjects, global conflicts between Great Britain and Southeast Asia, gender differences… add in the grandeur of the music and the dancing and it’s going to be truly spectacular.”
Auditions will be held Nov. 7 and 8, and are open to high school students at Fairfax High and in the Fairfax Academy classes. Lanier Middle School students are also encouraged to attend, as well as students from Daniel’s Run and Providence elementary schools. Private school students are also invited to participate.