WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Missouri State University-West Plains’ “That’s Entertainment” Film Series will continue at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, with the Academy Award-winning musical “The King and I” in the West Plains Civic Center theater.
Hosted by the Missouri State University-West Plains’ University/Community Programs (U/CP) Department, the series is in its 13th year and is being held each Thursday during the month of February. Admission is free.
Filmed in 1956, “The King and I” is an adaptation of the Broadway musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II that tells the story of Anna Leonowens, who was hired by the King of Siam (Thailand) to teach English to his children in the 1860s. The screenplay by Ernest Lehman is based on the book Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon, which, in turn, is based on Leonowens’ own memoirs of the time.
The film won five Oscars, including Best Actor honors for Yul Brynner as King Mongkut and Best Costume Design, as well as Golden Globe awards for Best Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy and Best Actress for Deborah Kerr as Anna. The film is rated G.
Former West Plains High School drama teacher Carol Morgan, coordinator of the university’s Interdisciplinary Studies program, will facilitate a short discussion following the film’s showing.
The series will end Feb. 23 with the showing of “Grease: The Rockin’ Rydell Version.”
Organizers remind this year’s films are being shown at a new time, 6:30 p.m. Thursdays, so those planning to attend should mark their calendars accordingly.
For more information about the annual film series, call the U/CP Department office at 417-255-7966.