Lyric Opera of Chicago is bringing another classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical to its stage this spring, “The King and I,” and has two powerhouse talents starring as Anna and the King of Siam.
Kate Baldwin is a Tony Award-nominated actress for the Broadway revival of “Finian’s Rainbow” and a Northwestern grad. Paolo Montalban has also starred on Broadway (“Pacific Overtures,” “The King and I,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”), but you may recognize him from the 1997 “Cinderella” TV movie with Brandy and Whitney Houston.
We spoke with the pair about their newest roles, work/life balance and giving back.
Make It Better: What are you looking forward to the most as you begin this process?
Kate Baldwin: I look forward to rehearsal. It’s my favorite part of the entire process. I’m interested in finding out why Anna does the things she does.
Paolo Montalban: I’m really looking forward to working with the director, Lee Blakeley, and his creative team. With a classic like this, it’s always interesting to see what the director’s vision will be … To be given the opportunity to collaborate on this quality of work is every actor’s dream.
What draws you toward your character and gets you excited to perform?
KB: I’m drawn to her contradictions. She seems simultaneously fearless yet filled with fear. She claims to not be an imperialist, yet she imposes her ideas on another group’s way of life. What excites me about the story is how two people from such disparate cultures find common ground and even deep love.
PM: An actor gets to explore the full spectrum of the human behavioral landscape in the role of the King. He’s so complex and mercurial; I consider him to be the Asian Hamlet of the musical theater genre. He’s both an authoritative god-King and a loving father, he’s absolute with his power yet has moments of self-doubt, he’s a devout Buddhist and also a man of science and learning, and he’s a strict traditionalist who strives to usher his country into a modern era … And dancing the polka in bare feet with your partner wearing a 20-pound, hoop-skirted, Victorian-era ball gown can get pretty exciting too!
Make It Better and Lyric are two brands committed to doing good in the world. What are some causes or charities that you feel affinity toward and why?
KB: I love City Harvest and the other countless programs that provide food to hungry families. No one in this nation should go hungry.
PM: I have an affinity for two causes: one macro and one micro. The macro cause is cancer research, because both of my parents are living vibrant healthy lives today because of progress that’s been made even in the past 15 years. I propose that for every war we engage in, we should allocate 10 percent of that budget toward cancer research. Realistically though, a donation of time or money to any of the various cancer nonprofits will greatly increase the survivorship of someone’s loved one somewhere. The micro cause (but no less important) is the Lelt Foundation, whose goal is to create sustainable independence (through nutrition, education and small business creation) for severely impoverished families in Ethiopia … By directly purchasing handmade Ethiopian goods on the website (I’m a huge fan of their colorful scarves), you can be the catalyst for a sense of pride and empowerment. Check out leltfoundation.org
Kate, as a Northwestern grad and Evanston native, you’ve lived and performed locally before. What are you looking forward to doing or seeing as you return to the area?
KB: I’m looking forward to spending time with my brother who lives with his family in LaGrange and to seeing friends all over the Chicagoland area. I’m trying to plan a time to head up to NU to teach a master class for the musical theater students. I also plan to reconnect with my college voice teacher whom I adore, the remarkable and gifted Marie Michuda.
Paolo, what are you looking forward to doing during your time in Chicago?
PM: I don’t know in what states of undress we’ll be in this production of “The King and I” (Lee mentioned it will be a very sensual one), but I really hope to sample the cuisine Chicago is famous for. I take pictures of food as a kind of visual travelogue for myself. Also, the last time I visited the city, it was January and very cold. It didn’t matter though, because of the ubiquitous Chicagoan friendliness. I look forward to total strangers greeting me on the sidewalk again. Windy City, warm hearts.
Kate, as a working mom, do you have any secrets or tips to share with other parents who juggle career and family commitments?
KB: Guard your health like it’s your job. No one can function happily if they are feeling terrible. Also, make sure you marry someone who makes you laugh. And find time to joke around with your kids. Humor saves the day!
Paolo, we read that you were on a pre-med track when you graduated from Rutgers with a degree in Psychology. Did you ever consider going back to med school once you started performing or were you sure you’d found your calling?
PM: The thought of pursuing med school again never came up since I started acting professionally, much to the dismay of my parents. However, I did do a year-and-a-half stint of massage therapy school on the side (I’m certified). I was still really interested in anatomy, physiology, and being able to treat people in a pinch if they became injured. That was the closest I came to flirting with the medical field again. As iconic businessman and author Harvey Mackay said, “Find something you love to do, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” I’ve definitely found my “something” in acting for now. I may not be a doctor, but I can play one on TV.
“The King and I” opens at Lyric Opera of Chicago on April 30 with a preview on April 29. For tickets and more information, visit Lyric’s website.
Subscribe to our e-newsletter, the Better Letter, for up-to-the-minute tips, trends and resources for family, food, finance, philanthropy, home and entertainment from Positive, Powerful, Connectors.
