Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady,” will be presented by the Austin High School Theatre Department at 7 p.m. on Nov. 16-18 in the school’s Christgau Hall.

The musical, which catapulted Julie Andrews to fame with her portrayal of Eliza Doolittle when it premiered on Broadway in 1956, is based on George Bernard Shaw’s play, “Pygmalion.”

It follows the efforts of the privileged phonetics professor Henry Higgins, to transform a poor Cockney flower girl — Eliza — into a proper-speaking English lady.

The now-beloved musical, with its popular standards of “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Get Me to the Church On Time,” “On the Street Where You Live,” and “The Rain in Spain,” was called simply “wonderful” by critic Brooks Atkinson upon its premiere.

The high school production will be performed with 20 students, under the direction of Gordon Handeland and musical director Brian Johnson.

Chloe Guttormson will portray Eliza, opposite Willem Huizinga’s Higgins. Col. Pickering — with whom Higgins makes a bet that he can change Eliza — is portrayed by Zach Farr. Eliza’s father, Alfred Doolittle, will be played by Paul Mueller, while Michael Petersen takes on the role of the ever-hopeful Freddy Eynsford Hill.

Handeland — who himself has played Higgins in three different productions — said students are embracing the production; “in fact, two different actors approached us over the past two years” to mount the production.

“It has a lot of comedy and, of course, beautiful music,” said Handeland.

The production is not without challenges, that in several scenes requires elaborate costumes. There has also been a learning curve for actors who have not only had to learn a proper British accent, but a Cockney one as well. Handeland said the cast has been up to the challenges, and audiences will enjoy the show.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

In addition to those already identified, the cast includes:

Mrs. Eynsford-Hill/Race Patron/Higgins’ Servant – Rachel Christenson

Mrs. Higgins – Lilla Parada

Bartender/Lady Boxington/Race Patron/Higgins Servant – Adrianna Meiergard

Harry – Aidan DeVries

Jamie – Ryan Stencel

Mrs. Pearce/Higgins Servant – Katie Lillimon

Mrs. Hopkins/Cockney – Natalie Nunez

Cockney Bystander/Race Patron – Sydney McCarthy

Selsey Man/Second Cockney/ Lord Boxington/Higgins Servant – Evan Anderson

Hoxton Man/Third Cockney/Charles chauffeur/Policeman/Higgins Servant – Matt Beyer

Cockney Gent/First Cockney/Higgins Butler/Race Patron/Cockney – R. J. Anderson

Cockney Lass/Flower Girl/Race Patron – Molly Stromlund

Angry Woman/Race Patron/Higgins Servant – Elizabeth Carlson

Angry Man – Michael Petersen

Mrs. Higgins’ Maid/Higgins Servant – Ella Muzik

Race Patron/Higgins’ Servant – Wren Clinefelter