First week features 'Lion King'

Posted on: Aug 29, 2022

The new school year will open with a roar, as nearly 50 students in grades 5-8 present “Disney’s The Lion King Jr.”

Shows are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, Sept. 8-9, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, in the Delano High School Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available online, or at the door.

“It’s a very good family show,” said eighth-grader Ryann Wyman, who plays the role of grown-up Nala. “It’s going to be very big and colorful, so I think a lot of little kids will like that.”

“It’s really entertaining, and there are a lot of really good musical numbers,” agreed eighth-grader Jackson Althoff, who plays Mufasa.

DIS teacher Natalie Palmer is directing her third middle school play, having previously managed “Aladdin” and last year’s “Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr.”

“This the largest group I’ve had for the summer musical, and they’re just a fantastic group of kids,” said Palmer. “They’re on time, they’re enthusiastic, and their parents and the community have been very supportive.”

Why did she choose the Lion King?

“I don’t believe it’s ever been done in Delano,” she said. “It’s just a very different kind of a musical than we’ve done in the past. One reason I was drawn to it is it allows us to focus on a different culture. In many of our songs we have to learn different languages like Zulu or Swahili. We’re actually singing in African languages, and we’ve talked about what the wording means. It’s just great cultural exposure for the kids. And some of the songs are really beautiful.”

Show and performers
The familiar tale follows the movie rather closely, with some differences along the way.

“Scar is more of a deep character. You actually get to see his background,” said Wyman. “In the movie, Scar’s just a bad guy. But the play shows more about why he’s a bad guy, why he wants certain things. There’s more depth to him.”

Fifth-grader Abby Froehle is making her acting debut as young Nala.

“I really like the movie, and I just thought it would be really fun to do it as my first play,” she said. “I’m a little nervous, but that’s how it always is when you are going on a big stage to do new things.”

Another pair of theater rookies, sixth-grader Sophie Kopperud and seventh-grader Cooper Watkins, will play the roles of Timon and Pumbaa, respectively. They have enjoyed their characters’ freewheeling ways, as well as imitating the voices of the goofy duo.

“This is my first show. I did it because I thought it would be a really fun way to get to know more people, and just a really fun way to spend my summer,” said Kopperud. “I do a lot of sports, but this was a different thing for me, so I wanted to try it out and I’ve really liked it.”

Watkins agreed.

“I joined because Ms. Palmer said it would be a good time, and I think Pumbaa and Timon are the best characters in the movie,” he said. “Another one of the main reasons I did this was just to be in this new auditorium, because I think it’s really cool.”

For newer actors, some of the challenges of preparing the show have included getting into character, memorizing lines and choreography.

“One of the challenges is learning some of the dances, because some of them are really hard,” said Froehle.

“The dancing in this show is fabulous. They’ve put a lot of work into it,” said Palmer, adding that another challenge has been making costumes from scratch rather than ordering them.

“As it turns out, it’s hard to order a wildebeest costume,” she said with a laugh.

The opportunity to put on a play that does not involve any human characters is also somewhat unique.

“I like how we’re not people. It’s just a really different take on a show,” said Wyman. “We don’t crawl around, but we move differently and there are a lot of different pieces. The songs have different feelings. It’s fun.”

Benefits
For some, like eighth-grader Beau Anderson, who plays the role of grown-up Simba, taking part in the play is a way to grow.

“I did it mostly to deal with my stage fright,” he said with a laugh. “This is my very first show. I’m a bit nervous, but it’s actually going great. I had never done a play before, so I didn’t know how it works.”

Palmer said that the process of preparing a show helps unite groups of students in a common effort.

“What I like about drama is it’s a great outlet for kids to develop some really strong friendships,” she said. “They become a very tight group, kind of a family, and are very supportive of each other. They just have this really strong community, a huge support group, that can continue through high school.”

Evidence of that long-lasting dedication can be seen in the 15 high school student directors who are helping their younger peers to prepare the show.

“I have not only kids going into their junior and senior year at the high school, but also some kids who are going off to college who have stayed over the summer to help,” said Palmer. “They’ve juggled jobs and they’re here every practice to help students.”

That assistance has not gone unnoticed by the current actors.

“It’s good to have people by your side to help you,” said Froehle. “Altogether, it’s been a lot of fun to learn this, and I’m just really proud of how it’s all coming together.”

See the Cast List.

Post Categories: High School, Intermediate School