Directors Note
Not much can be said about this iconic classic that hasn’t already been said. Its diverse representation of languages, character types, and classic storylines has inspired musicals, plays, movies, spin-off movies, prequels, and much more. This left us, as an artistic team, with a unique challenge: breathe new life into something already brimming with life.
Our use of fabrics, puppetry, and advanced acting theories bring you that unique take. We hope that you delight in the magic of traditional theatre and stagecraft as we pull from awe-inspiring elements.
May Simba's journey of remembering who he is as he walks through shame and mourning be an encouragement to us that the Lord sees us and calls us His regardless of our choices and shortfallings.
As I sit in rehearsal writing this director's note to you, your students sit to my left, harmonizing in the finale of Circe of Life and asking thoughtful questions. Without hyperbole, this is the exact energy that they have brought throughout the entire rehearsal process. These students have stepped up into leadership with grace and excellence. To say that they have grown would be an understatement. It is my prayer that they carry this heart into future projects and bless those artistic teams the way they have blessed us.
We hope that you enjoy this performance - sure, but ultimately that you walk away giving God the glory that He is due for the creative spirit He has instilled in us all. He lives in you!
The Joys
It feels impossible not to fall in love with these timeless characters and colorful musical numbers. It was an honor to contribute to the legacy of renditions of this time-honored show.
It will always be a delight to dive deeper into the appreciation of cultures outside of my everyday sphere. My team was a dream to work with and their perspectives and experiences made this show the stand apart that it was.
These students rose to meet and super exceed every expectation thrown at them. They were inspiring.
The Challenges
Typically this theatre company runs from ages 8-17, but at the same time our show was running we were directly competing with another. This widdled our casting options down to a minimum. From that minimum, we paved the way for incredible and, often overlooked, new talent. But of course, we tend toward the path of least resistance. And from auditions I found myself climbing uphill to maintain the morale of our cast and artistic team, constantly battling comparison culture. Not impossible, but it requires much patience.
Growing
If I had to boil down this show to one thing that I learned, it would be to not hold back. My cast is far more resilient, hardworking, and dedicated than I may believe. Moving into future work I would rather be disappointed by my expectations being too high than never giving my cast the chance to rise and grow.
