Congrats the Cast and Crew of Lion King Jr.!
Congratulations to the cast and crew of the Middle School Musical, “Lion King Jr.” The students’ months of hard work came to life as they performed five shows from January 23-25 for a full house of parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, friends and other relatives in the Four Flowers Theater. We sat down to talk with Director Robert Wagner and Musical Director Carrie Dietsch about the experience.
The cast and crew included over 100 students and faculty members. Can you share what was involved in the making of this production and what groups/classes were involved?
Carrie: There were so many moving parts for this show, from a massive set to over 100 student performers and crew members! This required thoughtful coordination from our production team—Director Robert Wagner, Costume Designer Wendy Clemente, Technical Director Cynthia Bloodgood, Set Designer Tom Smith, Director of Visual and Performing Arts Barbara Weinstein, and myself. We were also fortunate to be given an overwhelming amount of parent support in the form of meals and snacks, student supervision, hair and makeup, photography and the list could go on for days! It was quite an undertaking, but the joyful noise of 100 voices singing “The Circle of Life” together made it all worth the effort!
How was the Lion King Jr. selected for this year’s Middle School musical?
Robert: Typically the process starts informally the year before as the production staff begins to daydream about the shows that we would love to create. There are no limits. Sometimes we joke with each other about shows we dream of working on but probably shouldn’t do at a school—like “Rent.” We also talk about shows that would be perfect on a year when we have the right mix of kids like “Hairspray.”
Toward the end of the school, we create a more formal list of shows that follow our guidelines: they must have a flexible cast size, content the students will find engaging, music with contrasting styles from the previous year, a show that has not been performed at the school in roughly eight years. Then we narrow the list down to four before selecting the final production.
This year was slightly different. By the end of the 2014-2015 school year, we had selected a season of musicals, but something in our gut was telling us we could do better. During the summer, Carrie and I glanced on several show websites for new inspiration. During that time we discovered magic! MTI (music theatre international) recently released the rights to a junior version of “Lion King,” and the Rogers and Hammerstein Organization released the rights to the new Broadway version of “Cinderella.” Both of these shows were on our dream list but simply were not available.
This was an exciting moment for Carrie and me because we knew that not only would we have the chance to work on two perfect dream shows for our school, but we would be in the unique position to be one of the first schools in the country to present both of these shows. The opportunity was too good to pass up.
The Middle School elective, Musical Theatre Workshop, was extended to two trimesters. What was the philosophy behind this change?
Carrie: We were so excited to offer this course of study over a longer period. Staging a full musical theatre production is a lengthy process. We wanted to be sure that the students had the opportunity to really engage with the material but also have time to explore vocal, dance and acting techniques. We were also able to do dramaturgy projects with the students, which enabled them to learn about the landscapes of our play (the African savannah, the jungle, etc.) as well as animal behavior, movement and food chains. All of this created a more meaningful experience for our young performers and a stronger final production.
What were the students’ varying levels of singing, dancing and acting experiences before auditioning for the show?
Robert: An added benefit of the extended rehearsal time this year in Musical Theatre Workshop is that we were able to provide two weeks of audition skill-building before hosting actual auditions. There was a huge range of previous experience amongst the group. Several had studied dance or music seriously for years, some regularly perform with local groups such as Junior Theatre or the J Company, and still others had no previous experience but were excited to learn. The first two weeks allowed us to get all of the students prepared, no matter their skill level, to bring their best selves to the audition.
While we do audition for the show, we never cut any students. The audition allows us to find the perfect spot for each student in the production, and also teaches the students how an audition works if they ever choose to audition locally or professionally.
What were some of the biggest challenges for the students?
Carrie: Though not a challenge for the students, a challenge for the audience was finding enough seating! With so many students involved in the production and the small size of our theater, we had to offer extra performances so that every parent, friend and family member could see the show.
Robert: On the first day back to class after closing the production, we posed this exact question to the students. They were pretty clear about where they felt challenged. Here are some examples:
- The dance studio (where we rehearse) is very different in size and shape from the Four Flowers Theater stage. The transition from one space to the other was difficult.
- Leading up to the performance we had several students develop injuries. Injuries to one actor in an ensemble has a large effect on the entire group. All 30 of the students knew they had to rally each time one of their castmates needed extra support.
- When we start rehearsing for a show in September, but we don’t perform until January. It is hard to keep the end goal in mind. The extended time meant each member of the ensemble had to work even harder to stay focused throughout the process.
As a director, the biggest challenge I see the cast grapple with every year is finding the confidence to stand on stage and perform with passion and clarity but that is what working on a musical is all about!
As directors, what did you enjoy most about this production?
Carrie: The entire process was so enjoyable for us as directors! Watching these young performers find their voice and develop confidence on stage is the biggest reward. We discovered how creative, thoughtful and motivated seventh and eighth graders are and found ways to continue challenging them.
Robert and I are HUGE Disney fans! We both grew up watching the “Lion King” movie and Broadway stage show. To see this monstrous production with its glorious musical score come to life at LJCDS was really special for both of us.
Robert: I consider it an honor to watch the students grow into the production. Often what an individual struggles with most at the beginning is what they perform best at the end. Seeing the cast take mere words on a page and bring them to life in their unique way is more satisfying than you can imagine, and why I love what I do.
This show is going to be a hard one to beat! What’s up for next year or what are some possibilities?
Carrie: That’s top secret information!
Robert: As I say to the students: “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?” But in all reality, we’ve already started our day-dreaming processes… But you’ll never get the information out of me!
