‘Lion King Jr.’ features cast of 30 youth

A cast of 30 young actors representing seven elementary and middle schools in Hamilton County is presenting four performances of “Lion King Jr.” on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 3-5.

This youth production is based on the Broadway musical inspired by Disney’s animated film “The Lion King.” All these students are involved in theatrical classes of Skwalking Heads Productions in Bachman Community Center on Signal Mountain, where the musical will be presented.

“This has been a wonderful collaboration with Michael Dexter, music teacher at East Lake Academy; (African drummer) Kofi Mawuko; Jason Doan of Jason Doan Studios; and Michael McCamish, puppeteer for the Bluebird,” says Colleen Laliberte, “Lion King Jr.” director.

“Jason, Michael and I most recently worked together as lead artists with Wayne White’s Giant Generals on Glass Street, which were featured in the Glass Street Live celebration and parade and are part of the Wayne-O-Rama exhibit. Kofi came to rehearsals and worked with the students on African rhythms and dance,” she says. Noah Huseman, a music theater student at Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts, also taught choreography.

“Lion King Jr.” is written specifically as a youth production, and it follows the same plot as the movie. Simba the lion cub is tricked by his uncle, Scar, into several misadventures that ultimately lead to the death of Simba’s father, King Mufasa. After his plot succeeds and Scar becomes king of the jungle, he banishes young Simba into the desert. Simba later returns to take his rightful place as his father’s successor.

Ethan Bullock plays Simba. The role of lioness Nala has been double cast: Zoey MacDonald and Tilleigh Nazor Comer play young Nala, while Allie Dwyer and Sarah Murphy are Nala as an adult. Izzy Wood and Annabel Hudgins share the role of Scar.

The musical’s most beloved songs are included in the junior version: “Circle of Life,” ‘I Just Can’t Wait To Be King,” “Hakuna Matata” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?”

As in the Broadway show, the animals are portrayed both by actors in costume with masks or face paints and by puppets. Masks by Mark Fults, originally made for Girls Preparatory School’s production of “Lion King Jr.,” are enhanced with costuming by Joy Worley and Sheila Albritton.

Tickets may either be purchased at the door or reservations may be made by email at skwalking@hotmail.com.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Tess Pope, a sixth-grader at Signal Mountain Middle-High School, plays Timon in Skwalking Heads’ production of “Lion King Jr.”