MANSFIELD – Be prepared for sensational performances of “The Lion King Jr.” for the next two weekends at the Mansfield Playhouse.
A cast of 40 local children, ranging in age from 5 to 18, will bring to life the classic Disney tale from the African savanna, where a future king is born.
“The Lion King” frenzy first began with the animated film in 1994, continued with an award-winning Broadway show that is one of New York’s longest-running performances, and reignited this summer with a photo-realistic movie remake.
The story of “The Lion King” follows Simba, who idolizes his father, Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny.
But Scar, Mufasa’s jealous brother, has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is soon ravaged with betrayal and tragedy, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. But with help from a pair of new friends, Simba must figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.
“It’s a classic,” said Doug Wertz, artistic director of the Mansfield Playhouse. “It is a circular novel, it starts and ends with the circle of life, and it has wonderful life lessons within the story. You still get those wonderful emotions, the evil dark side of things and a good bite of karma. And of course the music.”
Though generations of people are familiar with the story of “The Lion King,” Wertz assures the Playhouse staging of the classic show will be a fresh interpretation. Wertz himself has never seen the Broadway version of the movie.
“This particular script says try not to replicate what was done on Broadway,” he said. “Come with your own stuff, be creative. When you encourage it like that, I’m grateful for bringing directorship back, because that’s the way it’s supposed to be. It’s your artistic vision with the writer’s works.”
Rehearsals for the “Lion King Jr.” performance began in mid-August. The show has been an extremely collaborative experience, with many cast members and their families pitching in.
Wertz said lead costumer Candy Boyd and a handful of volunteers spent hundreds of hours creating the 76 costumes worn in the show, including eight to 10 hours apiece spent on the paper maché lion masks.
One costume in particular, a puppet of Mufasa’s winged advisor, Zazu, was created by 11-year-old Payne Schwartz, a student at Discovery School.
Schwartz has been studying puppetry and sewing for the last 6 years with Barbara Damron and Queen Bee Puppetry, and has made close to 20 puppets. His Zazu puppet was created using materials like a Slinky, a Nerf football and feathers, and took more than 40 hours to make.
More student involvement came with choreography. The Playhouse entrusted 15-year-old Chloe O’Brien and 16-year-old Leandra Viscioni, both alums of the youth theatre program, to create the movements for “Lion King Jr.” as their first forays into choreography.
“We are so proud of the work that these two young women have done on this show, dedicating many hours to the creation of the movements on their own before coming in to teach the cast at rehearsals,” said Playhouse theater manager Tammy Wertz. “We are working hard to mentor the next generation and pass the torch.”
“The Lion King Jr.” will serve as the season opener for the Mansfield Playhouse, the first time a youth show has opened a season. The Playhouse has seen great success with youth shows in the past, even adding additional performances due to sell-outs.
Wertz treats each youth show with the same gravitas as an adult show.
“We always want to make this a theatrical experience for the kids, they need to know what theatre really is,” he said. “These programs don’t necessarily work with set pieces or multimedia, but we add the lights and the props and the sound.”
Back as artistic director after a two-year hiatus, Wertz said he is happy to be back where his heart lies, in the arts. He added working with the “Lion King Jr.” cast has been a joy.
“The kids grow, and to get them there can be a challenge, but when they understand and they feel it, they just want to keep giving,” Wertz said. “That growth, I get very passionate about that. It’s very rewarding.”
“The Lion King Jr.” at the Mansfield Playhouse opens Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. with additional performances on Oct. 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 27 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at the Mansfield Playhouse website or by calling the box office at 419-522-2883 any time between 1 and 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
