Disney’s “The Lion King” has captivated the imagination of audiences around the world, and now, for the first time ever, Wy’east Middle School will perform this one-of-a-kind musical. The African savannah comes to life on stage with Simba, Rafiki and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle and back again in this coming-of-age tale.
Show dates are April 29-30 and at 7 p.m., and April 30-May 1 at 2 p.m. All shows take place in the Wy’east Middle School Performing Arts Center. Doors open one hour before the show; tickets are available at the door and are $3 for children and students, and $5 for adults.
Wy’east’s Jennifer Graves directs a cast of 40 students, tech, artists and directors, including Hood River High School assistant directors. She wrote and won a grant last summer through Musical Theater International that allowed Wy’east to be in a group of small schools given rights to perform the musical for the first time on stage for audiences. The grant provided royalty rights, scripts and music.
“The African music, language and dance has been a challenge but will leave the audience wondering how students learned all of the material in just nine weeks,” said Graves in a press release. “The show is double cast to allow for more student involvement, so come and see both casts. Each contain equally amazing talent.”
Music and lyrics were written by Elton John and Tim Rice, and the book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi. The musical is based on the Broadway Production Directed by Julie Taymor.
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Students can get a dollar off admission for the Saturday 2 p.m. matinee when they attend the Gorge Kids Health Fair in the Wy’east gymnasium between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The health fair is free to kids of all ages, and is the Extended Application (EA) project of Hood River Valley High School junior Morgan Graves.
The fair will include freebies, along with a coupon for a dollar off their admission to “The Lion King Jr.”
In addition, Wy’east students will also be donating 10 percent of the proceeds from the Saturday matinee to the Smart Reading Program to support continued reading in the community.
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