A theatre company at a Cedar Hills-area elementary school is back, this time with its largest ever undertaking.
鈥檚 version of 鈥淟ion King Junior鈥� hits the stage from Monday, April 24 to Thursday, April 27.
Members of the young cast and crew have been working on the colourful Disney classic since last September, according to director/teacher Steve Swaddling.
鈥淭hey first had to learn the African language and songs presented in the show,鈥� Swaddling told the Now-Leader. 鈥淭hen they auditioned in October and have been working the choreography and finally the blocking on stage. Many of them did all this while also learning and performing a second show, 鈥楾he Boxcar Children鈥� at Christmas.鈥�
The school鈥檚 theatre company was launched in 2002, after its all-school productions had run out of steam. From then on, Swaddling decided to create shows involving only students who wanted to be part of an after-school theatre club.
The company鈥檚 two yearly shows are student-run productions 鈥� with the help of adults, of course, including Swaddling, costume designer Susan Ottewell, set designer Jessica Oostergo, lighting by Darryl Strohan, choreography by Krystal Naderi, dance instruction from Beatrice Bengtson with Dance Barn in Langley and volunteers from Blanche Macdonald school of makeup.
鈥淭his has been the largest undertaking we have ever tried as a theatre company,鈥� Swaddling said. 鈥淥f course, many teachers have been helping out and keeping everything running behind the scenes. This has been a labour of love for everyone involved, and the end is near. All that is left is performing before live audiences.鈥�
For 鈥淟ion King Junior,鈥� the young actors have rehearsed six hours a week, culminating in 12-hour weeks leading up to show dates. The cast of 36 actors, along with the 14-person crew, will stage nine performances over four days.
鈥漁ver half of the actors are new to our stage and are in Grade 4 and Grade 5,鈥� Swaddling noted. Also, the show features 18 ensemble actors playing the animals and various creatures.
In feature roles, cast members are Kiara Hernandez (as Young Simba), Brinda Pramod (Young Nala), Andrew Esteron (Mufasa) Prisha Guha (Scar), Akash Lalli (Old Simba), Jiya Notta (Old Nala), Dyllan Garcia (Pumbaa), Jaslien Sangha (Timon), Jasmyn Mahal (Sarabi), Rivini Madawanarachchi (Banzi), Danielle Garcia (Shenzi), Nailah Ali (Ed), Karla Alvarez (Zazu), Emma Mapanao (Rafiki) and Angela Ordoyo (Sarafina).
A 鈥渉uge thank-you鈥� goes to show sponsors, Swaddling said, including BC Retired Teachers鈥� Association, UPS, HollyNorth, Telus Community Connections, John O鈥橬eal, Reliable Rentals, Cloverdale Paint and Canada Scaffold.
鈥淲e couldn鈥檛 do it without our sponsors who each year contribute to the overall success of our theatre program,鈥� he noted.
Tickets are $6 for the evening 鈥淟ion King Junior鈥� shows, which start at 7 p.m. The school is located at 13055 Huntley Ave., 性视界传媒, and the theatre company is on the web at .
In previous years, the company has staged junior productions of 鈥淎laddin,鈥� 鈥淎nnie,鈥� 鈥淚nto The Woods,鈥� 鈥淎lice in Wonderland,鈥� 鈥淢urder by the Book,鈥� 鈥淭oy Camp,鈥� 鈥淥liver Twist鈥� and other shows.
tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
