Children's Playhouse of Maryland to Present Disney's THE LION KING, JR.

The Children's Playhouse of Maryland, Inc., in residence at CCBC Essex, opens its spring season with Disney's The Lion King, Jr.

Performances will be given weekends March 4-5, 11-12, and 18- 19. Additional shows will be held at 4:30 p.m. March 4, 12 and 18 and at 7 p.m. March 11.

*The 4:30 p.m. show March 12 is a special Sensory-friendly performance.
**The 1 p.m. show on March 18 will be sign language interpreted by students in the CCBC Catonsville American Sign Language certificate program.

Online tickets at www.cpmarts.org are $10. Call the Box Office at 443-840-2787 (ARTS) for special discount tickets, not available on-line, for groups of eight or more-$8; Seniors (60+)-$8: CCBC Community-$8; CPM Actor List-$5. Advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended for this show. Tickets will be available at the door only if space permits.

Based on both the Disney film and Broadway production, the book for The Lion King, Jr. was scripted by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi. The Broadway production featured original music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice. Liz Boyer Hunnicutt directs this CPM production, with musical direction by Charlotte Evansand choreography by Amanda Dickson.

The musical opens with newborn Simba being welcomed into the pride by his father, King Mufasa. Simba quickly grows into a curious youth who is easily persuaded by his evil uncle, Scar, to visit the forbidden Elephant Graveyard. Along with Nala, he sets out on this journey. Scar recruits a pack of hyenas to do away with his brother and nephew so he can be king. Simba is saved by his father and escapes into the jungle. After Scar takes over as head of the pride, everything falls apart. When Nala discovers Simba is still alive in the jungle, the two save the Pridelands from Scar.

Thirty-five student actors from Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Harford County appear in this CPM production. Featured are Jules Einhorn of Baltimore, Md. (Simba), Grace Glennon of Towson, Md. (Nala), Sam Whitman of Baltimore, Md. (King Mufasa) and Dylan Morrison of Perry Hall, Md. (Scar). Ryann Nicole Reich of Edgewood, Md. (Timon), Nyani Hawkins of Joppa, Md. (Rafiki), Claire Schafer of Perry Hall, Md. (young Nala), Sam Patterson of Towson, Md. (Pumbaa), Emily Davis of Baltimore, Md. (Shenzi), Jacqueline Hicks of Baltimore, Md. (Zazu), M'Kaila Brown of Essex, Md. (Banzai), Zachary Byrd of Halethorpe, Md. (Ed), Sammy Jungwirth of Nottingham, Md. (young Simba) are also featured.

Other cast members are: Evelyn, Erin and Nora Acerno of Bel Air, Md., Nora Walter of Fallston, Md., Molly Foggo of Lutherville, Md., Sara Ward of Perry Hall, Md., Ethan Holler of Baltimore, Md., Gabriella Galoni of Middle River, Md., Gwen Lowell of Baltimore, Md., Bella Comotto, Colton and Gracie Roberts and Allyson Gray of Parkville, Md., Addison Barry, Emily Ricci and Mason Petr of Nottingham, Md., Amy and Sophie Claudio of Rosedale, Md., Rose Glennon, Kathryn Schudel, Maia Vong, Royce Hartin, Summer Reed and Brooke Henshaw of Towson, Md.

Performances are held in the CCBC Essex Administration Building Lecture Hall, near parking lot 4, a wheelchair-accessible facility. Please request accommodations at the time of ticket purchase. For more information, please call the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-2787 (T-F), or the CPM Administrative Office at 443-840-2426. For directions, go to www.ccbcmd.edu.

Children's Playhouse of Maryland, Inc. is a not-for-profit community theatre dedicated to youth performers ages 18 and under.

Since 1957, CCBC, which now educates nearly 63,000 students each year, has opened the doors to accessible, affordable, high-quality education inspiring brilliance among generations of area residents. Over the past 60 years, hundreds of thousands of students have made their starts, earned degrees, launched and advanced careers, transformed their lives, and the lives of others, through CCBC experiences. Visit www.ccbcmd.edu/brilliant for more about CCBC's 2017 diamond anniversary.

CCBC is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (267-284-5000). The Middle States Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.