Feature: THE LION KING JR Performed by the CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CHARLESTON at the CHARLESTON CIVIC CENTER LITTLE THEATRE

By: Mar. 05, 2018
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Feature: THE LION KING JR Performed by the CHILDREN'S THEATRE OF CHARLESTON at the CHARLESTON CIVIC CENTER LITTLE THEATRE

The Children's Theatre of Charleston is gearing up to present their stirring rendition of the beloved musical The Lion King Jr. in March at the Charleston Civic Center Little Theater. Featuring music and lyrics by Tim Rice and Elton John with a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, this family classic will have you singing along as you watch the story of Simba unfold, following him through tragedy and redemption.

Performance Dates: March 16th & 17th, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. and March 17th, & 18th, 2018 at 2:00 P.M.

Location: Charleston Civic Center Little Theater, 200 Civic Center Drive, Charleston, WV 25301

Ticket Price: $13.00 for Adults and $11.00 for Children. Tickets can be purchased online here

Contact Information: You can contact CTOC via e-mail at ctoc@ctoc.org. You can also fill out a contact form on their website here

Website: Children's Theatre of Charleston or the Facebook Event Page

The Lion King Jr. tells the story of Simba, the child of the Lion King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi, as he grows from a curious cub and heir to the throne to an exile after witnessing a horrifying and deadly stampede brought on by his jealous uncle Scar. What unfolds is a truly memorable and emotional story about the value of family, accepting the responsibility that comes with having power and learning to overcome your fears and regrets. Featuring classic songs from the movies The Lion King and the Lion King 2, such as "Circle of Life," "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," "They Live In You," "Be Prepared," and "Hakuna Matata," this show is sure to thrill the young and the young at heart.

Adam Bryan, who is serving as Director for this production of The Lion King Jr for The Children's Theatre of Charleston, spoke to me about what attracted him to working on this production. "This was one of my favorite Disney movies when I was a kid, and as a play it is a show that requires lots of visuals and uses spectacle to reach its audience," says Bryan, adding, "I knew it would be a fun show to direct."

As for his thoughts on what makes this show special, Bryan told me, "I think the message of us all fitting into this great plan really stood out to me as a child. From the opening song The Circle of Life, this show instantly grabs your attention and thanks to Elton John you can't help but sing along. Even if you don't know the real words," Bryan says, joking. Bryan then explained how the music pulls the audience into the story, even if they don't understand what some of the lyrics, sung in the South African language of Zulu, mean. "Even if you don't know what the words mean, the emotions of the characters is written into every note. It's so easy to be moved and pulled into this story, which is basically Hamlet with lions."

Bryan couldn't pull a show of this magnitude off without the help of a talented and dedicated cast and crew. "The cast of this show is really talented," says Bryan, "there are some heavy subjects in this show that we are asking these kids to try and tackle and they have risen to the task at every turn." A large show takes a large amount of cast members to produce but Bryan assures the audience that the show will go off without a hitch, "With a cast of 67 it's really difficult to keep them all focused and on task, but when they get there, when they are all really clicking, the energy in the room is something truly amazing and I can't wait to share that with an audience."

"The crew I'm working with is great!" said Bryan, praising the work of those who spend countless hours building the sets, props and costumes. "I think theatre is one of the most collaborative arts, and I really enjoy the process of working with talented artists and together create something really amazing. This show has been a fantastic collaborative experience from the get go, and I think it's really going to shine through onstage."

For potential audiences Bryan wanted to convey a message, "I know there is a Jr. on the end of the title of this show, but there are some performances from these 'young' actors that are anything but small. You will not be disappointed in the visual and sometimes moving feat CTOC has prepared for you." In closing Bryan added, "I hope that everyone comes to see this show. I am really proud of what we have created for you!"

Richard Allen is a contributing editor for Broadway World covering theatre throughout WV and the tri-state area. He also writes freelance for various other publications. You can reach Richard at richardallenwrites@gmail.com



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