Interview: Reece Culverhouse of DISNEY'S THE LION KING JR. at Southgate Community Players Young People's Theatre says It's all Fun and Family-Oriented!

Southgate Community Players Young People's Theatre production of Disney's The Lion King Jr. opens Friday, September 14th in Southgate. The show takes the audience on a journey to the African savannah in this classic Disney tale that follows the adventurous Simba, a young lion cub, whose destiny to become king puts him in imminent danger to his Uncle Scar's desire for the throne. BroadwayWorld Detroit had a chance to speak Reece Culverhouse who plays Nala, Simba's best friend in the show, before it opens this weekend.

BroadwayWorld Detroit: Can you give our readers a brief background of yourself and then your theatre career as an introduction?

Reece Culverhouse: I am a student and play piano and ukulele. I study voice with Tamara Marla Laflin. I have been in about 15 shows. My most recent show was Seussical Jr. where I played Gertrude McFuzz. Before that I was in Peter Pan Jr. and I was Wendy.

BWW Detroit: How you would describe Disney's The Lion King Jr. in your own words?

Reece Culverhouse: I would describe it as fun! There are a lot of similarities to the movie.

BWW Detroit: How would you describe your character, Nala, in your own words?

Reece Culverhouse: Nala can hold her own. She is a little stubborn and she will not backdown from a challenge. She cares a lot for her family, for her pride, and for her best friend, Simba.

BWW Detroit: Do you have any special similarities between Nala and yourself?

Reece Culverhouse: I care a lot for my family, too.

BWW Detroit: Do you have any special pre-show or post-show rituals?

Reece Culverhouse: We do an energy circle before every show. This may sound really weird, but after every show we like jump up and down and yell, "DUB! DUB! DUB!" We started doing it because we have double shows some of the days, and we've just continued doing it after every show.

BWW Detroit: Do you have favorite moment or song in the show?

Reece Culverhouse: My favorite moment in the show is when Simba and Nala reunite. I just think it's a really fun scene. My favorite song is "He Lives in You."

BWW Detroit: Why should people come see Southgate Community Players Young People Theatre's production of Disney's The Lion King Jr.?

Reece Culverhouse: It's really fun! The costumes are inspired by the Broadway production and the sets are really cool! It's all fun and family-oriented. It's an all-around good show!

You can connect with Southgate Community Players at facebook.com/scponstage.

Disney's The Lion King Jr. opens Friday, September 14th in Southgate. For more information and tickets, visit www.scponstage.com.

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