After school last week, Chapin's Assembly Room, dance studio and music room were transformed into African savannas. In one room, a warthog and a meerkat rehearsed lines. In another, a lion and hyenas practiced a dance number. And in a third, a pride of lionesses learned a song. But these weren't actually wild animals – they were Middle School students preparing for their upcoming performances of "The Lion King!"
"We have a total of 43 students in the cast, which might be a record!" Drama teacher Lindsay Quinn shared. "It's all very exciting!" This popular play will be performed in early November. The cast has been hard at work this month getting everything ready for opening day. Below you will find a snapshot of a rehearsal that took place last week.
In the music room, Music teacher Jessica Beja and her accompanist worked with the Pride Lands group on their songs. As they ran through the numbers, she paused to help the students with their entrances, pitch and rhythm until they were confident enough to make it through the song on their own.
In the Assembly Room, the students playing Scar and the hyenas worked with Middle School Humanities teacher Lynette Engle to learn their choreography for "Be Prepared." As the music played, the hyenas crawled and marched as their leader, Scar, eerily paced around them.
"When you are crawling in, you should be slinking. Remember, you are hyenas!" Ms. Engle advised. "When Scar says the word 'attention,' slowly go up to your partner and do one annoying thing," she added. The hyenas obliged, happily pacing and giggling like hyenas do.
And finally, in the Dance Studio, the students playing Timon and Pumbaa practiced their lines for a scene in which they come across Young Simba in the desert. Ms. Quinn offered guidance on everything from the timing of lines to facial expressions and movements. "This is part of the transition between the Pride Lands and the jungle - everything here is big and dramatic and comedic. So when you sniff Simba, it should be really exaggerated," she shared with Timon. The young actors carefully took notes on their scripts as they went along and the scene continued to improve.
As this rehearsal wonderfully illustrates, the talented "Lion King" cast members are working hard – and having lots of fun – as they get ready for opening night.