Since January, students involved with Robert C. Byrd High School's theatre department have been rehearsing, designing and building props for their spring performance of, "The Lion King Jr."
The cast performed the production of "The Lion King Jr." for Lincoln Middle School and Washington Irving Middle School Wednesday with public performances set for the rest of the week.
Since January, students involved with Robert C. Byrd High School's theatre department have been rehearsing, designing and building props for their spring performance of, "The Lion King Jr."
Staff photo by Daisy Gibbons
The cast performed the production of "The Lion King Jr." for Lincoln Middle School and Washington Irving Middle School Wednesday with public performances set for the rest of the week.
Staff photo by Daisy Gibbons
Emma Bell is Scar in RCB High School’s production of “The Lion King Jr.”
Staff photo by Daisy Gibbons
Nearly 85 students from Robert C. Byrd, Washington Irving Middle and Nutter Fort Elementary are taking part in the production of “The Lion King Jr.”
Staff photo by Daisy Gibbons
RCB junior, Elijah Simpson, was casted as Zazu. A Hornbill bird that is Mufasa's most trusted advisor.
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WV News) — Since January, students involved with Robert C. Byrd High School’s theater department have been rehearsing, designing and building props for their spring performance of “The Lion King Jr.”
The cast performed the musical for Lincoln Middle School and Washington Irving Middle School students Wednesday, with public performances set for the rest of the week.
The show is a shorter version of the Broadway musical “The Lion King.”
The RCB production is being directed by English/theater teacher Ryan Turner and sponsored by Gabriel Rhodes, who is also the technical director.
“We’ve done a really good job of doing a lot of artistic work with this and shifting from just doing standard theater and putting on an art show for everybody,” Turner said.
Students have learned various skills while preparing the show, he said.
“It builds all kinds of facets, not just in the arts but worldly skills,” Turner said. “It gives them not just the ability to get onstage and perform, but also we have makeup, hair and front-of-house crew, which helps students with managerial skills, and we have building and prop crew and art design.”
Nearly 85 students from RCB, WI Middle and Nutter Fort Elementary are taking part in the production, Turner said.
Rhodes said the production is something special.
“This has been one of the most interesting shows we’ve ever done, in large part because it is one of the most collaborative and fun shows,” he said. “It is student collaborated, directed and led.”
Students have had the opportunity to learn rig lighting, program lighting and how to operate things in the theater from professionals in the community, Rhodes said.
“We picked this show in part because we wanted to give our technical students the chance to really invest themselves in the show and create on their own,” Rhodes said.
RCB senior Kaleigh Nutt, who portrays Rafiki, has been performing since second grade.
“I actually started here (RCB) as Gretel in the ‘Sound of Music’ when I was starting my little career,” she said. “We did ‘Mean Girls’ last year, and I played Regina. It’s been definitely a fun ride.”
Nutt said she’s especially enjoyed the “The Lion King Jr.”
“It is a really fun show, and it is one of those shows you can sing along to and have fun and definitely put a smile on your face,” she said.
Elijah Simpson, an RCB junior, portrays Zazu.
“I’m really excited because last year, I was ensemble, and I was lucky enough to get this role and I’m really happy about it,” he said. “It is so much fun being this character that is not as serious as other characters, so I can bring some light to the show.”
Simpson said he hopes the audience gets a closer look at what musical theater is by watching the show.
“I hope they experience and understand that this is really nice art and how much effort that goes into it,” Simpson said. “It is a really unique show with a lot of color.”
Turner praised the students’ efforts in the production.
“The students and the crew have done an amazing job,” he said. “I am so proud of my cast and crew.”
Public performances of “The Lion King Jr.” will be given Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
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