Notre Dame's Theatre Department is in the final week of rehearsals and preparations for its upcoming production of The Lion King Jr., which opens Friday, Feb. 5, for a two-day, three-performance run at Lake Orion High School’s Performing Arts Center.
Meredith Gifford, Notre Dame's theatre program director said that this is the first year that the school is taking the middle division show off-campus.
"It has been quite an undertaking, but a rewarding one," she said. "Every set piece had to be built small enough to be able to move in a truck to Lake Orion High School and still be able to fill up a much larger stage than usual. We also have invited 29 students from the lower division to participate in this musical, bringing the total number of actors to 63 on stage. In addition, there are another eight students from our upper division working backstage. This is truly an all-school event.”
The show is choreographed by current parent, Donna Piper. She said she saw The Lion King on Broadway over Christmas break. "It reminded me that this show has such a powerful message that can reach someone at every age,” Piper said.
Disney’s The Lion King has captivated the imagination of audiences around the world. The African savannah comes to life with this adaptation based on the Broadway musical directed by Julie Taymor. It has an unforgettable cast of characters including Simba, Rafiki and Timon as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle and back again in this inspiring coming-of-age tale.
Shows are scheduled for Friday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 6, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Lake Orion High School Performing Arts Center, 495 Scripps Rd., Lake Orion.
Tickets are $10 for students/seniors and $12 for adults and are available at showtix4u.com or at the door. All ages are encouraged to attend!
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." The Marist Fathers and Brothers sponsor NDPMA's Catholic identity and manages its educational program. Notre Dame is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.