The Pridelands were awash with palpable excitement leading up to the opening of Lion King Jr, and the build-up to this long-awaited production did not disappoint. 

We opened to a ROAResome first night on 25 November, building to wonderful final crescendo of singing and celebration on 27 November. Over 360 students were involved, led by a main cast of 29 dedicated students, assisted by a very capable group of four stage managers and watched by almost 1 400 audience members. The MPH was transformed and everything the light touched was changed into a wonderous land of happiness and delight.

This production of Lion King Jr was organised by the incomparable team consisting of the brilliant Emma Buzo, the director, produced by the remarkable Stacey Rosenfeld, conducted by the superb Diana Springford and with vocal training by the passionate Kym Parrish. The main cast’s gruelling schedules of rehearsals from the start of Term 2, and the class item rehearsals from Term 3, certainly paid off. The cast shone and shimmered on stage bringing the story of the Lion King Jr to life, from Simba and Nala as playful cubs, to meeting and the making of new some friends (Timon and Pumba) to finishing with Simba assuming his rightful position as head and leader of the Pridelands. The students’ acting and singing elicited amazement, laughter and affection from the audience. 

This main cast was well supported by the grade items of Year K baby animals, Year 1 stars, Year 2 jungle people, Year 3 lions, Year 4 hyenas, Year 5 jungle people with Year 6 leading the stampede as wildebeest. All of the singing and dramatics carefully orchestrated by Brooke Oldfield, Alexander Hone and Elizabeth Birrell. 

An undertaking like Lion King Jr could not have happened without the support from far and wide within and outside the Emanuel School community. Thank you to the Class Teachers, the Maintenance Team, Katya Sacks, Lara Kepitis, Renee Segal, Ofer Levy and Jennifer Opit, the School Executive, Administration and Marketing teams, parents and students who without all of their energy, time and saying Hakuna Matata this production would not have been such a success.

So, this brings the story to a close, it’s the circle of life (of a production, after all) and as we pack away the glitter, trees, grassland, scripts, musical scores and animal ears and tails, with one last ROAR we sign off… until next time…