APS Column: Ellis Middle School presents ‘The Lion King, Junior’
Published 5:42 pm Friday, March 28, 2025
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By Rhonda Regan
Ellis Middle School Director
This weekend is your opportunity to see a shortened version of the award-winning Broadway musical Disney’s “The Lion King.”
The Ellis Middle School drama department is proud to present “The Lion King, Junior” on Saturday, March 29, at 2 p.m. in the Ellis Auditorium. Based on the 1994 animated film, the “Lion King” tells the story of a young lion cub named Simba who is forced to leave his home after the death of his father. The stage musical features actors in costumes, including tall giraffes and menacing hyenas, as well as majestic lions. Music for the musical is by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice and book adaptation by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi.
Production for the Ellis musical began in January with after-school rehearsals and a few Saturday rehearsals too. The cast and crew is comprised of seventh- and eighth-grade students from Ellis. Many of the students are new to the theater, either on or off, but many are also veterans and have performed in previous Ellis stage productions.
Returning to the stage are veteran actors Sara Gora, Emma Potter, Heather Meyer, Mollie Johnson, Zarrah Williamson, Achang Okweari, Aubrey Learn, Mear Obang, Mariella Burrows, and Joanna Ajavon, all of whom are in eighth grade. Returning seventh graders are Louisa Sorenson, Spencer Riedl, and Rose Bracken. New to the stage are Jazzlynn Landry, Maile Bunig, Scarlett Davis, Valeria Garcia, Esmeralda Alejo Garcia, Danna Albarron, Nypiro Olayi, Valerie Babicheva, Martha Quinones Balbuena, Diego Lemus Rivas, Bella Bai, Peyton Branden, JP Wolphagen, Cola Poe, Sandy Lin, Joanna Gutierrez, and Elyse Shurtleff.
The costumes for the musical were purchased as a plot from another Minnesota school district who had purchased them from the Duluth Playhouse. All the “heads” are made of plaster and a paper-mâché form built upon bicycle helmets that strap onto the actors’ heads. Even though the heads appear heavy, they are actually rather lightweight. Scar’s costume was designed to display the depravity of the character through the use of a visible rib cage. To carry the illusion of animals, all the actors have their faces painted for their character.
The set crew of Cung Peng, Grace Bo, Lucas Vasquez Beckman, Destinee Infante, Owen Mayers, Gloria Bergstrom, Elizabeth Reh, Rosie Meh, Rylee Carter, Augustine Reh, Anna Lual, and Jacob Plummer have been busy creating Pride Rock, the Elephant Graveyard, Scar’s Cave, and the jungle; all the main locations where the action takes place. The production will utilize every inch of the Ellis stage (including the aisles) to allow for a more immersive experience.
Lighting the production has been a challenge since the main light system in the auditorium has been inoperative since last fall. Directors Rhonda Regan and Kim Zerke purchased LED flood lights and attached them to 10 foot stands made from 2×4’s which, along with the added support of follow spots which were borrowed from the Matchbox Children’s Theatre, allows the action on stage to be visible to the audience.
Tickets for the show are $6 for adults and $3 for students and can be purchased in advance at https://gofan.co/app/school/MN22459. There is also a streaming option available.
So, come on out for an awesome time at the theatre as the Ellis Middle School Drama Club presents Disney’s “The Lion King, Junior!”
