Over 50 Whitefield seventh and eighth-grade students joined together to create a live version of the Disney movie The Lion King, a movie they have grown up watching for years. Whether they saw the Disney classic in theaters or on a screen in a moving van on the way to vacation, the student drama team knew every character - Mufasa, Rafiki, Scar, Nala, and Simba, and also the words to most of the songs such as Circle of Life and Hakuna Matata.
The familiarity of the movie certainly gave seventh and eighth-grade students a sense of confidence as they performed The Lion King, Jr. to four delighted audiences at two evening performances, one matinee, and one show in front of Lower School students during a school day. As usual, students rose to the occasion to give audiences an evening of incredibly enjoyable entertainment, and all-out fun.
What was apparent to all four audiences was that each member of the cast and each stage crew member had practiced for many hours and knew their stuff. What may have been less apparent; however, is that the production of The Lion King, Jr. was not only a night of quality entertainment, but a true representation of what makes Whitefield’s drama program an unforgettable learning experience for students and a second home to many.
Through Whitefield’s drama program, students have found a risk-free place to explore their own talents, grow creatively, and build enduring friendships. Parents have found a place to support their love for the arts, encourage their kids, and enjoy an outlet for their own creativity. Here are just a few of the ways that The Lion King Jr. was not only an incredible performance, but an experience of creative growth and a giving community:
• Eighth grader Will Thomas designed all the lights for the show, capturing the hues and nuances of an African prideland;
• Junior Emma Mixon designed and executed make-up for the cast, transforming ordinary faces into lions, wart hogs, and hyenas;
• Senior Brynn Thomas and freshman Ansleigh Brown supported the Middle School back stage crew with stage direction and training new stage managers for the drama program;
• Parent Chris Herschend boarded a plane, flew to Virginia, rented a UHaul and brought costumes back to Georgia when the rental company was unable to get them to Whitefield on time;
• Parents Joe and Valerie Keith constructed a beautiful (and huge!) African sun for the set and designed the programs;
• Jocelyn Bershelon constructed a footwall to hide lights and wiring for the back of the stage and make the set look more beautiful;
• Sophomore Lucy Eichelberger and junior Jessica Burnett choreographed the flips and turns and dances for the cast;
• Wendy Nour costumed over forty students;
• Carrie Browne organized volunteers for concessions, meals for students, and many of the logistics that make a production of this caliber possible;
• Cheri Dourron took beautiful headshot pictures of the entire cast and crew;
• Dr. Jennifer Pinkett-Smith had a connection to Nia Holloway, the actress playing Nala in the
nationwide tour of The Lion King, and arranged a FaceTime meeting with her and the entire cast and crew. Nia spoke about her time on Broadway and touring with shows and even sang with eighth grader Caroline Brown who played Nala in Whitefield’s production.
Marsh said, “As you can see, Whitefield fine arts are full of parents and teachers who place a high value on service and truly enjoy the collaborative nature of the arts. Our parent and studentvolunteers are the heartbeat of this program. Having Upper School students work on these shows allows their unique God-given talents to shine within the Whitefield community. When students, teachers, and parents all join forces for a common goal of glorifying the Lord through theater arts, it creates a theater ‘family’ and we are blessed to have a thriving theater family at Whitefield.”