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MUSICAL SELECTIONS Circle of Life with Nants’ Ingonyama ...................................... Rafiki, Full Cast Grasslands Chant ........................................ Young Simba, Mufasa, Ensemble The Lioness Hunt ................................................. Sarafina, Sarabi, Lionesses I Just Can’t Wait to Be King .........Young Simba, Young Nala, Zazu, Ensemble Be Prepared ............................................... Scar, Shenzi, Banzai, Ed, Hyenas They Live in You ............................... Mufasa, Young Simba, Rafiki, Ensemble The Stampede .................................... Young Simba, Scar, Mufasa, Ensemble The Mourning ..........Sarabi, Sarafina, Young Nala, Rafiki, Lionesses, Hyenas Hakuna Matata ...................Timon, Pumbaa, Young Simba, Simba, Ensemble Shadowland ..................................................................Nala, Rafiki, Lionesses Can You Feel the Love Tonight ....... Timon, Pumbaa, Simba, Nala, Ensemble He Lives in You ...................................................................... Rafiki, Ensemble Luau Hawaiian Treat ................................................................ Timon, Pumbaa Finale .................................................................................................. Full Cast
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CAST OF CHARACTERS Rafiki ..........................................................................................Eleni Linardos Mufasa .......................................................................................... Peter Bailey Sarabi ..........................................................................................Abbey Kittles Zazu .............................................................................................Andrew Hunt Scar ...........................................................................................Noah Chesshir Young Simba ...................................................................................Colin Carn Simba ........................................................................................ Jordan Rogers Young Nala ............................................................................... Alyse Linardos Nala ..............................................................................................Natalie Berry Sarafina ..............................................................................Dominique Rogers Banzai ................................................................................................Ben Hunt Shenzi ............................................................................. Vanessa Hagenbuch Ed .................................................................................................Will Hasecke Timon ......................................................................................... Landen Hilton Pumba ........................................................................................Charlie Jahns Lionesses Blessing Arimany, Anna Deever, Hannah Koyl, Evie Oehlers, Samaira Peterson, Saria Peterson, Octavia Phelps, Meghan Roberts, Emma Shaffer, Emylee Siebold Antelope Halla Emmons, Adelaide Powell, Ava Seall Hyenas Mary Cunningham, Sean Davidge, Anna Deever, Kason Dennis, Hannah Koyl, Owen Larson, Gloria Lopez, Sophia Lopez, Evie Oehlers, Meghan Roberts, Taylor Scott Ensemble Avery Boyer, Cailynn Buehler, Taylor Compston, Mary Cunningham, Sean Davidge, Kason Dennis, Claire Dilts, Leah Dilts, Halla Emmons, Mia Gastineau, Alijah Jeske, Anneliese Jeske, Ari Jeske, Arlo Larson, Owen Larson, Gloria Lopez, Sophia Lopez, Alayna Nash, Alivia Penwell, Adelaide Powell, Colette Powell, Lilly Roberts, Ava Seall, Taylor Scott, Maddie Vito Featured Drummers Avery Boyer, Sean Davidge, Alivia Penwell, Samaira Peterson, Saria Peterson, Adelaide Powell Featured Violinists Ari Jeske, Gloria Lopez, Sophia Lopez 4
PRODUCTION TEAM Director .....................................................................................Krissy Hartman Assistant Director .......................................................................... Ian Williams Music Director ...............................................................................Kent Brooks Assistant Music Director/ Conductor ......................................... Tim Compston Choreographer ................................................................................ Paul Smith Assistant Choreographer .......................................................... William Deever Education Coordinator .................................................................. Lauren Allen Stage Manager ..............................................................................Jaidin Smith Backstage Manager ................................................................... Carissa Dallis Set Designers .................................................. Chris Hazel and John Linardos Backdrop Painter ............................. Project Jericho (designed by Cera Marie) Technical Director ................................................................... Jason Hanrahan Technical Team ................................... Isaac Berry, CJ Buehler, Curtis Falloon, Hannah Mattison, Annika Ruggles Hair and Makeup .......................................Jordan Keating and Noah Chesshir Costume Designer .................................................................. Terry McGonigle Mask Designer ............................................................ Susan and Andy Kittles Backstage Workers ..........................................Megan Nolan, Desmond Ratliff
SPECIAL THANKS! The John Legend Theater Project Jericho and Lauren Houser Chris Hazel John and Kaye Linardos Springfield Arts Council Board of Directors Mark Cummings Terry McGonigle Gary Geis School of Dance Brad and Laura Boyer Susan and Andy Kittles Megan Nolan Jennifer Jeske EXTRA SPECIAL THANKS TO Parents and Families of Disney’s The Lion King Jr Cast and Crew for their help creating our beautiful costumes and sets! 5
FROM THE DIRECTOR Welcome to our Youth Arts Ambassador production of Disney’s The Lion King Jr. Our cast, stage crew, technicians, and production team consisting of over 60 students from Clark, Green, Champaign, and Madison Counties. Our young actors have had a phenomenal time developing these complex and crazy characters over the last eight weeks! We are grateful to everyone who had a hand in making this production possible. Four incredibly hard working student assistants (Tim Compston, William Deever, Ian Williams, and Lauren Allen) took on the challenging tasks of leading their peers, serving as exceptional role models and teachers for the cast, and we are very proud of their hard work on this production. As the curtain opens, you will notice the beautiful backdrop of an African savanna. We are fortunate to again partner with Project Jericho, who created this stunning backdrop for our production! This partnership serves to provide artistic opportunities for the students at Project Jericho, adding the perfect final touch to our production. Thank you to artist Cera Marie, Project Jericho staff, and the Project Jericho young artists! Our show also incorporates some incredible animal masks and puppets created by our Youth Arts Ambassador parents. You’ll see lions, birds, and even a couple of elephants run past you as we journey to the Pridelands. We are extremely grateful to Susan and Andy Kittles, John and Kaye Linardos, Brad and Laura Boyer, Terry McGonigle, Jennifer Jeske, and everyone else that helped us bring these impressive visual elements to life. Our young actors are privileged to present their performance in this beautiful and professional venue, The John Legend Theatre. The generosity of the community, the Springfield City School District, and Mr. John Legend, provides our Youth Arts Ambassadors with a state-of-the-art performance space to learn their craft and showcase their talents. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in creating this extraordinary space for our young artists! Finally, thank you for your attendance tonight, and for supporting the Springfield Arts Council’s Youth Arts Ambassadors program. The arts provide opportunities to use critical thinking skills and explore diverse perspectives. The Springfield Arts Council strives to spread awareness of the importance of arts education throughout our community every day! We hope you will visit us again in February when we present The Bullying Collection, an evening of short plays which speak to an important concern among today’s youth. For more information on our Youth Arts Ambassador program, please email krissy@springfieldartscouncil.org Now, we invite you to sit back and relax as we journey to Africa, where lions rule and everyone has no worries! Hakuna Matata! Krissy Hartman 6
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