Cast, crew, production and directors of the Becker Middle School are roaring with pride as they continue rehearsals this week in preparation for the upcoming musical, Disney’s Lion King Jr. later this month.

 

The show dates are for March 18 (7 p.m.), March 19 (4 p.m. and 7 p.m.) and March 20 (2 p.m.) in the Becker (Purrr)forming Arts building.

 

Maddie Johnson will be playing young Simba and Bella Pettit the adult Simba. Young Nala will be played by Grace Tillman and adult Nala by Haley Schwintek.

 

The other main cast members are: Halle Murphy (Rafiki), Greg Rice (Mufasa), Connor Schafer (Zazu), Bella Watts (Sarafina), Tina Gruber (Sarabi), Alexis Drehmel (Banzai), Anna Pancoast (Shenzi), Isaac Boyer (Ed), Arai Webster (timon) and Alex Lumley (Pumbaa).

 

The show is directed by Greg Lynch with vocal direction by Joe Rand and tech directing by Rich Kimmerle.

 

The Lion Jr. production is based on the broadway production that started its run in 1998 and has been running ever since.  It's the second longest running show on Broadway to date.  

“We started the production at the beginning of January and have been running rehearsals after school every day since,” said Director Lynch.  “The music is particularly challenging this year and includes lyrics in a number of African languages as well as English.” 

 

Lynch says the costumes are also a highlight this year and include some actors on stilts and running large puppets.  All the costumes and apparatuses are being constructed by the directors with help from parents.

 

The rest of the cast includes: Brooke Hendrickson, Amelia Kirchner, Emma Kolbinger, Kady Lindbom, Brynn O’Connor, Izzy Swanson, Eliza Tesmer, Cammie Varney, Alexis Gunderson, Abbie Halvorson, Wyatt Hiltner, Kelsey House, Sam Jacobson, Ella Nettestad, Larissa Tollefson, Brooklyn Venberg, Chelsey Carr, Raeanna Cota, Stevauna Dearing, Aaron Halvorson, Sora Hansen, Avery Hanson, Nicholas Hillyer, Nataya Houle, Lexi Makay, David Myres, Angelina Scheele, Grace Schendel, Marshall Steffens, Sarah Warren, Monica Zimmerman, Michaela Bakken, Riley Boyer, Cole Cook, Annika Davidson, Kylie Hanson, TJ Huntington, Karalyn Mae Kolstad, Katie Krisko, Rachel Larson, John Lindbom, Ray Lyon, Paige Mohs, Bodie Moore, Allison Reynolds, Levi Roske, Frankie Schaap, Madelyn Schmitz, Katelynn Struffert and Ellie Wenner.

 

Ticket prices are: $8 for adults and $6 for children.