When we did it, we didn't try to recreate the Broadway version. We had a VERY limited budget. We didn't do masks/headdresses or body puppetry at all. We were afraid they'd look bad, and that our audience would spend most of the show comparing it to the expensive Broadway photos they'd seen. Instead, I had my students research about different African cultures, focusing on apparel and face paint, and our costumes utilized fabric designs and patterns from different cultures. We were also fortunate to have a choreographer well-versed in dance traditions from West and South Africa, and who helped my students and I be sure we were appropriately representing each culture and not appropriating them. My students actually loved doing the research and applying it to the production, and we ended up with a final product that was AMAZING and completely original in design. To sum-up, don't feel boxed into the what's typically done with this production.
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Jessica Shaw
Speech and Drama Teacher
Alexandria VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-29-2017 06:46
From: Maggie Ward
Subject: Lion King Jr.
We are starting Lion King Jr. with our Middle level kids. Any advice? Pitfalls to avoid?