Yough Intermediate Middle School is proud to present Disney’s The Lion King Jr. on April 14 & 15, 2023 at 7:30 PM. The production will take place at Yough Intermediate Middle School’s Auditorium located at 171 PA -31 Ruffs Dale, PA.
The 60-minute musical is designed for middle-school aged performers and is based on the Broadway production directed by Julie Taymor and the 1994 Disney film. The cast consists of 38 students in 5-8 grade led by Kyli Stoner, Director/Choreographer.
"We're excited for audiences to watch a musical featuring songs and characters we all know and love while putting our own twist to costumes and choreography. It will be a fun surprise," says Kyli Stoner. “This production features impressive set, costume, and lighting design. It’ll be hard to believe you’re at a middle school musical.”
The Lion King JR. tells the story of the epic adventures of a curious cub named Simba as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destiny as king. Along the way, the young lion encounters a colorful cast of characters including spunky lioness Nala, charismatic meerkat Timon, and loveable warthog Pumbaa. To claim his rightful place on the throne and save his beloved Pridelands , Simba must find his inner strength and confront his wicked Uncle Scar. The Lion King JR. features classic songs from the 1994 film such as “Hakuna Matata” and the Academy Award®-winning “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” as well as additional songs penned for the Broadway production.
"Increasing accessibility initiatives is important to us,” says Kyli Stoner. “We work with community partners to fundraise so that any student who wants to participate in the musical can, with no mandatory cost to them or their families. We are often the first exposure the students get to theatre education, and we want to remove any economic barriers. For the first time, the Saturday April 15 performance will feature live American Sign Language Interpretation. We've donated 30 tickets to students enrolled at Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf so they can enjoy this classic Disney story.”
Tickets are on sale starting Monday, March 13 and are $10 for adults and $5 for students. For more information about Yough Intermediate Middle School Drama program or this production of The Lion King Jr., visit yimsdrama.com.
Disney Theatrical Group (DTG) operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher and is among the world’s most successful commercial theater enterprises, bringing live entertainment events to a global annual audience of more than 19 million people in more than 50 countries. Under the Disney Theatrical Productions banner, the group produces and licenses Broadway musicals around the world, including Beauty and the Beast; The Lion King; Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida; TARZAN®; Mary Poppins, a co-production with Cameron Mackintosh; The Little Mermaid; Newsies; Peter and the Starcatcher; and Aladdin. Other successful stage musical ventures have included King Davidin concert, the national tour of On the Record, several touring versions of Disney’s High School Musical, and Der Glöckner Von Notre Dame in Berlin.
Disney Theatrical Group also delivers live shows globally through its license to Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney on Ice and Disney Live! For over 30 years, Disney on Ice and Disney Live! have brought beloved Disney stories and characters annually to over 12 million guests in nearly 50 countries worldwide through productions such as Toy Story 3, Dare to Dream, Rockin’ Ever After, and Disney Junior Live on Tour! Pirate & Princess Adventure. In addition, DTG licenses musical titles for local, school, and community theater productions through Music Theatre International.
Music Theatre International (MTI) www.mtishows.com, is one of the world's leading dramatic licensing agencies, granting schools as well as amateur and professional theaters from around the world the rights to perform the largest selection of great musicals from Broadway and beyond. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists, and book writers of these shows to provide official scripts, musical materials, and dynamic theatrical resources to over 60,000 theatrical organizations in the U.S. and in over 60 countries worldwide.