Youth Workshop to Present ‘Lion King Junior’

[private]The talent is amazing. The costumes are stunning. The set is outstanding. The lighting is unique. And, the Gratiot County Players are excited to be presenting LION KING JUNIOR at the Strand Theater in Alma on the first two weekends of August.
Performances are Aug. 4, 5, 11, and 12 at 7:30 p.m. with matinee performances at 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 5, and 13. Tickets are available at the website, gratiotcountyplayers.com or at the theater box office one hour before all performances and from 6 – 7 p.m., Mon. through Thurs. the weeks of July 31 and Aug.7. The box office does accept credit cards.
Again this year, the team of Tom and Kate Glover are directing the cast of about 50 area youngsters from the age of 8 to 18. With a veteran crew of Gratiot County Players volunteers, the adult crew is able to create the set, the lighting, sound, costuming, as well as music and choreography,and all other needs to bring to the stage a production on this level.
The story and music will be familiar to those who enjoy Disney productions as this is similar to both the animated and live-action versions.
Josue Cruz an 11th grader of Breckenridge is cast as Scar. the villain of the story, as he lures the Lion King Mufasa to his death. This is his first year as a participant of the Summer Youth Workshop and thinks it is a rewarding experience.
He found himself with some extra time and wanted to find an activity to fill that void. Due to his interest in drama, he auditioned for the production of FOOTLOOSE last year at GCP. Enjoying that, he decided to give the SYW a try.
“It is really interesting to see all the little steps and see how the whole production comes together,” he said. “I kind of like of being a different character, and being a villain is just that. I don’t really mind it and I do have some things in common with Scar. He just takes to another level than I would.”
He said one of the best things about his participation is making new friendships that he feels “will last a very long time.”
Another first timer to the SYW is 6th grader at Alma, Marie Bare. She is a member of the ensemble and became interested in the activity when she learned from some of her friends who had participated how much they enjoyed it.
“This has been really fun…I like wearing the costume,” she said. And said she would now recommend the experience to others. “It is fun, and you get to learn new things, too.”
“We have worked really hard, but the directors make it easy for us to learn our parts. But I want audiences to see how all our work has paid off.”
Kali Gorsuch from Alma is an 11th grader who is home schooled. She has been in four previous workshops which has only increased her passion for the theater. She appears as Zazu, an African bird who is an attendant and confident to Mufasa.
And although she comes for the stage experience, like so many of the participants, she finds working with a cast from all around the area, to be one of the best parts of the activity. In addition, she said she loves wearing the puppet like costume, and thinks the story also has valuable lessons to take away.
“Don’t take what you do for granted. Live each day as if it were your last…it just might be,” she said is the lesson she found in the story. She added that the audience will like the show also because it has “out-of-this-world costumes and phenomenal music.”
Levi Chvojka, a 6th grader at Alma schools is from Elwell and is a theater legacy as his mother, grandmother, aunts and uncles have all been participants at Gratiot County Players. This is his first appearance on the GCP stage, but decided it was time to try his hand at performing. He said with his family history, he was a little nervous to try out for a spot in the workshop.
“But it has been great,” he said. The very best part of the SYW is all the new friends he has made, which has lead him to the decision to return next year.
Perhaps his favorite part of the show is performing “Can you Feel the Love Tonight” and the stampede.
“I think this is a show that is really worth seeing,” he said. “We have put in so much preparation, I don’t think the audience should miss seeing this.”/private]