The Lion King Jr

Last year when Joey and Tommy and I were in The Wizard of Oz together I promised to post video of the performance here on my blog. Unfortunately, I never got the video. I'm told the video was made and given to the directors and stage manager but copies were never made.  I brought it up to the directors and hopefully they will get us that video someday soon.

However, this year I wasn't going to wait for the video. We were given instructions not to take pictures or video of the performances but, as you all know, I am not a rule follower. Obviously, I couldn't sneak into the theater on performance nights but I did on Thursday at our dress rehearsal. I could only get little snippets here and there because many times I had to stop recording to run through the school, through the gym, and down the back staircase to get in place for my next scene. And obviously, I couldn't record any scenes that I am in. No biggie. But I did manage to record a little bit of my boys' solos. Yay!

Keep in mind that the sound isn't fantastic. This was recorded using my cell phone. 

This is Tommy in "I Just Can't Wait To Be King"

Tommy was very concerned about this solo because it was very high for him but he nailed it.

I wish I could have gotten Joey's solo on this song but I had to get in place to go on stage. This song was very special to me because Tommy sang in the beginning of it and then slyly exited stage as Joey sneakily entered the stage and sang the solo. It was young Simba growing into adult Simba and it was so amazing that my boys were able to share that role. And the switch was so smooth that many people in the audience didn't even know it happened. So many people came up to me after the show and said that they were suddenly wondering why Simba looked so much taller and his voice was lower. Then they checked their programs and saw they were brothers and they were blown away. 

The next four videos are from "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" and Joey's solos. I had to break it down into 4 videos because it was too large a file to upload all as one video.























Yep. Those are my boys. Proud mama, here. They worked so hard and it all paid off.

I was a lioness (and vocal leader) in the show and the lioness' had some of the coolest songs and dances. The songs were very difficult (some were acapella chants with harmonies) but the kids that were put in the lioness roles were good, strong singers. It was a lot of fun. I don't have video but I do have a few photos that our school photographer sent me.

Sending Nala out with our prayers.

 The Lioness Hunt

 Attacking the antelope (don't worry she came back to life to sing in a later song)

Young Simba, Timon and Pumba

 Adult Simba, Timon and Pumba

 Adult Simba, Adult Nala, Timon and Pumba

 Making a plan

 Young Simba and Young Nala

 Young Simba, Young Nala, and Zazu

 Posed Pics of Young Simba and Young Nala

 Adult Simba and Adult Nala

By the way, that is their real hair. They were not allowed to get haircuts for the last 2 plus months so that we could do this to their hair. THEY HATED their long hair. They wanted me to cut their hair after the last show on Saturday night but I wasn't having it. We had a cast party to get to and it was getting late. They had to wait until Sunday morning for their haircuts. 

The Simbas

 Tired Simba

Timon and Pumba find sleepy Simba

 The second half of Hakuna Matata when Adult Simba first appears on stage.

 I love this pic.

Adult Simba with Rafiki, being shown his reflection right before "He Lives In You". The girl who played Rafiki has an AMAZING voice. She rocked it. She was the Cowardly Lion last year and was Annie the year before that. Talented young lady.

The bows. The camera couldn't even fit everyone in the pic. Big cast. 

 After the bows singing an encore of "Circle of Life"

The whole cast.

It was an amazing show. I am so proud of all of the kids. They all worked so hard. It was quite a production and so many people chipped in to help out. So many moms making costumes (did you SEE the GIRAFFE costumes???) and sets and dads helping with the construction and the stage crew. It is such a great community at this school. I am so proud to have my kids be a part of it. 

We have been SO busy these last few months. Well, maybe since fall. From football to basketball to the musical. It has been at least one activity every single night. Plus all the crazy homework. Nuts! How my boys managed to get themselves on the honor roll with all this madness going on is beyond me. But I am SO thankful we now have a bit of a reprieve before Ben starts baseball this summer. Unfortunately, our first week of freedom was/is painful. Todd and I both got terribly sick. I mean SICK. It must be respiratory flu. Aches everywhere, lungs hurt, headache, horribly sore throat (feels like I am swallowing knives over a hole in my throat), fever and chills, temperatures, the works. I don't remember the last time I was this sick. I don't usually get sick at all. Todd has been sick since Sunday night and I got it on Tuesday. I'm just glad the sickies held off until the show ended. Todd just started to feel better yesterday and is now up north with the boys planting trees and such during the long weekend. Grace and I have a lovely ladies weekend planned if I can just feel a little better. I am taking Grace to see a theater production of Ella Enchanted in Milwaukee tomorrow. We are both very excited. 

Anyway, if you got through yet another long winded post of mine, I applaud you. Thank you. I promise my next post won't be so epic.