Yorkville Student to Perform as 'Leopard' in Disney's Tarzan Musical

Written by Shawn Eident

I think Lindsay Spencer has received one of the best roles ever in Spotlight Aurora’s production Tarzan. She has been given the role of the Leopard where she gets to fly, leap, and flip her way on to and off from the stage! She is so exciting to watch as she lurks about on all fours, scours up the side of a tree causing mayhem as she searches for her next meal, only to fall off backwards in a graceful back flip as she is pushed away from her tender morsel which is Baby Tarzan. As graceful and easy as Lindsay makes her role as a leopard look, believe me, this is no easy task. One has to be exceptionally physically fit to move around the stage like she does. Not only does she play the role of the leopard, but she also plays the role of a gorilla (spoiler alert!) after the leopard is killed, which requires a completely different way of carrying and moving your body.

A graduating senior, Lindsay has performed in 25 shows, with Tarzan being her 26th show! She says her favorite shows to perform in have been “Godspell” and “Shrek”, and her favorite role has been Fiona in “Shrek”. All of her performances have been with Spotlight Youth Theater. When asked who has made the greatest impact in her life, she shared with me that it would have to be her parents. Her parents have always been there for her, and have invested so much time and energy into her journey with Spotlight. She is so thankful for them- and says she doesn’t think she thanks them enough.

Looking ahead, Lindsay is planning on attending college for Musical Theater where she can continue her love for acting, dancing, and singing.

Please join us as Spotlight Youth Theater presents, Disney’s Tarzan, based on the epic animated adventure of Edgar Rice Burrough’s novel, Tarzan of the Apes. Disney’s Tarzan is full of high-flying excitement and heart-pumping music that will be an unforgettable experience for the whole family!

WHEN: May 15th – May 17th

• Friday, May 15th – 7:00pm
• Saturday, May 16th – 2:00pm
• Saturday, May 16th – 6:00pm
• Sunday, May 17th – 3:00pm

WHERE: Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main Street (entrance off of Wilson), Batavia, IL

TICKETS: 847-516-2298 or visit www.spotlight.org $9-$12 presale, + $2 at the door
Group, child, and senior prices available

WHO: Spotlight Youth Theater is a non-profit, educational theater arts program for students 5-18 in the Aurora, Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kenosha, Lake, McHenry, Milwaukee, Oak Park, Orland Park, Rockford Metro, and Shorewood areas and has approximately 6,000 students per year. Each area offers summer camps and after-school classes in dance, voice, drama and theatrical specialties, and performs three fully staged musical productions per year. Spotlight is non- discriminatory and welcomes all children.