Community, Characters & Creativity Bring ‘Lion King’ to Life

“The Lion King” is a classic coming-of-age story with lessons of respect, family, friendship, perseverance, loss and love. Imagine that iconic storyline unfolding on stage and artfully told by local children, and you have the Your Performing Arts Center (YPAC) fall production.

The YPAC vision of “Lion King Junior” embraces all of the messages of the beloved movie and Broadway show, with an emphasis on character building and community, said Beth Jackson, the show’s director.

“This is an incredibly big show with many songs and roles,” said Jackson, adding that 44 local youth will perform in the upcoming musical. “Every student brings their own special personality and is involved throughout the show. Together, they make it happen and make each other stronger.”

The performing youth, who range in age from 5 years to 14 years, have been working closely together on the complex show since early September.

“They have been not only learning lines, songs and choreography, but basically they are learning a language foreign to them,” said Jackson of the complicated song lyrics.

To complement the beauty of the language and the story, the production also features dynamic, animal-inspired choreography, innovative costumes and a few fun surprises.

“We want to create these spectacular characters that will become bigger than life, all while set at the beautiful, historic Sandwich Opera House,” said Jackson.

Her YPAC team includes choreographer Amanda Arnold, creative director Mia Beale, and stage manager Allison Jackson, and they also mentor six community teens sharing their passion and talents to help make the show happen.

“We have a program at YPAC that is called The Learning Experience,” said Jackson. “We take students who have shown great leadership in their classes, along with a love and interest in learning the ropes behind the scenes, and we equip them to run a show from beginning to end! We even have one student at this time working as an Assistant Stage Manager.”

Students Layla Bohl and Shaheen Kapambwe are involved through The Learning Experience, and Yorkville Christian Academy students Maddie Coffel, Sarah Bird, Rosalina Plaza, and Ava Kelly assist through a job shadowing program.

In all, the 50 students represent Kendall County and surrounding communities, including Yorkville, Newark, Sugar Grove, Big Rock, Plainfield, Plano, Montgomery, Oswego, and Sandwich.

Community parents and volunteers also play a crucial role in every show, said Jackson.

“Lion King Jr.” is the eighth YPAC theatre show since the arts center opened in 2013 by Brian and Emily Weber, and this spring, the new YPAC location in Plainfield will produce its first theatre production.

The YPAC “Lion King Junior” performances at the Sandwich Opera House will be 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, and both 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13. To order tickets, visit www.tututix.com/client/yorkvilleperformingartscenter To learn more about YPAC programs in music, dance and theater, visit ypacarts.com.