By Linda White
Regardless of your age, you probably know the story of Disney’s The Lion King, Jr. and have seen at least one version of it on the big screen, the small screen at home, on Broadway or at a local, live theater performance. All the magic and Hakuna Matata you have come to expect from The Lion King are present in the JGMS production of The Lion King Jr. that opened its run on Wednesday, April 5 with a sensory-friendly matinee, followed by evening performance on Thursday through Saturday.
Under the unflappable and experienced direction of Amy Budka, with the support of parent volunteers and Patrons of Music (POMS), approximately 87 students charmed audiences with their acting, singing, and dancing. They were dressed in an amazing array of costumes that transported theatergoers to the plains of Africa. An additional 30 students were behind the curtain running tech, lights, and props dressed in dark clothes that helped them to fade into the backstage background and keep the action moving.
If you are lucky enough to have already seen a performance or have one of the few remaining tickets., you are indeed lucky.
BRAVO to the JGMS students, pit musicians, and the teachers and parents who have generously given of their time and talents to bring this production to Bedford.
With a salute to the cast and crew:
Cast: Rafiki, Jillian Guetersloh; Zazu, Isabella Santiago; Mufasa, Vincent Canciello; Sarabi, Sophia Gitlin; Scar, Liam Buckley; Young Simba, Tyler Rauch; Young Nala, Adriana Panagiotou; Sarafina, Alethia Chan; Shenzi, Isabel Hon-Anderson; Banzai, Molly Goldfarb; Ed, Oliver Nosal; Timon, Ellie Mitchell; Pumbaa, Brandon Gordon; Simba, TJ Zovko; Nala, Reilly Szymczak;
Lead Hyenas: Tim Bennett, Sam Lincoln, George Rackey, Joseph Santos, Aram Varjabedian
Hyenas: Cole Bennett, Kayden Henry, Kamari Lindsey, Stuart Livingston, Camren Metcalf, Shane Metcalf, Matthew O’Connor, Jack Staines,
Lead Lionesses: Sydney Daniels, Kaitlyn Eller, Amanda Miller, Julia Silvestrone
Lionesses: Catherine Chen, Mary Couvee, Nicole Deneau, Keira Doyle, Audrey Leida, Sophia Mola, Katie Noh, Charlotte Petraitis, Rachel Steeves, Sarah Wirth
Firefly Dancers: Catherine Chen, Audrey Mense, Emma Szabo, Eva Szabo, Maddy Woolnough
Lead Dancers: Ainsley Keating, Marcy Kociubes, Kamari Lindsey, Sydney Phylis, Emma Szabo, Eva Szabo, and Emily Zeltser
Antelopes: Carolyn Crews, Erica Falco, Dasha Kerov, Amy Lerra, Kate Morrow, Ameera Saba, and Sabrina Turner
Birds: Eva Boruchovich, Amelia Dyer, Olivia Evans, Insun Hong, Shizuku Koga, Cynthia Li, Maddie McAllister, Audrey Mense, and Astrid Yerardi
Mama Elephant: Sam Lincoln and George Rackey
Baby Elephants: Aram Varjabedian, Cole Bennett, Kayden Henry, Stuart Livingston, Camren Metcalf, Shane Metcalf, Matthew O’Connor, and Jack Staines
Giraffes: Amber Hurley, Aurora Kong, Rokibat Salako, Maddy Woolnough, and Ani Zidjian
Panthers: Que’Mya Brewster, Maggie Carluccio, Rachel Gould, Chloe Melvin, Jayden Payne, Coco Steele, Lulu Steele, Aditi Thonangi, Marlowe Tilney
Zebras: Rachel Davis, Evya Dumlao, Isabella Fernald, Joshana Joseph, Ana Protasowicki, Mary Stewart, Harsheni Sudakar, Noy Toledano
Backstage Crew: Brendan Coyne, co-manager Hugh Gilroy, co-manager Nick Bailey, Andy Caron, Caleb Davis, Tommy Desjardins, Alex Doherty, Ariana Hovnanian, Aditya Mathur, Nikita Nemirovsky, Joel Newman, Xander Recca, Jake Silva, Maria Sukiasyan, Maxwell Weisz, and Aaron Woodward.
Props: Charlotte Livingston, co-manager Abigail Van Praagh, co-manager Ben Couvee, Nicholas Guetersloh, Libby Herzog, Emily Kociubes, Nathan Linden, and Manogna Reddy.
Costumes: Kathrine Surgay, costume manager, Emma Mowell, Josie Sakey, and Lauren Teague.
Tech: Suzie Marcus, lights co-manager Annie Bernstein, lights co-manager, Quinn Ricci, sound manager Maddie O’Neil, Michael Pearson, Sebastian Revesz, and Ryan Rollinson
Makeup & Greeters: Sarah Newman, makeup manager, Grace Hanegan, and Melanie Hubbard
Orchestra: Flute and Bassoon, Emma Ferguson; Piano, Linda Aiken; Guitar, Ken Budka; Bass, Michael Budka; Percussion, Aidan Crotty, Noah Southard, and Amy Budka.
Producer & Director, Amy Budka; Assistant Director, Barbara Ferri; Music Director, Linda Aiken; Choreographers, Libbey Beinert & Jennifer Buckley; Choreography Assistant, Melanie Cordero; Production Assistants, Carly DeMello & Noah Southard; Drama Coaches, Jayden Heller & Bella Panagiotou; Parent Volunteer Coordinators, Emily Mitchell & Lariza Panagiotou; Lighting & Sound Coordinator, Mark Guetersloh; Technical Advisors, John Coyne & Maya Deperalta; Set Design & Construction , Peter Ricci; Costume Coordinator, Lariza Panagiotou; Props Coordinators, JoAnn Santiago & Kristen Yerardi; Makeup Coordinator, Nathalie Weicker; Backstage Coordinator, Tina Nappi; Tickets/Box Office Coordinators, .Diane Bernstein & Hillary DeMello; Publicity, Emily Mitchell; Photo Boards, Meg McAllister & Jenny Stewart; Program, Emily Mitchell; Hospitality Coordinators, Jennie Goldfarb & Gretchen Kind; and Gifts & Keepsakes, Mitch Evans.
And special thanks to
- JGMS administration, teachers, office & custodial staff
- Nicole O’Toole & the staff of the Bedford Public Schools Music and Theater Arts Department
- Hillary DeMello, Carol Krusemark & Beth Scott at POMS
- Candace Banks, Paul Harrington & their students for art assistance
- Melissa Hegarty, Rachel Orlovsky & Dr. Rhoda Bernard from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee for help with sensory-friendly adaptations
- Kellie Dennehy at DSA Printing for programs and posters
- Xtreme Silkscreen for T-shirts
- Derek Johnson for sandwich board posters
- Winnie & Richard Callahan for sponsoring the cast party
- Pizza Express in Bedford
- Charles H. Stewart in North Reading for backdrops
Many parents and volunteers assisted in preparing for the show in numerous ways: providing snacks, building sets, creating props, making costumes, applying makeup, and supervising backstage. There are always people who come to our aid at the last minute.
To all of you, whether listed in the program or not, we are very grateful.
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