MIDDLEBURY — “It’s the circle of life/ and it moves us all,” sings the menagerie behind one of Broadway’s most popular shows. “The Lion King,” which won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 1998 and is currently the highest-grossing Broadway musical in history, now comes to Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater on July 27-29 under the direction of Doug Anderson.
“Once a year I get to direct young people in a big musical,” says Anderson, “and it’s always the most fun I have all year. ‘The Lion King’ is the perfect vehicle for this talented, smart group of kids.”
Based on the 1994 Disney movie, “The Lion King” follows the coming of age of Simba, a young lion whose wish to become king of the Pridelands is thwarted by a devious plot to steal the throne.
Bristol’s Helen Weston will once again serve as music director, continuing her three-year run of collaborations with Anderson: the first Young Company summer production “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “James and the Giant Peach,” and last year’s “Annie.” Kate Tilton of Middlebury and Town Hall Theater’s summer Production Assistant Tim Hansen will design props and costumes.
The cast at the time of this printing includes Asa Baker-Rouse, Megan Balparda, Anijah Beauvais, Vanille Bouvrot, Parker Chester, Chloe Clark, Marguerite Gallon, Walter Hardy-Mittell, Paige Hescock, Greta Jennison, Sophie Mason, Sam Michaels, Cierra-Rayne Miller, Beatrice Porter, Noah Sabourin, Dorothy Seifert, Benjamin Torres and Thomas Wolosinski.
The show will run on Friday, July 27, at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 28, at 2 p.m., and Sunday, July 29, at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under. Tickets may be purchased at townhalltheater.org, by calling 802-382-9222, at the THT box office Monday-Saturday noon-5 p.m., or at the door one hour before show time.