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School choirs present dinner theater
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Carly Magnuson (left) portrayed Chidubem, a Dodo bird narrator and Caroline Bennett portrayed Chitundu, a Dodo bird narrator during the Canfield High School Choral Music Department’s dinner theater performance of music from “The Lion King” Jan. 29.
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Neighbors | Submitted.Tiffany Hobbins and Creative Cakes by Tiffany created the cake for the dessert which was served during the Canfield High School Choral Music Department’s dinner theater performance of music from “The Lion King” Jan. 29.
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Neighbors | Abby Slanker.The leads in Canfield High School Choral Music Department’s dinner theater performance of music from “The Lion King” were performed by: Caroline Bennett as Chitundu, a Dodo bird narrator; Carly Magnuson as Chidubem, a Dodo bird narrator; Karlina Valley as Rafiki; Natalina Valley as Zazu; Ashley Milligan as young Simba; Hayley Ward as young Nala; Danielle Goddard as Banzai; Lindsay Stevens as Shenzi; Katelyn Lisowski as Edween; Spencer Saylor as Mufasa; Amanda Myhal as Sirabi; Rosie Jo Neddy as Timon; Bella Gullia as Pumbaa; Nathan Pecchia as Scar; Amanda Myhal as adult Nala and Zack Davison as adult Simba.
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The Canfield Choral Boosters transformed the high school cafeteria into the Pride Lands to give their guests a feel for the production with a display of Pride Rock with Mufasa and Rafiki created by Barb Snyder.
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Under the direction of Kelly Scurich, 160 students from all three high school choir groups, including Concert Choir, Chamber Ensemble and One Octave Higher Ensemble performed the finale of their production of music from “The Lion King.”
By ABBY SLANKER
The Canfield High School cafeteria and auditorium was transformed into the Pride Lands of Africa, complete with Pride Rock, for the Canfield High School Choral Music Department’s dinner theater performance of music from “The Lion King” Jan. 29.
Under the direction of Kelly Scurich, 160 students from all three high school choir groups performed in the production, including Concert Choir, Chamber Ensemble and One Octave Higher Ensemble. Students from the University of Akron provided professional makeup for the actors and actresses.
Shows were staged at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in the Canfield High School auditorium, with dinner being served at 6 p.m. The performance was the Choral Music Department’s annual fundraiser, with proceeds going to the department.
The leads in the production were performed by Caroline Bennett as Chitundu, a Dodo bird narrator; Carly Magnuson as Chidubem, a Dodo bird narrator; Karlina Valley as Rafiki; Natalina Valley as Zazu; Ashley Milligan as young Simba; Hayley Ward as young Nala; Danielle Goddard as Banzai; Lindsay Stevens as Shenzi; Katelyn Lisowski as Edween; Spencer Saylor as Mufasa; Amanda Myhal as Sirabi; Rosie Jo Neddy as Timon; Bella Gullia as Pumbaa; Nathan Pecchia as Scar; Amanda Myhal as adult Nala and Zack Davison as adult Simba.
“This is the most phenomenal cast. They were so dedicated and always came to rehearsal prepared. I knew I could count on them to not only be on time to rehearsal, but even a little early. This is the neatest group I have worked with in a long time,” said Scurich.
As the high school choir director, Scurich wrote the narration adaptation and choreographed the production.
“The students only had one rehearsal where everyone came together, which was the day before the show. Everything just fell together and it was a delightful show,” Scurich said.
The production included the musical numbers of “Nants’ Ingonyama” with Rafiki and mass choir; “Circle of Life” with Rafiki and mass choir; “Morning Report” with Zazu, young Simba and Mufasa; “I Can’t Wait to be King” with young Simba, young Nala and Zazu; “Chow Down” with Banzai, Shenzi and Edween; “They Live in You” with Mufasa and One Octave; “Be Prepared” with Scar, Banzai, Shenzi and Edween; “Rafiki Mourns” with Rafiki; “Hakuna Matata” with Timon, Pumbaa, young Simba, adult Simba and Concert Choir; “Madness of King Scar” with Scar, Banzai, Shenzi, Edween and Zazu; “Shadowland” with adult Nala and Chambers; “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” with Timon, Pumbaa, adult Simba, adult Nala, One Octave and Chambers; “He Lives in You” with Chambers and “King of Pride Rock/Circle of Life” with mass choir.
The production also featured two Lion King Quartets with Victoria Emerick, Ashley Mangie, Victoria Manenti and Natalie Ricciutti at the 5 p.m. showing and Jessica Ensley, Kathleen Griffin, Marisa McGrath and Jia Tabachino at the 7:30 showing.
The Canfield Choral Boosters organized the dinner, which was sold out and was catered by the Youngstown Saxon Club. The boosters also turned the cafeteria into the Pride Lands to give their guests a feel for the production with displays of Pride Rock with Mufasa and Rafiki and the Tree of Life, both created by Barb Snyder.