DJHS and EHS partner for ‘Lion King Jr.’

Dauphin Junior High School and Enterprise High School Drama Clubs partnered to produce the Lion King Jr. at the Performing Arts Center at EHS on March 7-9.

The DJHS drama students performed the play and EHS Theater Arts Veronica Stephenson said they raised the bar for all future performances.

“I’ve never directed a show with lyrics in a different language,” Stephenson said. “And they were the first cast I have ever directed to be off book (have all lines learned) at the scheduled deadline. They really set the bar high for future shows.”

The Lion King Jr. marked the first year that eighth grade DJHS students were in two plays in two years.

“They are the core group of a program that hopefully will continue long after they are on stage at EHS and beyond,” Stephenson said. “If (DJHS) Coach (Patsy) Holland had not asked me to help in October 2017, The Lion King would not have happened. She, (DJHS English teacher) Ms. (Michaela) Cadden, and Ms. (Michelle) Barber—and (DJHS Principal) Mrs. (Judy) Thomas—are the reasons drama is thriving at Dauphin. But those eighth graders had to buy in to a program that was brand new and they did. And look at what they can do.”

The EHS drama club students served as the crew for the production, applying makeup to the cast backstage, running the lights, getting props out of the way, teaching the DJHS students songs, etc.

“I am blessed with some of the most incredible high school theatre students,” Stephenson said “The ones who were on the crew (who—unfortunately—are students I will lose this year to graduation and moving) were also the ones who spent countless hours teaching songs, working on characterization, building costumes and props, and helping direct the cast. In addition to those special students, every single technical theatre student I teach worked during class time to papier-mache and paint during the three weeks leading up to the show. This show would not have been possible without my students.”

She said she is proud of the production all of the students were able to put on.

“It is impossible to explain the joy (and tears) that came on opening night,” Stephenson said. “I knew how amazing they would be, but it took a long time for everyone else to see it. What is seen on stage is about 1/8 of what happens before and during the show. Having it all come together last week so they could enjoy the vision I had was one of the best feelings of the whole experience.”