ARROYO GRANDE — The iconic Lion King play will be coming to Arroyo Grande this weekend as students from Judkins and Mesa middle schools join forces.
Opening night for the play will begin this Friday at Arroyo Grande High School’s Clark Center.
For the past four months the Judkins and Mesa theater department has been hard at work designing sets, choreographing numbers, and preparing for this year's performance.
Director Marcia Geyer, who originally directed plays at both schools, decided just three years ago to combine the theater departments into a more grand production.
Judkins and Mesa’s first venture together was a production of Pixar’s Finding Nemo. The following year the department performed Disney’s Moana to a sold-out opening night and a first for the department.
Now, the students are putting the finishing touches on The Lion King Jr.
"It's a story about a lion who finds their way. They're lost for a little bit and then they discover themselves again," described Zofie Jorstad who plays Nala in the production.
“I think one of things you can take from this show is finding your inner beauty, I think that's one of the main focuses of the show and it really helps with self confidence,” said Della Callaghan who plays Simba.
Cadence Clift, who plays Rafiki, said the combined theater program helped grow her social circle.
"I got to meet a bunch of new people so that I got to bond to become friends with people that I didn't know before and I got really close with them."
There will be three performances at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande. The first show will be Friday, May 15 at 7:00 p.m. followed by shows on Saturday, May 16 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
You can buy tickets here.
