Local elementary students perform Disney classic
Fourth- and fifth-grade students at Public School 24 will present Disney’s The Lion King KIDS, a stage adaptation of the Broadway musical, on March 25 and 26.
The musical is directed by Karyn Kaplan, the school’s librarian and media specialist, with support from many other educators and parents, but the show itself is performed entirely by students.
Students also handle the technical elements of the production, including the music, the light and sound board, and the spotlight, though the tech crew is supervised at all times by Alex Cruz, a school paraprofessional.
During rehearsal, Kaplan could not contain her joy and pride in the students. “These are fourth- and fifth-grade students and they are rock stars. They’re incredible. It’s amazing what they’re capable of.”
P.S. 24 has been staging Disney KIDS musicals since 2017, with a pause only in 2021 because of the pandemic (the 2020 show was staged just days before the lockdown). Each year, the school’s musical team, made up of educators and parents, selects a different show from the Disney KIDS catalog. In the past, they have staged, among others, Frozen and 101 Dalmatians.
Taking part in the annual musical is popular among students. Earning the chance to participate is a competitive process. More than 90 students auditioned for the show, and only 35 were selected for speaking roles and ensemble parts. The auditions, which were held in October of last year, evaluated students’ singing, dancing, and line delivery.
Hailey Hernandez, a fifth-grade student who plays Zazu (Mufasa’s hornbill advisor), shared that auditioning was “stressful,” but that she is very glad she did it.
“Auditioning and being in the show has really strengthened my confidence. Also, I didn’t have to sing as much as I thought for the audition. It was only a few lines.”
Behind the scenes, not only current students are involved, but also alumni. Brianna Paida, a sixth-grade student who graduated from P.S. 24 last year, returned this year to handle the show’s music.
“I loved being in the shows when I was here, so I wanted to come back and help. And it’s not very hard.”
The difficulty of mounting the production, which includes nine songs, many scenes, and multiple sets across 30 minutes of performance (45 if applause breaks are counted), is a frequent topic among everyone involved in the show.
Jack Hernandez-Chino, a fifth-grade student who works as a stagehand moving set pieces between songs, described the difficulty of his role.
“It’s hard to remember where every object on the stage goes at every moment. But it feels really good when you finally memorize it all.”
Even so, on top of all the work the show already requires, special details are added. During the opening number, “They Live in You,” the performers also use sign language to interpret the song for audience members with hearing difficulties.
The production also includes a local touch. Last year, during the school’s performance of Frozen, a piragua cart was pushed onto the stage at one point to add a Puerto Rican element from Sunset Park.
Still, no matter how much the educator-directors ask of the students, the students always rise to the occasion, said all of the adults helping put on the show.
“The kids give us heart attacks right up until showtime,” Kaplan said about the days leading up to opening night. “They’re working really hard, but it feels like not everything is coming together. Then, when the curtain opens, it’s like magic. Everything comes together and it’s perfect. The kids always show what they can do.”