THE LION KING Play of the Week: 9/29-10/3

JOURNAL: 9/29-9/30 In THE LION KING, Rafiki represents the storyteller, telling the oral history of her community. Who is the storyteller in your family? What is the purpose of a storyteller? Do you have any cultural oral stories passed down from your family?

RAFIKI in THE LION KING

African Storytellers  “Traditionally, Africans have revered good stories and storytellers, as have most past and present peoples around the world who are rooted in oral cultures and traditions. Ancient writing traditions do exist on the African continent, but most Africans today, as in the past, are primarily oral peoples, and their art forms are oral rather than literary. In contrast to written "literature," African "orature" (to use Kenyan novelist and critic Ngugi wa Thiong’o's phrase) is orally composed and transmitted, and often created to be verbally and communally performed as an integral part of dance and music. The Oral Arts of Africa are rich and varied, developing with the beginnings of African cultures, and they remain living traditions that continue to evolve and flourish today.”  “Language is a primary means of learning and transmitting one’s culture, and it is used to help define and distinguish different ethnic groups and cultures. Consider the fact that more than 450 languages are spoken in modern Nigeria.”

Important Facts  The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice along with the musical score created by Hans Zimmer Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets.musicalDisneyanimated film of the same nameElton JohnTim RiceHans ZimmerJulie Taymorpuppets  The musical debuted July 8, 1997, in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Orpheum Theatre, and was an instant success before premiering on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theater on October 15, 1997 in previews with the official opening on November 13, On June 13, 2006, the Broadway production moved to the Minskoff Theatre to make way for the musical version of Mary Poppins, where it is still running after more than 6,700 performances. [1] It is Broadway's fourth longest-running show in history and the highest grossing Broadway production of all time, having grossed more than $1 billion. [2]MinneapolisMinnesota BroadwayNew Amsterdam TheaterMinskoff TheatreMary Poppins [1]fourth longest-running show [2]  In September 2014, The Lion King became the top-earning title in box- office history for both stage productions and films, surpassing the record previously held by Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, of which was the first to gross over $6 billion. [4]Andrew Lloyd Webber'sThe Phantom of the Opera [4]

JOURNAL: 10/2 Disney films have well been known for their fully realized animal characters. Using animation, filmmakers have been able to draw beautiful animals and give them human voices, emotions, and expressions. The creators of THE LION KING musical had a challenge: how to bring the story’s animal characters to life on stage. What are some differences/similarities about animal and human movements? Pg 20

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JOURNAL: 10/3  Think of a certain scene in THE LION KING that really stands out to you. Who’s in it? Why do you like it? Why is it important?  Hyennas: graveyard scene  Simba and Nala reunite  Simba and Nala get married have a cub  Circle of Life  Simba talks to Mufasa in cloud  Scar kills Mufasa: stampede