RIPLEY, Ohio – The Ripley Union Lewis Huntington School Music Department was recently awarded with a national grant to produce The Lion King Jr.
According to RULH music teacher Tim Brown, RULH was chosen from a large pool of highly qualified schools by the Lion King Experience Grant Committee.
According to Brown, the grant affords the RULH Music Department the opportunity to explore the fundamentals of theater-making through an innovative theater curriculum and to bring the musical to life.
The Lion King Jr. is part of The Lion King Experience, which gives students an opportunity to produce an adaption of The Lion King while participating in a multi-media curriculum designed to introduce students to a wide range of theatrical skills. It includes a 60-minute adaption of the Broadway musical written specifically for elementary and middle school-aged students.
According to Brown, the experience includes a “ShowKit” of materials to help bring the production to life as well as a rigorous 18-session curriculum.
“We are honored to receive this grant,” said Jessica Kahrs, middle school director of the RULH Music Department. “It will allow us to perform one of the most popular musicals of all time.
Jenny Brown, RULH elementary music director, said she is excited for the new challenge.
“I can’t wait to get started with this show,” she said. “I get to work with former students who are now at the middle school.”
The RULH Music Department will perform Lion King Jr. in March of 2019 at the RULH Muddle School. More than 80 first-eighth grade students will be participating in the production.
