SWAINTON – Cape May County Zoo African lions, Bella and Lex, worked as acting coaches July 30 for students of Shore Productions summer drama camp at Middle Township’s Performing Arts Center (PAC).
Most of Disney’s “The Lion King, Jr” cast of more than 50 young actors gathered at the lion cage to observe the big cats. The show will be performed Aug. 13, 14, and 15 at the PAC.
“We are one of the first performances of “The Lion King, Jr” in New Jersey since Walt Disney released the rights in January,” said Jacob Schaad, public relations director for the PAC.
“We thought it would be interesting to see the lions and for the dozen or so actors portraying them in the show to bring back some characterization from the experience. Hopefully the lions will cooperate,” he added.
Bella and Lex rested in the shade as students listened to Samantha Shaw, Cape May County Zoo education director, explain how lions live and act in the wild.
The children shared their knowledge when answering Shaw’s queries: What do lions eat? Answer: Gazelles, giraffes, and other animals. What is a lion family called? Answer: Pride.
“In the African Savannah the lion’s roar is a form of long distance communication,” Shaw told the actors. She said the roar can be heard from six miles away and is used to communicate among pride members or to warn other male lions to stay away.
About halfway through Shaw’s presentation, Bella and Lex, siblings who relocated from Six Flags Great Adventure in September 2014 to reside at the zoo, decided to prance around for their audience.
The children laughed and smiled at seeing the lions running back and forth. First year Shore drama camp participant Tommy Grayson, who plays adult Simba in the production, thought it was great to actually see Bella and Lex in action.
“When Jake Schaad suggested we bring the kids to see the lions, I thought the idea was perfect with our choice of play,” said Kay Aspell, PAC director. “There is nothing like first-hand experience. I’ve been working with the kids to move their shoulders as lions would so today I kept saying ‘watch their shoulders, watch their shoulders.’”
Shore Productions drama camp is usually for children ages 7-18, but Disney mandates that actors in its productions be a maximum age of 15. Disney has no age minimum and, this year, because of parental requests, Aspell lowered the age of the drama camp to include 5 year olds.
“We have a few lion cubs running around on stage. They are so cute,” said Aspell.
This is the fourth year that Shore Productions drama camp has produced a show at the PAC. Disney’s “The Lion King, Jr” performances are Aug. 13 at 7:30p.m., Aug. 14 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and Aug. 15 at 7:30 p.m. There is an admission fee.
To contact Heather Burns, email hburns@cmcherald.com.
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