Young Cast Shines in “The Lion King Jr.”
The Orange Beach Expect Excellence Community Theatre brought the magic of Disney’s The Lion King Jr. to life earlier this month at the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center, running from October 4–6. With a cast made entirely of elementary and middle-school students, the show filled the stage with bright colors, big personalities, and an undeniable sense of community spirit.
As soon as audience members walked through the doors, the smell of freshly popped popcorn filled the lobby. Excited chatter echoed through the hall as families, friends and neighbors found their seats. Every row was packed — proof of the strong support for local performing arts in Orange Beach. When the lights dimmed and the familiar opening notes of “Circle of Life” began, the audience immediately fell silent, ready to be transported to the African savanna.
From the first scene, it was clear that the production team put tremendous effort into the details. The costumes were especially striking — handcrafted lion manes, beaded jewelry and tall giraffe masks that swayed gracefully across the stage. The bright yellows, oranges and blues shimmered under the spotlight, creating a scene that looked straight out of the movie. Each young performer took on their role with enthusiasm, moving with confidence and joy that brought the story to life.
The show’s youthful cast, made up of students from second through eighth grade, impressed the audience with their professionalism. The musical included several well-known songs such as “Hakuna Matata,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” and “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.” Each number drew applause and cheers from the crowd. The choreography, paired with the live vocals, was playful and full of motion, giving the performance both energy and heart.
One of the most memorable performances came from Ollie Stanton, who played the lovable and goofy warthog Pumbaa. Her timing and humor had the crowd laughing throughout the show. Stanton said playing Pumbaa was one of her favorite experiences yet.
“I loved getting to play such a funny character!” she said. “It was awesome because a bunch of my friends were in the show too, so it made everything even more fun.”
Learning the lines and songs wasn’t always easy, but she said the experience was worth it.
“Some of the lines were hard to memorize, but the songs were really fun, especially because they had that cool African feel,” she said.
Ollie Stanton ~ 7th Grade Orange Beach Student
In the crowd that weekend was Kira Berona, who attended his first-ever community theatre event. She was amazed by what she saw.
“The costumes were so colorful and the kids gave it their all. It felt like a Broadway show right here in Orange Beach,” Berona said during intermission.
She wasn’t the only one impressed. All around the theatre, parents and friends smiled proudly while kids in the audience clapped and sang along. The bright lights, the music, and the enthusiasm on stage made it a night to remember.
The show wasn’t just about entertaining people, it also gave the kids a chance to grow, build confidence, and learn to work together. Many of them spent months rehearsing after school, balancing homework and other activities to make the show come together. This is proof that the Expect Excellence Community Theatre strives to give young people a place to shine and discover their love for the arts.
As the final song ended and the curtain fell, the entire crowd rose for a standing ovation. Cheers, clapping, and a few happy tears filled the room as the cast took their bows. The Orange Beach Expect Excellence Community Theatre truly lived up to its name once again, proving that excellence doesn’t depend on age– just a love for the stage. handcrafted lion manes, beaded jewelry and tall giraffe masks that swayed gracefully across the stage. The bright yellows, oranges and blues shimmered under the spotlight, creating a scene that looked straight out of the movie. Each young performer took on their role with enthusiasm, moving with confidence and joy that brought the story to life.
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