Local teens learn from ‘Lion King’ cast

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DAYTON — A rehearsal hall in the upper reaches of the Victoria Theatre in Dayton was noisy Thursday with some 50 teens calling words to one another in Swahili.

“Turn to the person on your right and say, ‘Hela.’ Make that person pay attention to you,” directed workshop leader Tonoccus McClain, a singer and Banzai understudy in the touring company of “Disney’s The Lion King,” currently in performance at the Schuster Center. “I want to see some attitude,” he added.

The teens had come from throughout the Miami Valley to participate in the Victoria Theatre Association’s seventh annual Broadway Camp. Among them were four Shelby County students: Jennifer Ferree, daughter of Eileen and Mark Feree, a senior at Sidney High School; Annie Stemen, daughter of Amy and Tony Stemen, a junior at Fairlawn High School; Zach Welly, son of Andrea Kirtley and Corey Welly, a student at Jackson Center High School; and Alex Rose, son of Michelle Rose, a junior at Anna High School.

The camp runs annually for five days from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Participants learn singing techniques, dancing, acting and puppetry from local professionals and from cast members of whatever show is on the Schuster Center stage. This year, it’s “The Lion King.”

“Okay, now say, ‘Ingonyama nengw’ enamabala,’” McClain said. He broke it into rhythmic syallables to make it easier to learn and put some swaying movements to the rhythms. “Did you know there are words from seven African languages in ‘The Lion King?’” he asked.

The teens were beyond enthusiastic to be working with him and with Amyia Burrell, a dancer in the company.

“It’s amazing,” Stemen said. “We got to do puppetry with the “Lion King” puppet master. We got to meet Zazu.” Drew Hirschfield, the actor playing Zazu, made a guest appearance at the camp.

“I am so much better as a performer,” Rose said about what the camp has done for him.

“I learned how to professionally trip onstage,” Stemen said.

“How to overdramatically die,” added Welly.

“To put emotion behind what you’re singing,” Ferree said. They performed for parents and friends on Friday.

All four have appeared in plays and musicals at their respective high schools. Ferree is a member of the Sidney Dance Company and Stemen and Rose have performed with Sock N Buskin Players. But they agree that their work in future productions will be influenced by what they have learned during this week in Dayton.

“I’ll have more confidence,” Ferree said.

Before Thursday’s session was over, the group had learned a song, “He Lives in You,” from the show. Burrell divided the campers into those who considered themselves dancers and those who did not. Ferree joined the dance group to rehearse routine while the others formed the chorus behind the dancers.

Burrell and McClain are both originally from Los Angeles, but they have been on the road with “The Lion King” for a long time: Burrell is in her 11th year; McClain, his sixth.

“You have to love it,” they told the teens. “On Broadway, you get to go home and sleep in your own bed. I’ve been in a different bed every four weeks for five years. I have to find out where to buy milk, where to do laundry,” McClain said.

He encouraged them to audition for anything and everything, even if they think they’re not right for a role.

At the very least, an audition “is a free class,” Burrell noted.

She said that performing in the show never gets old, despite the eight-shows-a-week schedule she has maintained for more than a decade.

“The show itself,” keeps her performance from becoming rote, she said. “We are telling the story that relates to so many situations. ‘The Circle of Life’ brings people to tears. That motivates me every day, going out, being a zebra, seeing the faces of the audience.” The dancer has 14 costume changes during the show. Besides appearing as a zebra, she plays a wildebeast, a lionness, and several other animals.

Burrell said that, usually, she teaches dance workshops in locations where the show performs. She appreciated the opportunity to run a workshop with McClain, a first for both of them.

“Cast members enjoy teaching,” said Diane Schoeffler-Warren, Victoria Theatre Association public relations and promotions manager.

“If you take acting seriously, I highly recommend this (camp),” Welly said. “I’m coming back next year.”

The camp is usually offered in two-week segments, one for middle-schoolers and one for high-schoolers, according to Schoeffler-Warren. But the overwhelming response to this year’s marketing required that the theater include a third week. Gary Minyard, vice president of education and engagement, said that soon, after-school camps will be added to the summer offerings.

This year’s local teaching artists included Becca Kloha Strand, who taught choreography; Sean Michael Flowers, music direction; Scott Hunt, acting; and Minyard, a master class in creative movement. The camp fee of $199 includes a ticket to the show at the Schuster Center.

Young people who are interested in finding information about Broadway Camp can visit www.victoriatheatre.com or call the education department at 937-228-7951, ext. 3034.

“Disney’s The Lion King” continues its run in Dayton through July 3. Tickets are available at www.ticketcenterstage.com and 888-228-3630.

Alex Rose, left, of Anna, and Zach Welly, of Jackson Center, learn a dance from “Disney’s The Lion King” during Broadway Camp at the Victoria Theatre in Dayton, Thursday, June 23.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/06/web1_Dance-1.jpgAlex Rose, left, of Anna, and Zach Welly, of Jackson Center, learn a dance from “Disney’s The Lion King” during Broadway Camp at the Victoria Theatre in Dayton, Thursday, June 23.

Alex Rose, left, of Anna, Annie Stemen, of Sidney, listen to Tonoccus McClain, a singer in the road company of “Disney’s The Lion King,” during a workshop in Dayton, Thursday, June 23.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/06/web1_leader1.jpgAlex Rose, left, of Anna, Annie Stemen, of Sidney, listen to Tonoccus McClain, a singer in the road company of “Disney’s The Lion King,” during a workshop in Dayton, Thursday, June 23.

Zach Welly, of Jackson Center, Tonoccus McClain, of Los Angeles, Jennifer Ferree, of Sidney, Amyia Burrell, of Los Angeles, Annie Stemen, of Sidney, and Alex Rose, of Anna, pose for a photo following a session of Broadway Camp. McClain and Burrell, cast members of “Disney’s The Lion King,” led the camp sessions at the Victoria Theatre in Dayton.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/06/web1_camp-group.jpgZach Welly, of Jackson Center, Tonoccus McClain, of Los Angeles, Jennifer Ferree, of Sidney, Amyia Burrell, of Los Angeles, Annie Stemen, of Sidney, and Alex Rose, of Anna, pose for a photo following a session of Broadway Camp. McClain and Burrell, cast members of “Disney’s The Lion King,” led the camp sessions at the Victoria Theatre in Dayton.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2016/06/web1_Dance-2.jpg

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By Patricia Ann Speelman

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4824.

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