It is with a heavy heart that we share the following news:
JPAS’ production of The Lion King JR has been cancelled. Performances are not being rescheduled.
There is a saying, “life’s all about the journey, not the destination”, and this is one of those moments. Our amazing actors have learned, grown, made new friendships, and stretched their artist comfort zones – and for this we are proud. Thank you to our amazing cast and crew! We will be back, and can’t wait for next year!
Our Lion King Journey
What an amazing artistic journey we had together. It didn’t end as expected, but the memories we made will live on forever. Remember, you are resilient, you are brave, and you are courageous. Go JPAS! Enjoy our video memoir. Please visit our JPAS Connect page – a virtual way to stay engaged, creative, and mindful!
Can you feel the love? Come see our JPAS actors perform in this Tony award-winning musical through the African savanna. Embrace Simba, Rafiki, and Mufasa along with an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle…and back again, in this inspiring, coming-of-age tale. The Lion King JR will sweep audiences off their feet in this epic adventure.
If you need additional information, please contact Director of J Performing Arts Space, Alise Robinson, at arobinson@jccdallas.org.
Look out for the reveal of our next main-stage production!
Auditions in January 2020 (ages 7 – 18)!
- Sunday, January 12
- Ages: 7 – 10
- 1:30 – 5:30 pm
- Monday, January 13
- Ages: 11 – 18
- 4:30 – 8:30 pm
Email arobinson@jccdallas.org for more information. In the meantime, make sure to check out our fall programming. We have Musical Revues, Master Workshops, and private lessons.
Linda Leonard has directed at the JCC since 2000. She has been a professional director, choreographer, teacher, actor (AEA,SAG/AFTRA), singer, and dancer for over 45 years, here in the Metroplex and in NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles, and abroad. Linda was in the Broadway national tour of Cats. Linda has directed or choreographed for WaterTower Theatre, Stage West, Circle Theatre, Echo Theatre, CitiRep, and Theatre Three to name a few in Dallas and Fort Worth. Linda was the Education Director for WaterTower Theatre (3 years), is a professor at KD Conservatory, and her credits include award-winning roles such as Ann Richards (Critics Forum and Column Awards) and Aurora in The Kiss of The Spiderwoman (Leon Rabin, Column and Critics Forum Awards). Linda also has numerous credits in film and television, and is represented by The Horne Agency in Dallas/LA, and directed a web series about autism, “Saving Hope”, which premiered in March of 2019. Linda is dedicated to the process of creativity, nurturing, and empowering young artists in every aspect of the arts. She resides in Dallas with her talented husband, actor Bill Jenkins, and her furry children, Lola and Mocha. She is grateful to Alise Robinson for all her wonderful work with JPAS.
Larry Borero has been a professional dancer, choreographer, director, actor, singer, teacher, and mentor for over 20 years. He has a passion for teaching children the art of theatre and providing youth of all ages the opportunity to grow, learn, create, and believe in themselves. Born and raised in southern California, Larry began his career working for the Walt Disney Company and performed in multiple stage shows, parades, and commercials. His training with the Pacific Ballet Company ignited his passion for dance. Larry has directed and choreographed at theaters all over the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Regional credits include Madagascar Jr., The Little Mermaid Jr., James and the Giant Peach Jr., Honk Jr., Forever Plaid, Bye Bye Birdie, the regional premier of Billy Elliott, The Producers, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Hairspray, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Funny Girl, and more. Other credits include School House Rock, The Wizard of Oz, Oliver, and It’s a Wonderful Life. Larry lives in Euless, Texas with his husband Blake and beautiful dog Lucy. He works on corporate strategies for Bank of America during the day and devotes his free time to enhancing children’s lives through theatre. He is a firm believer in former President Barack Obama’s quote, “The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.”
Tickets Now on Sale!
Hakuna Cast
- Thursday, March 26 at 7 pm
- Sunday, March 29 at 2 & 6 pm
Creative Team
- Producer: Alise Robinson
- Director: Larry Borero
- Music Director: Joseph Burnam
- Choreographer: Rachel Smith
- Costume Designer: Sakura Brunette
Matata Cast
- Thursday, April 2 at 7 pm
- Sunday, April 5 at 2 & 6 pm
Creative Team
- Producer: Alise Robinson
- Director: Linda Leonard
- Assistant Director: Liz Carr
- Music Director: Ian Mead Moore
- Choreographer: Skylar Duvall
- Costume Designer: Sakura Brunette
Pricing
- Adult: $15
- Child/senior: $12
Zale Auditorium
Aaron Family JCC
7900 Northaven Rd
Dallas, TX 75230
Parent Information
Each actor will receive one complimentary ticket.
MANDATORY PARENT MEETING | SUNDAY, JANUARY 19 AT 4:45 PM
Please join me for an important parent meeting on the first day of rehearsals.
Our meeting will start promptly at 4:45 pm in Fruhman A
Official pick-up is at 5:30 pm
Begins Sunday, January 19 (1:30 – 5:30 pm)
Hakuna Cast
- Weekly Rehearsals: Sundays, January 19 – March 22
- Tech Week: March 23, 24, 25 (4:30 – 8:30 pm)
- Performances:
- Thursday, March 26 at 7 pm
- Sunday, March 29 at 2 & 6 pm
Matata Cast
- Weekly Rehearsals: Sundays, January 19 – March 29
- Tech Week: March 30, 31, April 1 (4:30 – 8:30 pm)
- Performances:
- Thursday, April 2 at 7 pm
- Sunday, April 5 at 2 & 6 pm
Hakuna Cast
- Thursday, March 26 at 7 pm
- Sunday, March 29 at 2 & 6 pm
Matata Cast
- Thursday, April 2 at 7 pm
- Sunday, April 5 at 2 & 6 pm
Please share these resources with your actor each week so they can be ready for the next rehearsal.
Dear Theater Families,
We have a great opportunity to make lasting memories in print. By advertising in our Lion King JR Playbill, not only will you touch the hearts of your hard-working performers, but you can also help us grow our performing arts program. The J Performing Arts is committed to igniting the spark of creativity in our youth by providing top-notch theater/performance programs with the best instructors Dallas has to offer. We have amazing things coming down the pike and your contributions will REALLY make a difference! Thank you for being incredible supporters of the arts at the J! We greatly appreciate you and your amazing children.
All proceeds help fund the JPAS program throughout the year, allowing us to be one of the preeminent youth performing arts programs in DFW.
Deadline to purchase ads: Wednesday, February 5
3 Reasons to Place an Ad
All proceeds help fund the JPAS Program throughout the year, allowing us to be one of the preeminent Youth Performing Arts Programs in DFW.
- It’s a great way to show your love and support for your child or friend!
- Friends and family who can’t attend can still send their good wishes!
- Both small or large businesses can promote their companies to over 1,000 target audience members (mostly men and women 35 – 55 years old with children).
How to Purchase an Ad
- Click the ‘purchase ad’ button below, select an ad, and pay for whichever size ad you want.
- After your ad is purchased, send an email to arobinson@jccdallas.org that includes what size ad you purchased along with your “note” and/or a high-res 300 DPI JPG (picture) you would like to use in the ad. Sending a picture is optional. You may also send your ad already designed as a high-res JPG or PDF. Otherwise, we will create your ad for you.
- MUST WRITE IN SUBJECT LINE: “actor’s name” followed by the word “Ad” and what cast they are in (example: Alise Robinson – Ad – Hakuna Cast).
Pricing
- A Cuddle (full-page; 7.5w x 9.5) – $350
- A Kiss (½-page; 7.5w x 4.75) – $225
- A Hug (¼-page; 3.5w x 5) – $125
- A Peck (⅛-page; 3.5w x 2.5) – $75
Due date: Wednesday, February 5
Every actor will need to submit a bio for the playbill. If it is not received by February 5, it will not be placed in the playbill.
How to Write Your Actor’s Bio
First sentence must read as follows: Performer’s name, role, age, grade and what school they attend (in that order).
Please be mindful to italicize production names and capitalize when necessary. Refer to the sample below for guidance.
Lindsey Fetter (Egg/Who/Fish/Circus Person) is 9 and is in 3rd grade at Parish Episcopal School. She has participated in past JPAS Productions including The Little Mermaid JR. and Guys and Dolls JR. Lindsey also loves being on the JCC Gems gymnastics team and the Parish Heartbreakers soccer team. Her favorite musical is Annie. Lindsey would like to thank everyone who has helped to make Seussical JR. a terrific show!
How to Send In Your Actor’s Bio
Email your actor’s bio to arobinson@jccdallas.org no later than Wednesday, February 5. MUST WRITE IN THE SUBJECT LINE the “actor’s name,” followed by the word “BIO” and what cast they are in.
Example of subject line: Alise Robinson – BIO – Hakuna Cast
Production Info
All actors must completely fill out the audition form and bring three copies to auditions. Actors also need to bring three headshots (does not need to be professional quality); please have a headshot paper-clipped to each audition form. Any and all conflicts MUST be listed clearly on the audition form. Attendance is needed for rehearsals; tech week is mandatory.
If you are in grades 7 – 12 and would like to audition for the role of Rafiki for a chance to receive 50% OFF registration, please see the ‘Rafiki Auditions’ tab for details. All other roles will audition according to the ages, dates, and times below.
Ages: 7 – 10
- Sunday, January 12
- 1:00 – 5:30 pm
- Group Fitness Studio
Ages 11 – 18
- Monday, January 13
- 4:30 – 8:30 pm
- Zale Auditorium
Please select one of the following songs to perform during auditions. Song choice does not indicate which role you’ll be cast. If/when printing the sheet music PDFs, make sure to check ‘fit to page’ before printing (this will ensure nothing is cut off).
Can You Feel the Love Tonight?
I Just Can’t Wait to Be King
Rafiki is a mysterious and wise mandrill!
Search for Rafiki Open Casting Call Contest
Two actors, boys or girls, grades 7 – 12 only will receive a 50% off registration if selected to play Rafiki in our upcoming production of The Lion King JR! Please check the rehearsal schedule to ensure you do not have any conflicts. If you need to select a specific cast, please advise at time of your audition.
If you would like to audition for a different role, please see the ‘All-Cast Auditions’ tab.
- Auditions: Tuesday, January 7 (5:30 – 8:00 pm)
- Boys or girls Grades 7 – 12 only
- In order to audition for this contest, you MUST click here to reserve your audition time slot.
- All actors must fill out the audition form (three copies) and bring three headshots (does not need to be professional quality).
- Be prepared to perform the Rafiki scene (or see button below)
- Be prepared to sing ‘Circle of Life’ (see MP3 & sheet music PDFs below)
- If/when printing the sheet music PDFs, make sure to check ‘fit to page’ before printing (this will ensure nothing is cut off)
- You do not need to register for the show to participate in the open casting call contest for Rafiki
- If you want to be cast in the show, regardless if you’re selected as Rafiki, you must register before Monday, January 6.
- If selected as Rafiki, you will receive 50% off your registration!
Begins Sunday, January 19 (1:30 – 5:30 pm)
Rehearsal Schedule Hakuna Cast
- Weekly Rehearsals: Sundays, January 19 – March 22
- Tech Week: March 23, 24, 25 (4:30 – 8:30 pm)
- Performances:
- Thursday, March 26 at 7 pm
- Sunday, March 29 at 2 & 6 pm
Rehearsal Schedule Matata Cast
- Weekly Rehearsals: Sundays, January 19 – March 29
- Tech Week: March 30, 31, April 1 (4:30 – 8:30 pm)
- Performances:
- Thursday, April 2 at 7 pm
- Sunday, April 5 at 2 & 6 pm
Hakuna Cast
- Thursday, March 26 at 7 pm
- Sunday, March 29 at 2 & 6 pm
Matata Cast
- Thursday, April 2 at 7 pm
- Sunday, April 5 at 2 & 6 pm
Member: $535
Non-member: $595
Register on or before Saturday, November 30 and save 10%!
| Member | Non-member | |
| Before December 1 | $472.50 | $535.50 |
| After December 1 | $535 | $595 |
MANDATORY PARENT MEETING
Sunday, January 19 at 4:45 pm
Please join me for an important parent meeting on the first day of rehearsals.
- Our meeting will start promptly at 4:45 pm in Fruhman A
- Official pick-up is at 5:30 pm
This workshop is designed to help prepare all our Lion King JR actors for audition day.
If you are planning to audition for JPAS’ Spring production, get a leg up and sign-up for this one day workshop! Discuss the backstory and overarching themes of the “The Lion King JR,” learn this year’s audition songs “Can you Feel The Love Tonight” and “I Just Can’t Wait To be King.” Learn how to work with an accompanist, master how to tell a story through song, sharpen your vocal and audition techniques, work with our show’s choreographers, and learn the audition sequence too so you can walk into this audition with confidence!
- Sunday, January 5
- 2 – 5 pm
- Ages: 7 – 18
- Member: $100 | Non-member: $125
- Artistic Staff: JPAS Lion King Production Team
Tickets Now On Sale!
| Online/advance | At door | |
| Adult | $10 | $12 |
| Child/senior | $5 | $7 |
Zale Auditorium
Aaron Family JCC
7900 Northaven Rd
Dallas, TX 75230
Disney’s The Lion King JR.
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
www.mtishows.com
DIRECTED BY
Larry Borero: Director (Hakuna Cast)
Linda Leonard: Director (Matata Cast)
Performance DVDs
$25 each
Please purchase before Tuesday, April 30 to reserve a copy.
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