DeltaARTS’ Crittenden Youth Theatre presents ‘Disney’s The Lion King, JR’

Catch one of two performances this weekend at West Memphis PAC

DeltaARTS Development & Communications Director Disney’s “The Lion King” has captivated the imagination of audiences around the world, and now DeltaARTS has brought this one-of-a-kind musical to West Memphis, presented by DeltaARTS’ own Crittenden Youth Theatre (CYT).

Directed by Emma Crystal and produced by Delta-ARTS Artistic Director Jayme Stokes with musical direction by Amanda Daly, “Disney’s The Lion King, JR” brings the African Savannah to life on stage with beloved characters Simba, Mufasa, Lala, Zazu, Rafiki and more as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle… and back again, in this inspiring, coming-ofage musical. Public performances are Friday and Saturday, Nov.

8 and 9, at 7 p.m., at the Academies of West Memphis Performing Arts Center, 501 W. Broadway in West Memphis (northwest corner of the campus at Pearce and Oliver). Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students, and may be purchased in advance at deltaarts.org or at the door.

The cast for “Disney’s The Lion King JR” include: Lane Blair, Taleeah Booth, Elise Brazile, Tiffany Carroll, Rachel Coe, Madison Conley, Kelsey Conley, Lillian Densford, Elijah Doss, Lyla Dulli, Ruthie Elliott, Evan Ernst, Tori Faulkner, Emma Forrest, Cailyn Grammer, Kenton Hamilton, Jomari Henderson, Cameron Hicks, Zackary Kaiser, Adrienne Lewis, Joniya Lewis, Jomiya Lewis, Zachary Mathis, Leora Maufas, Amouria Maufas, Julia McCracken, Jackson McGinnis, Jackson Mc-Gruder.

Payton McLain, Isabella McMorris, Takiyah Miller, Claire Mitchell, Caroline Mitchell, Michael Oatsvall, Monica Procknaw, Savannah Rene, D’Kiya Ross, Kiersten Rupert, Isabel Schmidt, Gavin Smith, Sophia Soto, Sadie Soto, Shyterrion Spencer, Brooklyn Stewart, Dacy-Lynn Summers, Kortnee Sykes, Rayshard Tyler, Christopher Valentine, Ava Walker, Isaiah Watson, Tamiya Weatherspoon, Siddalee Weaver, and Gwen Wright.

The 2019-2020 CYT season is generously sponsored by Evolve Bank & Trust and The Morris Foundation. “Disney’s The Lion King, JR” is sponsored by State Rep. Deborah and Dr. Scott Ferguson. The Crittenden Youth Theatre program is open to children in kindergarten through twelfth grade, and offers local students the chance to study theatre arts with professional directors and instructors.

Established in 1972, DeltaARTS provides quality imaginative arts education to more than 12,000 Delta residents through a variety of programs. DeltaARTS is a graduate of Momentum’s Program for Nonprofit Excellence, and is a two-time recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Award for Excellence in Arts Education (2003 and 2015).