THE LION KING Auditions start in Madrid

Auditions have been held by Stage International Executive Producer Rijk Brouwer; Disney Theatricals team, John Stefaniuk (Associated Director), Clement Ishmael (Musical Director), Marey Griffith (Choreographer); and, from Stage Spain, Moira Chapman (Artistic Director) and Arnau Vila (Musical Director).

BroadwayWorld Spain was there to capture the casting proccess, where we have talked with Moira Chapman, who is very excited about this upcoming project. "This is a masterpiece, a musical for the whole family, with wonderful arrangements, full of african rhythms and percussion. It's impossible not to like it!."

About the auditions, Moira has said that "it is a very difficult casting process because it's a story set in Africa and the challenge is to remain faithful to that spirit." The cast will have to speak in different languages, so they'll need to look for some of the roles outside Spain. Director has been very clear about the skills they're expecting in the auditionees: "We have a very specific profile in mind," she admits. "We need an ethnic quality, and a lot of energy for this cast."

For those actors who will be chosen today, working in this musical will be a great experiencia where they can learn not only outrageous choreographies but also act with puppets, among other things. The director expressed this saying "the actor will be in heaven with this show."

THE LION KING began as a 1994 animated feature-length film developed and produced by the Walt Disney Company. On stage, Director Julie Taymor's creative vision blends elements of African art and Broadway artisanship to depict anthropomorphic animal characters. The story, a coming of age parable set among animals indigenous to the African savanna, tells the tale of Simba, the lion cub who rises to be the King of the jungle.

Photo Credit: Juanjo Gonzalez