Wilmington Performing Arts and our production of Disney's The Lion King, Jr. would not be possible if it weren't for the amazing support of our community, volunteers and extended family. It takes a village or in this case, maybe it takes a jungle. Thanks for being a part of our Circle of Life.
We appreciate Winter Park Elementary and the use of their drums and Wilmington Academy of Arts and Sciences for the use of several costumes, projections and set pieces.
Thank you Grace Hassell of Hassell Free Photography for coordinating cast member headshots and promo photos and contributing to our social media efforts. And thank you Phillip Pacaldo for taking beautiful photographs during our performance to capture these special moments.
Our amazing costumes are in part due to the talent and efforts of Brittany Allen, Linda Allen, Jenny Peterson (great Zazu), Jessica Hinson, Britt Boerigter, Sarah Karafas and Shandra Gilles. In addition to our homemade costume efforts, we also thank the team who helped to unpack and sort through the Treehouse Theatre Co costume rentals including Kate Chabus, Taylor Doyle, Mari Jabely, Shandra Gilles and Liz Bonfanti.
Kudos to Liz Bonfanti for leading the charge with props to help bring this production to life. And to Diana Leath for your props assistance as well.
Minnie Evans is a huge stage and it takes a huge effort to fill that space with our beautiful set pieces. Carpentry skills and creativity shout outs to Mike Estrem, John Rivenbark, Jenny Peterson, Meri Zirckel, Jessica Hinson, Britt Boerigter, Kate Chabus and Mari Jabaley (hello elephant skull).
Jeremy Joesting with set pieces to fill the stage, we appreciate you allowing us to fill your compuany truck (time and time again) to move items big and small to and from the theatre!
Once our production moves from storage units, studios and garage spaces, there's so much work to be done at the theatre. Shandra Gilles created our amazing concessions display and photo op, Lora Pacaldo and Jenny Peterson created our cast promo boards, Amy Carmichael and Chanda Fiskin organized tech week meals, and Lily Chabus jumped in to direct makeup backstage along with Tara Echeverry, Ingrid Stenzel and Winnie Wilson.
A special thanks to Teri Moylan and John Robins for coordinating efforts of sponsors, raffle items, and marketing the show and to Mandy Dawson for her artistic and techical guidance.
And to every single individual who contributed any amount of time working towards loading in and loading out, ticket sales, concessions, raffle sales, stage ninjas, dressing room and mic check volunteers, make up and costume quick changes and to those who picked up a broom to help us clean up - thank you for stepping in. Often we don't even know who all jumps in because you do so with grace and so often without having to be asked simply because you care! You are all amazing.
And to Melissa Zylich for being our board liaison for The Lion King we send you a big Hakuna Matata! We knew there'd be no worries with you leading the charge. Thank you for the way you have supported Wilmington Performing Arts over the years and for being such a driving force on our board of directors.
Thank you also to Lisa Peck for her years of service to Wilmington Performing Arts and her commitment to keeping the organization going through COVID and organizational turnover. We appreciate you and wish you luck as you "retire" from the WPA board.
