By Wendi Reardon Price
Clarkston News Staff Writer
 INDEPENDENCE TWP. — Performers from the Clarkston Junior High School Drama Club were filling the performing arts center with familiar songs as they get ready to present “Disney’s The Lion King, Jr.,” Nov. 9-11.
Freshmen Maya Moshier, playing adult Nala, and Rodrigo Garcia, playing adult Simba, shared it’s cool to bring the story to the stage.
“It’s such a well known story,” said Moshier. “I think a lot of people are surrounded by ‘The Lion King’ especially when you are growing up. It’s cool to bring that because it’s such an amazing thing on stage.”
“It’s really fun,” Garcia added. “It’s fun getting into character, and how I want to portray my character.”
“The Lion King, Jr.” is based on the Broadway production and Disney movie which follows the story of the lion Simba from a cub who is destined to take over the kingdom but leaves his home after his father’s death.
“It’s taking your spot and what you need to do, taking your responsibility like Simba taking over the kingdom and saving his kingdom even though he was scared what people would think of him after they found out that he was the one who caused his father’s death even though Scar was the true reason,” Garcia said.
He shared Simba is a character who wants to seem brave when he’s young.
“But truly he is just scared and curious about everything,” Garcia said. “Later he becomes lazy with that and chill about everything. When his friends and Nala find him, and he hears about what’s going on in the kingdom he wants to be someone people look up to. As someone who saves the kingdom and helps them get back to where they were before Scar took over.”
“Nala is someone who lost her best friend and to deal with that she goes through her life as she gets older and does what she feels Simba would do because she saw him as a strong, powerful figure,” Moshier said about her character. “She portrays no matter who you are, you can take power and take charge in what you believe in. When she finally finds him, she tries to comfort and finds different struggles.”
The performances begin at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday Nov. 11 at the CJHS Performing Arts Center. Tickets are sold at the door for $5 each and are general admission. There are no reserved seats.
“It’s a cool experience for people to see with talent from local people in their community especially the junior high,” Moshier said. “A chance to see the performing arts side of Clarkston.”
“It will be really fun for kids to watch this,” Garcia added. “There’s so many animals and so many characters. It’s fun to see the characters come to life.”

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