“Hakuna Matata!”
André Jackson as “Simba” and the Ensemble singing “He Lives In You.”Photo Credit: Joan Marcus; ©Disney
Star
The Lion King is a theatre musical that will take your breath away. The power and part in the show and, in my opinion, the hardest. There is a perfect performance
TimoThy
majesty of this production is a prime example of the magic that Broadway can in my mind’s eye, but i’ve never managed to give it. So i enjoy chasing that elusive
offer. For over ten years now, The Lion King and the story of the rite of passage for performance.
Simba the lion has been known worldwide. Winning six Tony awards and numer- Rage: What do you consider one of your favorite musical moments in The Lion King?
CarTer
ous other accolades, the touring production is set to stun San Diego audiences TC: i adore the South african music that Lebo m has composed for the show.
from october 13 through November 8 at the San Diego Civic Theatre. With an of elton John’s songs, i like “Circle of Life”—particularly as performed by Phindile
and
amazing score by elton John and Tim rice, it is time to get your tickets and join in mkhize, our exquisite rafiki. her voice is superhuman, really.
the “Circle of Life.” The Rage Monthly spoke with The Lion King star Timothy Carter, Rage: Please share a bit of background on your career so far in the theatre…where did you
The Lion King
who portrays “Scar,” to learn more about the amazing appeal of the show. train? Did you always know you wanted to be an actor?
TC: i got my mFa in acting from Brandeis University. But i’ve also spent a great
Rage: The history of the show is so incredible, taking an animated film and bringing it to life deal of time training independently in New york. i’ll never stop training and trying
on stage is so phenomenal…had you seen the production before you were starring in it? to get better, and i look forward to starting classes again when i return to New
Timothy Carter: yes, i went to see the Broadway production a day or two before york. No, i didn’t always know i wanted to be an actor. i played violin as a kid, and i
auditioning for the tour. The actor playing Scar, Patrick Page, gave a marvelous was good without having to try hard. But i started taking acting classes in college
performance. your readers might know him from his recent performances in and i became fascinated by psychology and human behavior. i still am.
Twelfth Night and Cyrano de Bergerac at The old Globe. Rage: Movement is such a crucial part of The Lion King, what was the process like for you in
also, as with most auditions, i had only been given a couple of short scenes. So getting your movement just right?
it was good to see how the character fit into the larger scheme of things. But it was TC: much of the movement has been strictly choreographed, so it’s rather like
a bit overwhelming, since i had never auditioned for a musical—or for a show of learning dance steps or stage combat. The costume and mask are heavy and awk-
this size. ward, so working with them is a challenge. my predecessor, Dan Donohue, was
Rage: I know it’s unbelievable but I’ve never seen the Disney film or the stage musical… particularly skilled and expressive in his movement and mask work. So i was able to
please describe Scar to me and what you enjoy most about playing this part. study him and see the possibilities. But i’m always working on these elements. By
TC: Scar is the younger brother of the Lion King, mufasa. he has always lived now, they’re pretty good—but they can always be better.
under the shadow of his older, stronger brother, and he feels cheated of the Rage: How would you describe the magic of The Lion King?
adoration that his brother receives. he is vastly more intelligent than his brother, TC: i credit Julie Taymor with the show’s longevity. She’s a visionary of the the-
he feels—and therefore more worthy of respect. hence, his decision to use his atre, and her visual imagination is spectacular. The images that she has created
cunning to take the crown. are unforgettable, and they’re the reason that everyone, young and old, seems
i enjoy the emotional, physical and vocal challenge of the role. it’s the largest to love the show.
OctOber 2009 | RAGE monthly 11
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