"Hakuna matata" is a Swahili phrase, meaning "no trouble" or "no worries" and "take it easy." That message was the selling point for director Michelle Moriarity when she selected “Lion King Jr.” for Wells Middle Schools’ theater comeback after COVID.
“I was drawn to this show in particular due to the light heartedness and joyful tone it takes to the harsh topic of change,” said Moriarity.
Thirty-one students were in the show and they had only eight weeks to rehearse, but they pulled it off to packed crowds this weekend without a hitch.
“It was better than Broadway,” said Principal Christian Hernandez.
“I loved being a lioness because I love the “Circle of Life " song, said Alexandra Moravick, “and I got to do a big leap in that scene, which is so flowy and beautiful.”
Analise Delzio, a sixth grader, said the hardest thing about the show is the ending, “There are so many moving parts, everyone is in it, doing their own thing, but we had to work together.”
One of the bigger roles, Pumba, went to Serafina Cuomo, “It was easy to memorize all of my lines–I love my character, Pumba is such a spirited little guy.”
Maria Rosella, a Teacher's Assistant, who helped with the show said, “Serafina has the cha-cha-cha!”
Lions and hyenas and gazelles and heroes and villains and lots of great music and dancing and the message can’t be beat: Hakuna Matata.