‘Lion King’ roars into O.C.
Talk about the circle of life.
When Richard Hudson was growing up in Zimbabwe, he’d marvel at the savannah’s untouched landscape and night sky.
Now the scenic designer has drawn out these visual elements from his childhood to conceptualize the stage environment for “The Lion King” — a Disney hit that will be prowling Segerstrom Center for the Arts from Oct. 6 through Nov. 1.
“It’s the most exciting job for me because I can use my background for theater,” said Hudson from Milan, Italy, where he was visiting. “For me, the most influential elements were the colors of the land and the scale of the sky. To this day, my favorite scene is in the very beginning when the clouds rise.”
Hudson, who has designed sets and costumes for the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, won a Tony in 1998 for his set designs for “The Lion King.”
His memories of the African country’s patterns, textures and colors, he said, all influenced his development of the musical’s scenery.
The result was prop pieces depicting a sunrise and backdrops that replicate the desert and the sky.
“I worked on the designs for five months, every day,” said Hudson, who worked alongside Julie Taymor, the musical’s director since its first tour in 1997. “The biggest pleasure is watching children watch it and how thrilled they are to see it. I want children and adults to enjoy it. It’s such a fantastic experience.”
Now in its 18th year, the musical based on the Disney animated film with music by Elton John, remains one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. The production has been seen by more than 80 million people and was crowned the highest-grossing show ever at $6.2 billion.
The plot centers on lion cub Simba, whose father rules not only the lions but all the animals in the jungle. Simba’s uncle Scar is envious that he is not next in line to the throne, so he plots to kill his brother and Simba so he can become king.
It takes a production crew of more than 100 people to carry off a story filled with giraffes, hyenas and elephants.
Stage manager Matthew Shiner, who has worked on two other Disney musicals, said it’s been a creative challenge to organize and coordinate the schedules of so many actors, musicians, hair and makeup artists and craftspeople.
But the typical days of running rehearsals from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., followed by a short dinner break and then back to practice have been rewarding, he said.
“It’s one of my kids’ favorite stories,” Shiner said. “My son watched it every day and it’s become a part of my psyche. The over-the-top spectacle and cultural elements that tell the story make me want to create it 10 times better. I’m just humbled and honored to be on this team.”
The North American tour requires 18 trucks to transport puppets, set pieces and other materials from city to city. The 13-by-9-foot elephant puppet can be a challenge. Four actors are needed to walk her down the orchestra aisle.
The production also demands several days of prep work upon arrival at each city, including unpacking the masks and characters, conducting technical rehearsals and ensuring that the site is properly wired and accommodate the show.
Such preparation, Shiner said, will be fulfilling on opening night, when he watches the audience’s reactions.
“Being a part of the show’s history — it’s just amazing,” Shiner said. “This is a fantastic company with the best backstage crew. It’s really special and magical, and I’m thankful for that feeling every day.”
*
IF YOU GO
What: Disney’s “The Lion King”
When: Oct. 6 to Nov. 1: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: Tickets start at $31
Information: call (714) 556-2787 or visit scfta.org.