When faith and the arts collide, it can produce something beautiful.
A place where children and youth can pursue their passion for the arts in a faith-based environment, the Hillside Arts Academy will again show the beauty of this relationship through its next production, The Lion King, Jr.
Showing this Friday and Sunday, the four performances will feature more than 70 students ages 6-15 from Hillside and our community. The show will also include puppets from Canada’s Odd-Lot Puppet Company.
After months of rehearsing, preparing, planning and praying, the students are ready to show off their hard work in the beloved Disney classic. Their love of performing and a belief that God has called them to this journey is what has fueled these kids along the way.
For Aiden Meyendert, who plays the role of the adult Simba, this experience has been a blessing and dream come true. In addition to teaching him some new methods of acting, it has also strengthened his prayer life with God.
“This show has taken me to a whole new level of praying,” he said. “I’m so grateful.”
For Hope Albright, playing the role of Rafiki has been enlightening on a personal level.
“I’m from Kenya, Africa, so it’s been really fun for me to get to learn some of the Swahili,” Hope said. “I think that it’s really cool that I get to learn more about the setting. I’m just really really happy I got to be a part of the show and learn more about my family heritage.”
Many students in the production see their faith strengthened and shaped along the journey. Hope said her favorite part of The Lion King, Jr. is when Rafiki convinces Simba to return home.
“It shows us how God does this for us,” she said. “He leads us back to our rightful place, to where we need to be. And He will bonk us on the head if He really needs to.”