We recently had the opportunity to see the touring production of Disney's Lion King. It was breathtaking; flawless choreography, beautiful voices, elaborate sets and colorful costumes.The dancers were talented and energetic and the life-sized puppetry actually inspired memories of being on safari in Africa.
As an unexpected bonus I met a new friend -- a dancer in this show, who took us on a backstage tour. We got to stand on the stage of Grady Gammage Auditorium and gain the cast's perspective. We saw how they suspend the zebras and hyenas on chains to quickly drop onto dancers.We even got to meet the performers out of costume.
Did it ruin the magic? Hardly. Sometimes knowing more about how the show's produced and who's under the costumes and behind the scenes results in even greater appreciation. Knowing that about 100 people tour and nearly 50 people are hired locally to make this spectacle happen broadens the magnitude. More than 15 big trucks haul the set from city to city as it is broken down and reconstructed.
We sat in our seats while this experience enchanted us for a couple of hours. Then (for us) it was over. But the investment of time, energy and talent it took to create this gift is astounding. In our hurry-up, movie-going world, some of this would surely have been lost on me if I hadn't been allowed this little glimpse backstage. The value of my $100 ticket suddenly seemed like an extreme bargain.
It is easy to "buy a ticket" and "sit in our seat" as we watch God all around us. We often forget that we have an open invitation to be behinds the scenes, learning first-hand the investment it takes to make the "circle of life" continue. Take advantage of this magnificent opportunity to fully appreciate the intricacies and investment of time spent listening to our concerns, meeting our needs and bringing comfort. Stand on-stage with THE producer and truly marvel at what He's doing: again and again.
Diane Markins
