GLS and I saw "The Lion King" (Disney on Broadway) Friday night at the University of Texas at Austin Performing Arts Center. I was glad to see the center remodeled (hooray for fire code!).As far as the production goes, the costumes and sets were impressive. The performers all did a wonderful job, though I have no idea how they managed to dance so well with the puppets and so forth to navigate. I was wowed by the opening number.
It's always interesting to study how a story will be adapted from one venue to another. Compared the film, the play seemed somewhat rushed--I was glad I'd seen the movie so I already knew the story. Also the role of Nala was beefed up and that of Sarabi reduced. All in all, I highly recommend it, but maybe hold off for fidgety children under age 8 (or go to an earlier performance).
On Saturday night, we attended a private party in celebration of Denise Schmadt-Besserat's latest book, When Writing Met Art: From Symbol to Story (University of Texas Press, 2007). Denise also is the author of a children's picture book, The History of Counting, illustrated by Michael Hays (Morrow, 1999). Read an interview with Denise.
Spooky Links
"Presenting...Cynthia Leitich Smith:" a Girlfriends Cyber Circuit interview by Lara M. Zeises of Girl Uninterrupted: the rambling confessions of a not-so dangerous mind. Lara's books include Anyone But You (Delacorte, 2005), which was a A Pennsylvania School Library Association Fiction Selection for 2005-06 and A Teen People Top 10 Pick. Read a Cynsations interview with Lara.
Thanks to it's not just a sunset, it's a moonrise too, Tantalize by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick, 2007) readers may join a new MySpace group, Tantalize Fans Unite!
By the way, if you're looking for a dentist in the Austin area, Mollie Kentor is the best.
