Pinoy kids on being part of The Lion King: It changed our lives!

What can kids like you learn from The Lion King?

Kyle: Always chase your dreams. Always go for the truth and never give up!

Uma: Always follow your heart and don’t let anyone get in your way. Just go for your dreams.

Sheena: Have faith in yourself always!

JJ: Never give up and don’t let anybody discourage you.

Omar: Always be brave.

Gabriel: Things can hurt but you can’t run from it, you have to face it!

MANILA, Philippines — What does the future of Philippine theater (and entertainment!) look like? It’s not hard to imagine that it’s going to look a lot like the young cast of The Lion King.

JJ Dolor, 12; Uma Martin, 9; Omar Uddin, 10; Sheena Bentoy, 9; Gabriel Tiongson, 12; and Kyle Napuli, 11, are the Filipino kids cast in the first-ever international tour production of Disney’s The Lion King. Super promising, plucky and lucky, these kids alternately play the Young Simba and Young Nala roles in the musical, which is now down to its last week at The Theatre of Solaire Resort & Casino, after being extended thrice by its producers. They will be joining the show’s next run in Singapore and then South Korea, after the Manila leg comes to a close on May 27.

The Lion King is presented by Michael Cassel Group and Concertus Manila in association with Disney Theatrical Productions. Co-presenting sponsors in Manila are Globe and Visa.

The STAR had an exclusive interview with the child actors at the backstage of the production over the weekend.

Did they ever feel nervous or scared to be part of such an acclaimed production? “No!” they all chorused. Instead, “very blessed,” “very thankful,” “very excited” and “very happy” were how these bright young things described their stint in the megahit musical. A little bit nervous, yes, but mostly excited, they further claimed.

Here are excerpts from the fun and laughter-filled chat with Kyle, Uma, Sheena, JJ, Omar and Gabriel:

How did you prepare for the musical and for your roles as the Young Nala and Young Simba? 

Kyle: I watched the movie so many times like I learned the music!

Uma: I learned the music, I listened to what they were saying and I was just trying to be prepared.

Sheena: I researched some things about Young Nalas who I know, like how does Young Nala act and like, what her potential is.

JJ: I did some research on the Internet and what Simba’s character is, like how he acts.

Omar: I just rested and waited for the start of the rehearsal. I got prepared, and I went to singing schools.

Gabriel: Mostly the same with Omar, I just rested a lot (laughter).

What’s the most fun and most difficult part of doing the show?

Kyle: Probably incorporating lion movements in performing and listening to the actors. It was difficult but it was also fun.

Uma: For the fun part, it was meeting the cast, meeting the director, meeting people from different countries. But for the difficult part, it was learning the movements of the lion cub and how to be fierce like Young Nala.

Sheena: The same as their opinions. Because being Young Nala is really hard. The difficult part is really to be fierce. The fun part was meeting the whole cast and having fun!

JJ: The most difficult part, at first, was when I rode the ostrich for the first time and the most fun part or the most exciting part was getting lifted up in the song Can’t Wait to be King.

Omar: Difficult part… when they lift me because I can’t find my balance, because they’re just holding my feet not my back. The most fun part was meeting the international production here in the Philippines. Right in front of me!

Gabriel: Me, the most difficult and most fun part was the emotional baggage of Young Simba. It’s really fun to integrate what you’re doing there. But it’s also really hard to stay there.

What’s the best advice given to you by your older co-actors?

Kyle: My favorite was, be always in the moment and listen to your co-actors.

Uma: Always be truthful and imagine yourself with that character, what would you do if you were that character.

Sheena: Be confident with yourself!

JJ: It was to be honest, always be truthful, and also sharing the story to the audience.

Omar: Always listen and yes, same as them. Always be truthful.

What can fellow kids learn from The Lion King?

Kyle: Always chase your dreams. Always go for the truth and never give up!

Uma: Always follow your heart and don’t let anyone get in your way, just go for your dreams.

Sheena: Have faith in yourself always!

Gabriel: Never give up and don’t let anybody discourage you.

Omar: Always be brave.

Gabriel: Things can hurt but you can’t run from it, you have to face it!

If you were to play another Disney character, what would that be?

Kyle: I would want to be Anna in Frozen. 

Uma: I would like to be Elsa in Frozen.

Sheena: I would like to be Arielle in The Little Mermaid.

JJ: I’d like to be, hmm, can I say two? I’d like to be Big Simba and Sebastian from The Little Mermaid.

Omar: I’d like to be Aladdin in Aladdin the Musical, and I would be the genie.

Gabriel: I would be the same with him, or Ursula!

What was your first acting role?

Kyle: I was Becky in A Little Princess and I was eight years old that time.

Uma: I was Lottie in A Little Princess and I was like, six years old.

Sheena: This is my first show and I’m really happy because it’s international and it’s the No. 1 musical.

JJ: This is my first show, same as her (Sheena), I’m really happy and excited ‘coz it’s international and I got the role when I was 11 and now I’m 12. I saw the (ad) for auditions in a newspaper. I tried to audition and got the part! To God be the glory, I got it.

Omar: For me, I was seven years old and my first role was in Emperor’s New Clothes. I was the narrator there.

Gabriel: I was Tiny Tim in Scrooge and I was nine. Yes, I always wanted to be an actor. I was born into it.

What do you love about acting?

Kyle: Inspiring the audience and seeing their emotions make me wanna do more because it inspires me, too.

Uma: I like seeing the smile on their faces.

Sheena: Same as them… and telling the story. If I tell the story, and they feel it, it means we’ve accomplished our role.

JJ: Making the people happy. Like, what the people in the front row do. When the giraffes come down and I can’t wait to be king, I can see their smiles and I’m like, “Okay! Let’s do this!”

Omar: For me, what I love most about acting is when I see the people so surprised by it.

Gabriel: I love telling the story of whatever play I’m at to the audience.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Kyle: I want to be both an actress and a veterinarian!

Uma: I would like to be an actor still and a baker at the same time.

Sheena: I’ll stick with actor.

JJ: When I grow up, I want to be an actor and a naval fighter pilot.

Omar: Me, I’ll stick to being an actor and at the same time, a policeman.

Gabriel: I’m sticking to acting.

The entire cast of the international tour production — Photos courtesy of Concertus Manila

Can you tell us a bit of your family and musical background?

Uma: Well my mom, not my dad, when she was in college, she used to do singing. And she does like radio, she does voice, that’s why she got into singing.

Sheena: My family is only a musician, like they love music.

JJ: When my mom was in high school I think, she voices what’s in the mall, uhm, the time check. She was also a radio DJ.

Omar: My mom was a musical actress, too, but now, I don’t know.

Gabriel: My mom is Sweet Tiongson she plays a lot of stuff. She’s with The CompanY. So I was born into acting.

How do you feel about performing in Singapore and South Korea next?

Kyle: I’m super excited because I haven’t been to Singapore and South Korea. I was so excited when I knew that we were going there.

Uma: Can’t wait to get to these places ‘coz I get to try new things and what they do.

Sheena: I was really excited! I’ve been to Singapore, and I’m really happy to make an adventure again and to come with my friends.

JJ: I’m really excited at the same time, thankful to God, without Him I couldn’t have done anything of this. I also liked it because I’ve never been to Singapore, ever.

Omar: I’m very nervous because I don’t know what lies ahead and it’s a big place in Singapore. I don’t know any people there. So, I’m very nervous.

Gabriel: I’m excited to travel and see what Singapore is like. And maybe Korea. I am really excited for that.

Why should the Pinoy audience catch the final week of The Lion King?

Kyle: You need to watch this because this musical is very inspiring and it helps people a lot and it will change your life.

Uma: This show will give you a lesson on what you should do when you grow up!

Sheena: You should see the show, it’s only once in a lifetime here in the Philippines and it’s really nice.

JJ: You should see the show because it will change your life the way it changed mine. It will also inspire you ‘coz it will give you ideas on how to live your life.

Omar: They should watch The Lion King because it’s not only once in a lifetime, it can also inspire your life!

Gabriel: It’s a really wonderful story and it will really impact your life!

(For more details on shows and tickets, visit TheLionKing.ph.)