A stage version of the DreamWorks’ animated film “Madagascar” is heading to a local stage.
The performers at Musical Theatre Workshops will bring the animals from New York’s Central Park Zoo to life in “Madagascar — A Musical Adventure JR” at 7 p.m. April 22 and 2 p.m. April 23 at Augusta Preparatory Day School’s Hull Fine Arts Center.
“It’s very fun to play,” said Ansley Rhodes, 10, who plays the role of Alex the Lion, voiced by Ben Stiller in the film. “He doesn’t like Madagascar at first, but his friends are there.”
The play brings together the same familiar characters and songs.
“Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound onto your stage in the musical adventure of a lifetime,” according to MTI Shows, the licensing agent for the production. The play “follows all of your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.”
Rhodes, who is a pupil at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School, has performed in multiple shows with Musical Theatre Workshops including “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Seussical The Musical.”
And Alex is by far her favorite role thus far.
Appearing on stage with Rhodes is Luke Romagnoli who plays Marty the Zebra.
Romagnoli, an 11 year-old Greenbrier Elementary School pupil, is fresh off his role of Michael Darling in December’s Musical Theatre Workshop’s production of “Peter Pan.”
He said he’s enjoying playing Marty, and he likes the music.
His favorite number?
“I Like to Move It,” he said.
Tickets to “Madagascar — A Musical Adventure JR” are $15 for adults, $10 for students and senior citizens and free to children 5 years-old and younger and available at onwiththeshow.biz.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the managing editor of The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
