Claim to Fame

Ca. 1994 - In elementary school, our music program always did a ton of plays.  The school went up to 5th grade, but you had to be in 4th or 5th grade to actually have a part in any of the plays.  Well, when The Lion King was the next production, I actually auditioned for Simba.  I can't believe I did though, because we all stood in line and sang in front of everyone else auditioning.  I was nervous, and thought I did a pretty good job, but the music teacher, Mrs. Berg, said I couldn't have the part because I stood still with my hands behind my back for the audition.  I remember thinking, "pfft, well it was a singing audition, not an acting audition."  Well, of course it was both.  But I was lucky enough to be put in the part of Timon, the meerkat.  To this day I still talk about it.  Not that it was that amazing, but I really did love being up on the stage and singing in front of the whole school and all the parents there.
   The girl who played Pumbaa, the warthog, did not enjoy me calling her Pumbaa outside of the play rehearsals.  Crazy huh!? She was a little on the heavier side then, so of course when I look back I can understand that.  I looked like a toothpick, so if anyone called me Timon, I loved it.
   The big controversy was the girl who was cast as Simba, was also cast as Pocahontas the next year.  The 5th grade as a whole was annoyed.  Ok I don't know if EVERYONE was, but my group of friends and I were.  We didn't think it was fair at aaaalllll.  Sure, she had the best voice, stop siding with her.
   I wanted a big part in that play too, but instead was cast as one of Meeko the raccoon's babies.  You are correct: in the movie the raccoon has no babies.  WELL there were four of us who wanted the part, so Mrs. Berg was kind enough to let three of us be the little ones.  Bahaha too funny.
   This is all on VHS at my parents house, so at least I can always relive my time in the sun.