By Lamont Sargent

“We were all extremely depressed”

Katie Fliehman, Play Producer

Oyler’s spring 2020 play “The Lion King Jr.” was cancelled this past spring due to the worldwide virus of COVID-19.

“I was extremely sad,” said Katie Fliehman, the play’s producer. 

Last semester, around the beginning of spring, Oyler students were prepping a play planned for the end of the school year. But then the pandemic struck the United States causing all businesses to go into lockdown and all schools discontinue in-person classes for the rest of the spring. People were required to stay home and quarantine themselves to prevent the virus from spreading. Due to that, most sporting events, parties, other special occasions and the annual school play were cancelled. 

The Griffin was able to get an interview with the director of the “Lion King,” Ms. Fliehman.

“We lost our opportunity to meet and perform after all the hard work we put into our rehearsals, last year,” Ms. Fliehman said. “‘Lion King’ was an extremely hard production and I was so impressed with all our theater kids and their ability to learn seven different languages in all the songs.”  

Actors included in the play expressed their disappointment with the time wasted since they were not able to perform and show off their hard work.

However, “there was a bright side,” said Danielle Warren, a chaperone for the field trip.

“The cast and crew were able to watch the live production of ‘The Lion King’ when the Broadway company visited Cincinnati,” Ms. Warren said. “It was a trip enjoyed by all.” 

For some Oyler students, this was their first chance to see a Broadway show. Even though “Lion King Jr.” did not continue, many look forward to another year of  theatre to happen, especially for students to have another chance to participate in the upcoming play.