Pulling The Lion King's Strings at PPAC

This month, The Lion King returns to PPAC in all of its musical glory. With 230 puppets, from a mouse to an elephant, the show is truly a larger than life production. We got a chance to sit down with the puppet supervisor himself, Michael Reilly, and ask him a few questions about puupeteering and the show’s enduring appeal.

Why do you think The Lion King continues to be such a popular production?
They took an animated film that was full of animals and put them on stage. It could’ve been very simple. It could have been mascot costumes. Instead, it was elevated. They took puppets and integrated them with the performers. It’s a dual event with the animals and also the human side of it.

What’s your favorite puppet in the show?
My favorite puppet changes. It really depends what I’m working on at the time. You put so much care into working with them and you learn so much about them. Though overall, I like how Mufasa’s sculpt is symmetrical and round. It’s a true representation of the circle of life.

What does it take to be a puppeteer?
It’s four weeks of rehearsal to become a puppeteer; it’s making a helmet, making your puppet fit you and then learning how to integrate the puppet into the performance. The puppeteers end up embracing the puppet. It’s like they really become a lion in the end. The Lion King will be at PPAC through March 19.