Backstage Controlled Chaos Becomes Magic At 'The Lion King'

DENVER (CBS4) - It may be magic on stage, but it's controlled chaos backstage at "The Lion King." And it's how that backstage madness becomes magic for the audience that has always fascinated Critic at Large Greg Moody.

"When you watch 'The Lion King' on stage you will likely be taken in by the smooth choreography of the large cast, hundreds of costumes, intricate puppets, and huge set pieces. Backstage, it is somewhat different," Moody said.

No theater in the world has room for all of the big set pieces backstage. The only place they can go is up in the rafters.

"On stage every night --- 220 costumes," Assistant Costume Supervisor Gretchen Heidenreich said.

Of the costumes, many of them have to be changed into and out of in a blink of an eye.

"There's a huge amount of organization and logistics that goes into keeping track of which costume is in the show, what kind of shape it's in, who needs what, and who needs what when," Heidenreich said.

Meanwhile, down the hall, the puppet master checks, repairs, and prepares the masks, headpieces, and puppets that make up the magic of "The Lion King."

"It's a task, but it's one that you just dive into every city because you get that little bit of magic going and we are good to go," puppet master Matthew Reilly said.

With each actor constantly working with his or her puppet to find another way to bring that character to life.

"I think the idea is that the puppet and I have the same experience on stage in the play every night and sometimes the mechanics of me and the puppet connecting do not work as well as they should," said Drew Hirschfield, who plays Zazu. "But on a good night we're in perfect sync."

"Thousands of pieces and hundreds of people rushing into a small space to make the Disney magic come alive for another audience each and every night -- it is controlled chaos," Moody said. "But somehow it works beautifully."

"The Lion King" is on stage at the Buell Theatre through Nov. 29. Visit denvercenter.org for tickets and information.