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Backstage at Shea's with The Lion King

If you are hoping to catch the Lion King at Shea's Performing Arts Center, you have until this Sunday before the traveling show moves to its next city.

If you are hoping to catch the Lion King at Shea's Performing Arts Center, you have until this Sunday before the traveling show moves to its next city.

The show is made up of a team of more than 130 people, including cast and crew. The puppets and masks you see throughout the production took about 17,000 hours to create. And the stage is bright thanks to about 700 lighting fixtures.

Buyi Zama, who plays the character Rafiki, said she has played this role dozens of times. She said it is a role that she has grown into and her character is a person she wants to be like. She added, the musical is a story we all love to hear.

"It's always about good overcoming evil," Zama said. "We want that. We are always rooting for the underdog. It's a good story."

Zama said it was always her dream to see the world and traveling with The Lion King has given her that opportunity.

She has performed from South Africa to London to right here in Buffalo. She said performing here is unique.

"First of all, this place is cold," Zama chuckled. "Buffalo is cold but what I like about it is people are warm."

While backstage, 2 On Your Side's Stephanie Barnes got into the character of Rafiki. Zama even taught her how to speak like the character. Well, Zama tried.

The Lion King is playing at Shea's through this Sunday, January 7th. You can still get single tickets online or at the box office.

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