Olathe’s Erick Patrick Stars as Simba in Kansas City

Erick Patrick’s musical theater career has taken him from Olathe South High School to the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts to Simba in the national tour of Disney’s The Lion King.

Despite his success, however, he has never forgotten where he came from or the people who poured into his life along the way.

“Before I set foot on stage, I start with a prayer,” he said. “My prayer is very simple – I try to express gratitude for the moment and remember that we are touching people’s lives.”

Metro Voice News spoke with Patrick from Orlando, where The Lion King currently is playing. Singing and acting professionally may have been the furthest thing from his mind as a shy kid with a speech impediment. That changed when his mother, herself a singer, encouraged him.

“I don’t know what changed, but around age 12, I found out I could sing a little bit,” he said. “I grew up in Second Baptist Church in Kansas City, sang in choir and led the praise and worship team. That’s where I got my start, and I think that’s where I built a lot of my confidence.”

At the same time, he fell in love not only with acting but all types of sports. For a while, at least, he was able to juggle his time among the football field, basketball court and performing arts stage.

“I had some amazing coaches and teachers who worked with me, but when I got to high school, they were like, OK, you have to make a decision,” Patrick said. “So I broke my dad’s heart and stopped playing sports when I was 16 or so. I dived fully into acting, singing and performing.”

Although his father may have dreamed of having a star athlete in the family, both parents fully supported his decision.

“For better or worse, similar to an athlete, you have to decide at an early age,” he said. “I don’t believe in luck. I put the same energy and focus into my performance career that I had done in sports. Everything I did from age 16 on was catered to making sure I could go to school in New York so I could immediately start working. I left nothing to chance. It took a lot of hard work and a lot of purposeful planning.”

As often is the case, it also took a mentor who recognized his potential and went the extra mile to encourage him.

“My theater teacher in high school, David Tate Hastings, was a godsend,” Patrick said. “He changed my life in the best way possible. Growing up, I didn’t have a whole lot of money, but he always found a way for me to see productions and even had famous composers, writers and directors of hit Broadway musicals come to our high school. He really was a theater angel.”

Although a generation of kids have grown up watching The Lion King, Simba was never a role that Patrick wanted to play. In fact, he turned down several opportunities to audition for the show.

“I didn’t think The Lion King was a deep enough story,” he said. “I had trained as an actor’s actor, as they say, and I was like, ‘I’m not going to do a puppet show.’ But funny enough, my fiancée was on the tour, and she was the one who suggested that I audition. I went to see her do the show and thought, ‘There actually is a beautiful, profound story inside this piece.’ It’s not just a spectacle or just a children’s show.”

Audiences who are familiar with the movie version will be impressed with the sheer scale of the live production.

“There really is nothing like this,” Patrick said. “The use of puppets in the show is unlike anything that has ever been done. It hints at the movie. There are lots of moments that are familiar and a lot of songs that are familiar, but there also are additional songs and many additional scenes. If you have seen the movie and are going to see the show for the first time, you are going in with enough knowledge of what’s to come, but you also get little nuggets of new information.”

He enjoys bringing the beloved character of Simba to life in each performance.

Audiences on the side of Simba

“Because the audience knows the story, they already are on my side,” he said. “I don’t have to win them over. They already love Simba, so as an actor, I can just focus on telling the story. There are people who have seen the show for the last 23 years and have grown up with this music. I would never want to cheapen someone’s experience, so even if I am exhausted, that’s enough for me to power through.”

Patrick is excited to perform in his hometown, where he last performed in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Kauffman Center.

“Coming home is always amazing, because you are seeing so many friends and family,” he said. “You’re seeing people as they mature and have families of their own.”

And, of course, there is barbecue.

“It’s Gates Bar-B-Q for sure,” he said. “I definitely am a Gates guy.”

Patrick encourages families not to miss The Lion King during its Kansas City run. Whether they know the story and music forwards and backwards or are seeing it on stage for the first time, they will experience it as never before.

“It’s unlike anything that is available right now,” he said. “It’s a journey of self-discovery that is relatable for both children and adults. It’s a timeless story with incredible music and amazing puppetry.”

For showtimes, tickets or more, visit the American Theatre Guild.

–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice