After he saw his first performance of The Lion King as a child, Peter Hargrave’s love of theater began to develop. Decades later, he will star as the unforgettable villain Scar during the show’s run at Hobby Center through August 4.
What first got you into acting?
“Amarillo has a thriving community theater scene, so we would go see shows at Amarillo College and then Amarillo has a community theater. Those companies both had a tradition that after the actors would be in the show, they would go stand in the lobby and say hi to everyone. For me, going out in the lobby and they were there, they might as well have been movie stars. So, really early on I was really into theater. The Lion King plays a big part in me deciding to pursue a career in a more serious way. My Dad took me to the show when I was 11 years old, and it’s not only a wonderful musical, it’s a cultural phenomenon. I was blown away by the spectacle of it all.”
What do you enjoy the most about playing a villain?
“Our story has a great hero and every great hero needs a great villain. Scar is the greatest of great villains. He’s not only duplicitous, very intelligent, but he’s incredibly funny. I get to run around with a trio of hyenas, that makes our show so special. I get to sing one of the greatest Disney villain songs of all time, “Be Prepared.”
What is a memory you’ve made with the cast that stands out?
“The woman that was playing Rafiki, when I joined the company last year, she had played Rafiki for over 20 years in various companies of The Lion King. She was a voice artist on the original film. She played her last retirement show in Philadelphia. (The Lion King) has so many spiritual messages, both religious and ancestral. You could feel the spirit in that theater so strongly that day (of her retirement show). Everyday in the theater is special, but I’ve never had a feeling quite like that.”
