THE LION KING Broadway cast reunites for emotional first day of rehearsal; Featuring powerful performance of CIRCLE OF LIFE

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THE KING HAS RETURNED! This week has been very emotional and exciting as the companies of some of the hottest tickets on the Great Bright Way (all fully vaccinated) have reunited IN-PERSON to begin rehearsals to relaunch their Broadway runs. One of those notable shows was the New York company of Disney’s Award winning phenomenon The Lion King.
For the first time since being in isolation for 17 1/2 months, here is longtime cast member Tshidi Manye as “Rafiki” and the Broadway cast bringing that magic of the Savanah back to life. From their 1st day of rehearsals back in the lobby of the Minskoff Theatre, here they are going full out singing the musical’s powerful opening number…… CIRCLE OF LIFE. It also includes an inspirational opening remark from the show’s director, creator, and designer Tony winner Julie Taymor.
Tissues ready before watching.
The Broadway company of THE LION KING is set to make audiences ROAR again at the Minskoff Theatre starting September 14th, 2021.
It marks as the 2nd company to open following the show’s London production last month.
The show is also expecting to relaunch its ongoing North American National Tour later this Fall plus its various companies around the world.
Our hearts are beating!!! ❤ ❤ ❤
Who is ready to once again FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT?!!!

Casting revealed for return of DISNEY ON BROADWAY hits THE LION KING & ALADDIN

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MAKE WAY! JUST CAN’T WAIT indeed as the magic of the MOUSE is making its triumphant comeback on the Great Bright Way next month!! We are so happy to announce that full casting has been revealed for the return of both of Disney on Broadway‘s long running Award winning smash hits….. The Lion King and Aladdin. What a lineup it is featuring a mix of long time cast members and newbies being part of this historical time of Broadway returning after 17 months of being shutdown.
For The Lion King, expecting to bring the spirit of PRIDE ROCK back to life 8 times a week will consist of returning and longtime cast members….
Broadway & West End favorite Stephen Carlile as the ruthless, wicked, and evil “Scar”,
James Brown-Orleans as trouble making co-non stop laughing hyena “Banzai”,
Adrienne Walker (also seen on Broadway in the recent revival of Kiss Me Kate) as the brave love interest lioness “Nala”,
The legendary Tshidi Manye as the wise and spiritual madrill “Rafiki”,
L. Steven Taylor as the brave and wise “King Mufasa”,
Cameron Pow (also seen Off Broadway in The 39 Steps) as Pride Rock’s trusty comic relief and no-nonsense reporter bird “Zazu”,
Fred Berman as everyone’s favorite cool and wisecracking high energetic merekat “Timon”,
Bonita J. Hamilton as sassy trouble making co-non stop laughing hyena “Shenzi”
Robb Sapp (previously also appeared on Broadway in WICKED and alumni of THE LION KING Tour) as “Ed”,
Ben Jeffery as everyone’s favorite wisecracking warthog “Pumbaa”,
and
a Full Ensemble!!!
New to and leading the Broadway cast’s return will be Brandon A. McCall as the brave, determined, and heroic “Simba”. He makes his Broadway debut with the show after having previously understudied the role on the National Tour.
The cast will also introduce newcomers…..
Vince Ermita and Corey J. alternating as “Young Simba”
and
Alayna Martus and Sydney Elise Russell alternating as Young Nala.
Meanwhile over at ALADDIN, set to take audiences into A WHOLE NEW WORLD in the land of AGRABAH will feature returning cast members…..
Michael James Scott bringing down the house as the showstopping “Genie”,
ALADDIN legend himself Jonathan Freeman reprising his signature performance he voiced in the original 1992 Animated film as the evil sorcerer “Jafar”,
original cast member Don Darryl Rivera as the sarcastic and very impatient wicked sidekick “Iago”,
Brad Weinstock (who also appeared on the National Tours of WICKED and Jersey Boys) as co-trusty, caring, and adventurous STREET RAT sidekick “Omar”,
MiLo Alosi as co-trusty, caring, and adventurous STREET RAT sidekick “Kassim”,
JC Montgomery as the kind-hearted, responsible, and royal “Sultan”,
and
a Full Ensemble.
New to the cast will include its 2 brand new leads…..
Michael Maliakel who will star as the titular role of the poor boy turned royal prince himself “Aladdin“. He makes his Broadway debut with the show after having previously playing the role on the National Tour
and
Shoba Narayan (previously appeared on Broadway in Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812 and was last seen prior before the shutdown as “Nessarose” in WICKED plus the National Tour of Hamilton) as the feisty, determined, rebellious, and dreamy “Princess Jasmine”.
The cast will also welcome….
Zach Bencal who makes his Broadway debut as the co-trusty, caring, and adventurous STREET RAT sidekick “Babkak”, a role he previously played on the National Tour.
Disney’s THE LION KING is set to once again ROAR it out to packed audiences at the Minskoff Theatre beginning September 14th,, 2021. Meanwhile, ALADDIN is set to have audiences discover ANOTHER ARABIAN NIGHT at the New Amsterdam Theatre beginning September 28th, 2021.
WELCOME BACK DISNEY ON BROADWAY!!!
Congrats to all those being part of this history making return!!!
Who is excited?!!!

Casting revealed for National Tours of DISNEY ON BROADWAY hits THE LION KING & FROZEN

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Casting Announced For National Tours of FROZEN and THE LION KING
BREAKING NEWS: Not only we got the announcement of casting for Disney on Broadway returning to the Big Apple, we got news of casting for its National Touring companies set to relaunch later this Fall!!!
The latest casting announcement goes for the Tours of Disney’s smash hit productions of The Lion King and Frozen –. What an incredible lineup of talents that will inspire audiences to FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT once more and of course…… LET IT GO!!!!
For The Lion King National Tour, expecting to bring the spirit of the PRIDE LANDS to a city near you will include its returning cast members….
Spencer Plachy (previously seen on Broadway in the 2013 revival of Romeo and Juliet) as the wicked, ruthless, and evil “Scar”,
Gerald Ramsey as the brave and wise “King Mufasa”,
Nick Cordileone as everyone’s favorite cool and wisecracking high energetic meerkat “Timon”,
Jürgen Hooper as Pride Rock’s trusty comic relief and no-nonsense reporter bird “Zazu”,
Ben Lipitz as everyone’s favorite wisecracking warthog “Pumbaa”, a role he previously played in the Broadway company,
Kayla Cyphers (previously in Bat Out Of Hell) as the brave love interest lioness “Nala”,
Keith Bennett as trouble making co-non stop laughing hyena “Banzai”,
Martina Sykes (previously in the Broadway and Touring companies of Motown) as trouble making co-non stop laughing hyena “Shenzi,”
Robbie Swift as trouble making co-non stop laughing hyena “Ed”,
Charlie Kahler as “Young Simba” at certain performances
Kalandra Rhodes as “Young Nala.” at certain performances,
and
a Full Ensemble!!
New to the touring company will be some familiar LION KING veteran cast members consisting of….
Darian Sanders returning to the tour as the brave, determined, and heroic “Simba”.
and
longtime global cast member Gugwana Dlamini as the wise and spiritual mandrill “Rafiki”, which she previously played on the tour, in Germany, on Broadway, and in London’s West End company which she just reopened.
The new tour will also welcome….
Jaylen Lyndon Hunter as “Young Simba” at certain performances
and
Nia Mulder as “Young Nala” at certain performances.
THE LION KING National Tour will ROAR once again across America beginning October 1st, 2021 in Cleveland, OH before traveling all across the United States and Canada.
Meanwhile with Frozen‘s National Tour, expecting to bring the magic of ARENDELLE once again will include the tour’s original cast members….
Caroline Bowman (Broadway’s WICKED and Kinky Boots) as the magical and powerful icy princess turned snow queen herself “Elsa”,
Caroline Innerbichler as the brave, awkward, childlike, and energetic princess herself “Anna,”
Austin Colby (Off Broadway’s Jersey Boys and Caroline Bowman’s real life husband) as the handsome, dashing, but jerkoff Prince Charming himself “Hans,”
F. Michael Haynie (Broadway’s Wicked and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) as everyone’s optimistic and WARM HUG loving snowman “Olaf,”
Mason Reeves as ARENDELLE’s “always kept to oneself” ice harvester turned true love interest “Kristoff”,
Collin Baja and Evan Strand alternating as resident reindeer “Sven” (FUN FACT: This role is alternated because of how physical it is on the performer’s body),
and
a Full Ensemble.
New to the FROZEN tour company will include a familiar face to the show…..
Drama Desk nominee Robert Creighton (Broadway’s Chicago and Anything Goes plus Off Broadway’s Cagney) reprising the role of the sleazy royal sidekick of “Hans” himself “The Duke of Weselton” which he originated on Broadway.
The touring cast will also welcome….
Natalia Artigas and Natalie Grace Chan alternating as “Young Elsa”
and
Olivia Jones and Victoria Hope Chan as “Young Anna”.
FUN FACT: Natalie Grace Chan and Victoria Hope Chan will BOTH make FROZEN history as the first real life sister to star opposite each other as the young version of the show’s heroines.
FROZEN’s National Tour brings the ARENEDELLE back FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER starting September 10th, 2021 in Buffalo, NY before traveling all across the United States and Canada.
Check to see when both THE LION KING and FROZEN are heading to your towns!!!
WELCOME BACK TO BOTH TOURING COMPANIES!!!
Who is excited?

London LION KING company reunites and rehearsals begin; Cast performs CIRCLE OF LIFE for the first time in 16 1/2 months

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"Circle of Life" first 2021 rehearsal performance | The Lion King in the West End
THE KING HAS RETURNED! Disney’s Award winning phenomenon The Lion King is gearing up to return to the Musial Theater stage for the first time in over a year and a half.
This week was very excited as the show’s London company have reunited & officially started rehearsals for its return to the West End next month. Get ready for an emotional performance like no other. Here is Long time cast member Gugwana Dlamini as “Rafiki” and the full company performing the show’s iconic opening theme CIRCLE OF LIFE.
THE LION KING’s West End return will mark as the first production of the long running Disney show to performed since the COVID-19 pandemic. It will re-open there starting July 29th, 2021 at London’s Lyceum Theatre. From there, the show will continue to start re-launching its various International companies including our very own inaugural New York company which will reopen at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre on September 14th, 2021.
We are a mess watching this!!!! We can’t stop thinking about that first performance back…… standing ovations non-stop!!!
Our hearts!!!
How stunning was that performance?
Who is excited for the return of THE LION KING?!!!

Disney Announces Auditions for Broadway & Touring Production of THE LION KING

I’M GONNA BE A MIGHTY KING, SO ENEMIES BEWARE!!!! With the anticipation of Broadway returning, so many aspiring young performers are ready to head back into the audition room in wanting to be part of the history making return cast. One of the many popular hottest tickets expecting to resume its royal duties on the Great Bright Way is Disney’s Award winning smash hit The Lion King.

According to its website Disney Theatrical Productions are currently holding SELF TAPE for the roles of “Young Simba” and ” Young Nala” along with an Ensemble Singer tracks (which also cover many of the principal roles). This audition is consideration to be potential future replacements in both the Broadway and… More

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Disney Announces Auditions for Broadway & Touring Production of THE LION KING

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