After being shut down for 18 months, The Lion King returns triumphantly and proves why the show has lasted for over 20 years at the Minskoff Theatre.
Reopening on Sept 14th, 2021, the Disney musical classic did something unprecedented for a Broadway show. They filmed and live-streamed the opening number, “The Circle of Life,” on TikTok. Watch footage from the dazzling opening, the pre-show speech by Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor, & the company’s curtain call, all from the reopening night performance below.
Talk about a moment! Although the world was watching via TikTok, the tear-jerking night had some of your Broadway favorites in the house. Kristin Chenoweth, Jelani Alladin, and the stars of Disney’s Aladdin: Michael Maliakel (Aladdin), Michael James Scott (Genie), and Shoba Narayan (Jasmine) all came out to support the historic night. The hit musical Aladdin will celebrate its Broadway reopening on Tuesday, September 28th.
The Broadway cast of The Lion King stars Stephen Carlile as Scar, L. Steven Taylor as Mufasa, Tshidi Manye as Rafiki, Cameron Pow as Zazu, Ben Jeffrey as Pumbaa, Fred Berman as Timon, Brandon A. McCall as Simba, Adrienne Walker as Nala, James Brown-Orleans as Banzai, Bonita J. Hamilton as Shenzi and Robb Sapp as Ed. Vince Ermita and Corey J. alternate as Young Simba, and Alayna Martus and Sydney Elise Russell alternate as Young Nala.
The Lion King also features Lawrence Keith Alexander, Cameron Amandus, Leanne Antonio, Andrew Arrington, India Bolds Browne, Lindiwe Dlamini, Zinhle Dube, Bongi Duma, Angelica Edwards, Jim Ferris, Rosie Lani Feldman, Daniel Gaymon, Pia Hamilton, Daniel Harder, Michael Alexander Henry, Michael Hollick, Pearl Khwezi, Lindsey Jackson, Lisa Lewis, Mduduzi Madela, Jaysin McCollum, Ray Mercer, S’bu Ngema, Nhlanhla Ngobeni, Nteliseng Nkhela, Jacqueline René, Kaylin Seckel, Kellen Stencil, Housso Semon, Derrick Spear, Michael Stiggers Jr., Jamie J. Thompson, Bravita Threatt, Natalie Turner, Donna Michelle Vaughan, Nicholas Ward, and Stephen Scott Wormley.
