The Lion King
New Amsterdam Theatre
Previews Began: October 15, 1997 | Opening Night: November 13, 1997 | Closing Night: June 4, 2006
Minskoff Theatre
Previews Began: -
Opening Night: June 13, 2006
Closing Night: -
Closed Due to COVID-19: March 12, 2020 - September 14, 2021
Music: Elton John
Lyrics: Tim Rice
Book: Roger Allers
Irene Mecchi
Mufasa is the king at Pride Rock and his son, Simba, is destined to take over the throne after him, but when Mufasa’s brother Scar hatches a plan to kill them both, the kingdom is thrown into turmoil. Though Scar’s plan succeeds in deposing Mufasa, young Simba lives and grows up with his friends Timon and Pumbaa, a meerkat and a warthog, in the jungle. One day, Simba encounters an old friend, Nala, and she convinces him to return to Pride Rock to claim the throne that is rightfully his and lead the kingdom back to order and prosperity.
MUSICAL NUMBERS
ACT ONE
Circle of Life……………………………..Rafiki, Ensemble
The Morning Report……….Zazu, Young Simba, Mufasa
I Just Can’t Wait to Be King……….Young Simba, Zazu,
Young Nala, Ensemble
Chow Down…………………………….Shenzi, Banzai, Ed
They Live in You……………………….Mufasa, Ensemble
Be Prepared………..Scar, Shenzi, Banzai, Ed, Ensemble
Be Prepared (Reprise)…………………….Scar, Ensemble
Hakuna Matata…………Timon, Pumbaa, Young Simba,
Simba, Ensemble
ACT TWO
One by One………………………………………Ensemble
The Madness of King Scar…..Scar, Zazu, Banzai, Shenzi,
Ed, Nala
Shadowland………………………Nala, Rafiki, Ensemble
Endless Night…………………………..Simba, Ensemble
Can You Feel the Love Tonight…………Timon, Pumbaa,
Simba, Nala, Ensemble
They Live in You (Reprise)…………………Rafiki, Simba,
Ensemble
King of Pride Rock………………………………Ensemble
Circle of Life (Reprise)…………………………..Company
CAST
OPENING NIGHT
Gina Breedlove Sarabi
Ensemble Singer
Kevin Cahoon Ed
Max Casella Timon
Tracy Nicole Chapman Shenzi
Heather Headley Nala
Geoff Hoyle Zazu
Scott Irby-Ranniar Young Simba
Tsidii Le Loka Rafiki
Stanley Wayne Mathis Banzai
Jason Raize Simba
Tom Alan Robbins Pumbaa
Kajuana Shuford Young Nala
John Vickery Scar
Samuel E. Wright Mufasa
Eugene Barry-Hill Ensemble Singer
Camille M. Brown Ensemble Dancer
Iresol Cardona Ensemble Dancer
Mark Allan Davis Ensemble Dancer
Ntomb’khona Dlamini Ensemble Singer
Sheila Gibbs Ensemble Singer
Lana Gordon Ensemble Dancer
Lindiwe Hlengwa Ensemble Singer
Timothy Hunter Ensemble Dancer
Christopher Jackson Ensemble Singer
Vanessa A. Jones Ensemble Singer
Michael Joy Ensemble Dancer
Faca Kulu Ensemble Singer
Ron Kunene Ensemble Singer
Aubrey Lynch II Ensemble Dancer
Lebo M Ensemble Singer
Philip Dorian McAdoo Ensemble Singer
Sam McKelton Ensemble Singer
Nandi Morake Ensemble Singer
S’bu Ngema One by One Dance
Lioness Chant Vocal
Circle of Life Vocals
Karine Plantadit-Bageot Ensemble Dancer
Levensky Smith Ensemble Dancer
Ashi K. Smythe Ensemble Dancer
Endalyn Taylor-Shellman Ensemble Dancer
Christine Yasunaga Ensemble Dancer
Swings: Lindiwe Dlamini, Sonya Leslie, Peter Anthony Moore, Nhlanhla Ngema, Rachel Tecora Tucker, Frank Wright II
Understudies: Kevin Bailey (Scar), Alberto Cruz Jr. (Young Simba), Jennifer Josephs (Young Nala), Sindisiwe Nxumalo (Rafiki), Danny Rutigliano (Zazu, Timon, Pumbaa)