THE LION KING Welcomes New Principals To The Company As Of 6/15

The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice's music from The Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer; and music from "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer. The resulting sound of THE LION KING is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy® Award-winning song "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" to the haunting ballad "Shadowlands."

The pre-Broadway engagement of THE LION KING had its world premiere on July 13, 1997 in Minneapolis at the historic Orpheum Theatre. The pre-Broadway engagement ran for eight weeks, closing on August 31, 1997. THE LION KING officially opened on Broadway on November 13, 1997 at the New Amsterdam Theatre and later moved to its current home at the Minskoff Theatre On June 13, 2006.

TICKETS & BROADWAY PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

THE LION KING ticket prices range from $69.50-$128.50, and are available at www.LionKing.com, the Minskoff Theatre Box Office (200 West 45th Street, NYC), Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling Ticketmaster's Disney on Broadway hotline at 866-870-2717. Performance and holiday schedule varies; check online for current schedule (running time is approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes.)

Gareth Saxe (Scar) Broadway: The Homecoming, Heartbreak House. Off-Broadway: Richard III, The Winter's Tale (Public); Echoes of the War (Mint Theater). Regional: A Moon to Dance By (George Street Playhouse); Hamlet, Dangerous Liaisons (Shakespeare Theatre Of NJ); Sexual Perversity in Chicago (American Conservatory Theater); iWitness (Mark Taper Forum). Film and TV: Michael Mann's Public Enemies, "Law & Order," "SVU." MFA: NYU.

Alton Fitzgerald White (Mufasa). After originating the role of Mufasa on the first national tour, and most recently at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Alton returns to the Broadway company. Other Broadway credits: Mister, The Color Purple; Coalhouse Walker Jr., Ragtime; John, Miss Saigon; Ken, Smokey Joe's Café, The Hawker, The Who's Tommy.

CAMERON POW (Zazu) rejoins the Broadway company from the West End and National touring productions of The Lion King. Other theatre includes: 2008 Royal Variety Performance (London Palladium). Off-Broadway: Comedy of Errors, King Lear, The Iliad. Regional & Touring: Julius Caesar (Folger Shakespeare Lib.), The Tempest, Wrath of Achilles, Oedipus, King Lear/the Iliad (Aquila).

Ben Jeffrey (Pumbaa) Broadway debut. Ben holds an MFA (Acting) from Rutgers University, where credits included Antigone, Romeo and Juliet, In the Sawtooths. His BFA (Acting/Musical Theater) is from Abilene Christian University where credits included Jane Eyre and Seussical! TV: The Good Wife, Louie.

Fred Berman (Timon) Broadway debut. Off-Broadway: Bury The Dead, Room Service, Shockheaded Peter, The Normal Heart, The Vocal Lords. Nat'l Tour: The Buddy Holly Story. Regional: North Shore Music Theatre, Papermill Playhouse, O'Neill Theater, GeVa Theatre, Huntington Theatre, New Repertory, Cleveland Playhouse. Film: Twelve Thirty, A Very Special Episode, Goin' Down, Re-Directing Eddie. TV: "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Daily Pops," "All My Children."

CHAUNTEÉ SCHULER (Nala) Broadway debut. Favorite productions include: the national tour of The Lion King (Nala), Dreamgirls, You May Now Worship Me, Applause (Encores!) and the international tour of The Producers. Chaunteé was most recently seen as Bonnie McKechnie on the CBS daytime drama "As the World Turns."

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