Photo Flash: EMPIRE Stars Visit Broadway's THE LION KING

EMPIRE stars Trai Byers and Grace Gealy recently visited Disney's THE LION KING on Broadway, stopping to pose with cast members Aaron Nelson (Simba) and Nia Holloway (Nala) after the show. Scroll down for a photo!

Now in its 19th year, The Lion King remains ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 22 global productions have been seen by more than 80 million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering 132 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), The Lion King is only the second show in history to generate five productions worldwide running 10 or more years.

THE LION KING won six 1998 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical. The Lion King has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.

The show's director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor continues to play an integral part in the show's ongoing success. The first woman to win a Tony Award for Direction of a Musical, Taymor has in recent years supervised new productions of the show around the world.

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 Taymorand 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 "Shadowland."

The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed The Lion King animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film's screenplay. Other members of the creative team include: Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor) and Doc Zorthian (production supervisor). Anne Quart serves as associate producer.

On Broadway, "Scar" is played by GARETH SAXE. L. STEVEN TAYLOR is "Mufasa," TSHIDI MANYE is "Rafiki," JEFFREY KUHN portrays "Zazu," BEN JEFFREY is "Pumbaa" and FRED BERMAN is "Timon." "Simba" is played by JELANI REMY, and CHANTEL RILEY is "Nala."

The show also features JAMES BROWN-ORLEANS ("Banzai"), BONITA J. HAMILTON ("Shenzi") and ENRIQUE SEGURA ("Ed"). The role of "Young Simba" is alternated between JULIAN SILVA and JAHI DIALLO WINSTON and the role of "Young Nala" is alternated between GRACE CAPELESS and K'LYNN JACKMAN.