STAGE TUBE: Inside Whoopi Goldberg's LION KING Rehearsals

On Thursday, January 14, Disney Theatrical Productions welcomed Oscar, Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg (moderator of ABC's THE VIEW) to the cast of Broadway's landmark musical event, THE LION KING for one night only at the Minskoff Theatre. Goldberg appeared in a series of surprise cameos throughout the 8pm performance. The appearance marked a return for Goldberg to the legit stage and her Lion King roots, having originated the voice of Shenzi the Hyena more than 15 years ago in the 1994 Disney animated feature. Here, BroadwayWorld brings you a look inside Whoopi's rehearsals, captured by The View's own cameras in a segment that aired today.

Based on the 1994 Disney animated film, THE LION KING continues to reign as one of the most popular shows on Broadway and around the world. The global phenomenon is the winner of more than 70 major awards worldwide, including the 1998 Tony Award® and NY Drama Critics Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. The show has been seen by over 50 million people in 13 different countries (US, Canada, UK, Japan, Germany, Holland, France, Mexico, Australia, China, Taiwan, South Africa and Korea) and translated into five different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch). In addition to Broadway and a North American tour, THE LION KING can also be seen on stage in London, Hamburg, Paris, Tokyo and Las Vegas with a new production opening in Singapore in September 2010.

Director Julie Taymor was the first woman in theatrical history to win the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical. She is also the winner of the 1998 Tony Award for Best Costume Design.

THE LION KING ticket prices range from $69.50-$128.50, and are available online at www.TheLionKing.com, in-person at the Minskoff Theatre Box Office (200 West 45th Street) and Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling Ticketmaster's Disney on Broadway hotline at 866-870-2717.