THE LION KING Welcomes Two New Cubs To The Pride

Broadway's landmark musical event THE LION KING is pleased to welcome JOSHUA JACKSON as "Young Simba" and KHAIL TOI BRYANT as "Young Nala" to the company. Jackson and Bryant made their Broadway debuts last night. They will alternate with fellow young lions and current cast members Alphonso Romero Jones II (Young Simba) and Shannon Skye Tavarez (Young Nala). Produced by Thomas Schumacher of Disney Theatrical Productions, THE LION KING is currently playing at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street). The show officially opened on Broadway on November 13, 1997. 

JOSHUA JACKSON, 11, is a native of Windsor, Connecticut and has performed in To Kill a Mockingbird for Hartford Stage.

KHAIL TOI BRYANT, 11, is a native of Brooklyn, New York and attends The Ailey School.

BROADWAY CAST
The sardonic and deviously cunning "Scar" is played by DEREK SMITH. NATHANIEL STAMPLEY is the regal lion king "Mufasa." TSHIDI MANYE is the wise baboon shaman "Rafiki." JEFF BINDER portrays the prim and proper hornbilled bird "Zazu." TOM ALAN ROBBINS is the warm-hearted warthog "Pumbaa" and ROBERT CREIGHTON is the wisecracking and hyperactive meerkat "Timon." Mufasa's son, "Simba," is played by DASHAUN YOUNG and TA'REA CAMPBELL is the courageous and loyal lioness "Nala."

The three hyenas are played by JAMES BROWN-ORLEANS ("Banzai"), BONITA J. HAMILTON ("Shenzi") and ENRIQUE SEGURA ("Ed").

ABOUT THE SHOW
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. Now in its 13th year, THE LION KING is the eighth longest-running musical in Broadway history and one of only five musical productions in theatre history to play for ten years or more on both Broadway and the West End.

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 LION KING has been seen by more than 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 (a new production will bow in Singapore in September 2010 - a first for Disney Theatrical Productions).

THE LION KING made history in September 2009 when two of its signature costumes were inducted into the permanent collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

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. Previous credits include The Green Bird, The Flying Dutchman, Fool's Fire, Titus Andronicus and the Tony Award-nominated Juan Darien: A Carnival Mass at Lincoln Center.

Julie Taymor, along with designer Michael Curry, has created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING. Scenic design is by Richard Hudson; costume design is by Julie Taymor; lighting design is by Donald Holder. Choreography is by Garth Fagan. The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated feature and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay of THE LION KING.

The score features Elton John and Tim Rice's music from the 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 an album inspired by the animated film, "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer. The resulting sound of THE LION KING score is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, embracing the Academy Awardâ-winning "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" and the haunting "Shadowlands."

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), Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling Ticketmaster's Disney on Broadway hotline at 866-870-2717.

Performance & holiday schedule varies; check online for current schedule (running time is approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes.)