Cast & Creative
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Elton John Music -
Tim Rice Lyrics -
Roger Allers Book -
Irene Mecchi Book -
Julie Taymor Director, Costume Design, Mask/Puppet Co-Design, Additional Lyrics -
Garth Fagan Choreographer -
Lebo M. Additional Music & Lyrics, Vocal Score, Choral Director -
Mark Mancina Additional music & lyrics, Music produced for the stage, Additional Score -
Hans Zimmer Additional Music & Lyrics -
Jay Rifkin Additional Music & Lyrics -
Richard Hudson Scenic Design -
Donald Holder Lighting Design -
Michael Curry Mask & Puppet Design -
Michael Ward Hair & Makeup Design -
Steve Canyon Kennedy Sound Design
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Robert Elhai Associate Music Producer, Orchestrator
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David Metzger Orchestrator
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Bruce Fowler Orchestrator
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Anthony Lyn Associate Director
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David Kreppel Music Supervisor
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Marey Griffith Associate Choreographer
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Duma Ndlovu South African Casting Director
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Did you know?
From screen to stage, it took 3 years to develop THE LION KING.
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Nick Afoa Simba -
José Ahued Ensemble -
Dayan Kingsley Beukes Ensemble -
Björn Blignaut Banzai -
Mpho Bodibe Ensemble -
Reoagile Choabi Ensemble -
Viridiana Cortés Swing -
Erin Cortez Young Nala -
Rachelle Fernando Young Nala -
Waynehart Claire Geonzon Young Nala -
Gavin Hart Ensemble -
Pierre van Heerden Pumbaa -
André Jewson Zazu -
Phumelele Jili Ensemble -
Maharanui Muriwai Kaiwai-Wanikau Young Simba -
Kudzai Christine Kapswarah Swing -
Mthokozisi Emkay Khanyile Mufasa -
Lungile Khambule Sarabi & Ensemble -
Amanda Kunene Nala -
Antony Lawrence Scar -
Milang Lie Meeuw Lew Ensemble -
Sfiso Matlala Ensemble -
Nick Mercer Timon -
Futhi Mhlongo Rafiki -
Sipho Mlombile Ensemble -
Annakanako Mohri Ensemble -
Benton Morris Swing -
Candida Mosoma Shenzi -
Neo Motaung Ensemble -
Noluyanda Mqulwana Ensemble -
Zodwa Mrasi Ensemble -
Lwazi Mzimase Swing -
Thabani Ntuli Ensemble -
Aphiwe Nyezi Ensemble -
Peace Nzirawa Ensemble -
Nonofo Olekeng Ensemble -
Kiran Patel Swing -
Angeles Reyes Ensemble -
Mahlatse Sachane Ensemble -
Santino Juan Santiago Young Simba -
Phumelele Sikhakhane Ensemble -
Dillan Hope Suttle Swing -
Romy Jo Swales Ensemble -
Mark Tatham Ed -
Filia Te Young Nala -
Vuyelwa Tshona Swing -
Tlholo Tsotetsi Ensemble -
Benn Welford Standby Scar, Timon, Pumbaa and Zazu -
Asher Whitehead Young Simba -
Daniel Zazueta Standby Scar, Pumbaa and Ed -
Sandile Zondi Ensemble -
Bonga Zulu Swing
© Disney
Filia Te
Young Nala
Birthplace Auckland, New Zealand.
Training Studio 246 Performing Arts – Classical Ballet, Modern Jazz (Theatrical Dance International Standard).
Other Competitive Solo Dance Performance – Classical Ballet (First Place Holder), Demi Character and Barefoot; Competitive Troupe Dance Performance – Ballet and Jazz. Dance Masters International – Junior Division (2020, 2021). Disney’s The Lion King marks Filia’s professional musical theatre debut.
Rachelle Fernando
Young Nala
Birthplace Toronto, Canada.
Training Musical Theatre – Grade 1 (University of London); Piano – Grade 4 (ABRSM).
Concerts and Events Hope Charity Concert (ABC Studios, 2019); Vision 2020 Charity Concert (ABC Studios, 2020); Broadway Academy Summer Concert (Montreal, 2018) Awards & Nominations 3rd Place – Youth Musical Festival, Quebec/Ontario Canada (2017).
Other Rachelle is a passionate singer and performer, and also loves basketball, mountain biking and swimming. Disney’s The Lion King marks Rachelle’s professional musical theatre debut.
Maharanui Muriwai Kaiwai-Wanikau
Young Simba
Birthplace Wellington, New Zealand.
Iwi Ngãti Tu˜wharetoa, Ngãti Põrou, Ngã Puhi.
Concerts & Events Mana Kuratahi Wellington Regionals (2018 & 2021), Mana Kuratahi Nationals (2017 & 2019), Tu˜wharetoa Pã Wars, Marae Idol (2019).
Other Maharanui’s passion is performing Kapa Haka. He also trains in martial arts and plays basketball, softball, soccer, rugby
and rugby league. Disney’s The Lion King marks Maharanui’s professional musical theatre debut.
Erin Cortez
Young Nala
Birthplace Marikina City, Philippines.
Training National Youth Theatre, Pform.nz, Kidsupfront Performing Arts Academy, Musiqhub.
Other Erin has been active in musical productions and is a regular performer with the New Zealand National Youth Theatre, appearing in The Wizard of Oz (2019), Keeping the Lights On (2020) and Beauty and the Beast (2021). Erin loves playing the piano, singing, dancing, and performing. Disney’s The Lion King marks Erin’s professional musical theatre debut.
Asher Whitehead
Young Simba
Birthplace Auckland, New Zealand.
Training Northern School of Performing Arts – Singing, Dancing and Musical Theatre.
Other Soloist – Kids for Kids Concert (2020), Kapa Haka. Asher has been active in local theatre productions, including Peter Pan Jr, Oliver!, The Lion King Jr, The Music Man and most recently Evita (2021), all for Centrestage Theatre, Orewa New Zealand. Disney’s The Lion King marks Asher’s professional musical theatre debut.
Nick Afoa
Simba
Birthplace Otahuhu, New Zealand
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (Australian Tour, London)
Awards & Nominations Broadway World UK Awards Nominee (2017)
Other Olivier Awards performance for Disney’s The Lion King. All Blacks National Anthem singer (2004-2018). National Anthem singer for Silver Ferns matches (2004-2012). Nick represented Auckland and New Zealand in Rugby championships from 2002 – 2008.
Thabani Ntuli
Ensemble
Birthplace Nkandla, South Africa.
Training Ballet Theatre Afrikan (2008).
Theatre The South African Ballet Theatre (2008 – 2010), Disney’s The Lion King (Singapore, 2011), Joburg Ballet (2012 – 2013), The Dance Factory Tour (France, Germany, Belgium, Greece, Russia, Finland, New York, Canada, Norway, Italy, Georgia, London, Denmark, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Sweden and Austria), Siegfried in Dada Masilo’s Swan Lake, Escamillo in Carmen, Albrecht in Giselle, So You Think You Can Dance South Africa – Season 1 – Top 20 (SABC 1, 2008).
Other Dance Around the World – Air France (arteHD). William Kentridge Notes Towards a Model Opera (2015), Gymnastics Provincial Colours – KwaZulu-Natal (2002).
Futhi Mhlongo
Rafiki
Birthplace Durban, South Africa
Training Committed Artist Academy
Theatre Rafiki in Disney’s The Lion King (US & Germany). Riverdance, Africa! Africa!
Other Performed with Ringo Madlingozi, Hellen Fischer & Shaluza Max Mntambo, Vocalist for Sengalese Youssou N’Dour (Pan-African Festival). Jubilation with Sibongile Khumalo.
Benton Morris
Swing
Birthplace Kingston, Jamaica
Training The Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, School of Dance.
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (UK Tour, Switzerland and The Netherlands) Vibes in The World of Sexuality (ASHE Caribbean Arts Ensemble), Safe Stupid or What (ASHE Caribbean Arts Ensemble), Curfew (ASHE Caribbean Arts Ensemble).
Television Dancin’ Dynamites (Jenny Jenny Productions), Digicel Rising Stars (TVJ), Black Canadians Awards, Canto, Carifesta,
Recordings Disney’s The Lion King Soundtrack (The Netherlands, 2016).
Other Dancer for The Ashe Performing Arts Company, The National Dance Theatre of Jamaica, Ballet Creole and NAfro Dance Productions, Choreographer for Elite Dance Company, La.Riatsila Dance Theatre, Social Dance Spot, and CoDanCo, Performer for Rihanna, Drake, Sean Paul, Shaggy, Beres Hammond and Tarrus Riley. Dancer for Beres Hammond event A Moment In Time and for Diesel. Appeared in commercials for Diesel.
Annakanako Mohri
Ensemble
Birthplace Windsor, United Kingdom
Training The Ailey School – Certificate Program (2011)
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (Hamburg) Message in A Bottle (Zoonation), Falling Family (UK tour) WOCO (PUNCTUMUN), Sayonara Tokyo (Wintergarten Varieties), Innocence (Scottish Dance Theatre, UK Tour), The Equus Project (OnSite NYC).
Film Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (Regency Enterprises, Film4 productions, Warp Films, New Regency), Ich War Noch Niemals in New York (Ziegler Film/UFA Fiction/Mythos Film/Graf Film/Universal Pictures International).
Other Appeared in commercials for Google, Minecraft, and Hermès Paris.
Aphiwe Nyezi
Ensemble
Birthplace Cape Town, South Africa
Training Rainbow Arts Organization (2012-2015), Magnet Theatre- Gang Intervention Program (2013).
Theatre Autumn, Gomora and Sins of others (R.A.O), Sprint of the Bosh (Phil Thurston), Student in 23 Years a Month and 7 Days (Magnet Theater), Singer in Shut Up and Dance (Romantic).
Film Outlander (Tall Ship Productions/Story Mining & Supply Co/Left Bank Productions/Sony Pictures Television/Soundtrack New York). Bulletproof (Vertigo Films, Company Pictures, Unstoppable Film and Television, Sky).
Television Interview for Hectic Nine 99 (SABC2), Stumbo Stomp Amapantsula (SABC1), Street Cred (SABC1).
Other Awarded Best Improved Dancer, Best Music Composer and Best Supporting Actor for In Rainbow Arts Organization. Appeared in commercials for Coca Cola and Hunters. Performed in Infecting the City (Institute for Creative Arts) and Cape Town Carnival.
Dillan Hope Suttle
Swing
Birthplace Maryland, USA
Training The Liverpool Institute For Performing Arts – BA Honors Dance Degree (2017)
Theatre Dance Swing in Disney’s The Lion King (Netherlands) Dance Ensemble as the Cheetah in Disney’s The Lion King (Germany).
Other Performed with Ava Max at Capital’s Summer Time Ball (Wembley Stadium 2019)
Mahlatse Sachane
Ensemble
Birthplace Johannesburg, South Africa
Training Intermediate Certificate in Cecchetti Methodology, Bachelor in Business Administration (Rosebank College 2020).
Theatre Senior Corps de Ballet Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, La Traviata, Big City, Big Dreams, Snow White, Carmen, Fire & Ice and The Nutcracker (Joburg Ballet). Corps de Ballet (Johannesburg Youth Ballet).
Gavin Hart
Ensemble
Birthplace Kingston, Jamaica
Training University of Technology Jamaica, Stella Maris Dance Ensemble, Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts
Theatre Jamaica Dance Umbrella, Amalgamation (Plié For the Arts/Marisa Benain), Garvey The Musical (University of the West Indies), Festival of Black Dance, Rhythm and Soul of a People (The Black Academy of Arts and Letters).
Television Smile Jamaica (TVJ), CVM at Sunrise (CVM), FOX 4 News Dallas (FOX4)
Other Stella Maris Dance Ensedmble, Opening Ceremony for ICC Cricket World Cup (Jamaica, 2007), Grand Gala Jamaica Independence Celebration, Deez Nuts!: Black Bodies Dancing Defiance (Dr. C. Kemal Nance/Cristian Barreto-Avila)
Neo Motaung
Ensemble
Birthplace Mafikeng, South Africa
Training University of Pretoria – BA Drama (2015).
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (Madrid), Jack and the Beanstalk (Joburg Theatre/Bernard Jay), The Color Purple (Bernard Jay).
Other Best Supporting/Featured Performance in a Musical Play (Female) for the role of Sophia in The Color Purple (Naledi Theatre Awards, 2019).
Ya-Yu Kao
Ensemble
Birthplace Tainan, Taiwan.
Training University of Taipei (2013) – Department of Dance.
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (Shanghai), Parade Dancer at Hong Kong Disneyland, Formosa Ballet Dance Company (Former: Chamber Ballet Dance Company), Swan Lake: Four Little Swans.
Santino Juan Santiago
Young Simba
Birthplace Quezon City, Philippines.
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King marks Santino’s international theatre debut. He previously appeared in Noli Me Tangere, The Opera at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (2017-2019).
Television Kid host on Team Yey! And Umagang Kay Ganda (ABS-CBN)
Other Commercial model for various brands on television, print, and digital ads.
Fernando Morales
Ensemble
Birthplace México City, México.
Training National School of Classical and Contemporary Dance, México City (2011).
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (UK tour/Switzerland 2014-2015, México 2016-2018, The Netherlands 2018-2019), Hoy No Me Puedo Levantar (2006 & 2013 revival), Pepper in Mamma Mia! México (2009)
Other La casa de Disney junior México as a Dancer/Dance captain 2012.
Milang Lie Meeuw Lew
Ensemble
Birthplace Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Training Amsterdam University of the Arts (2015) – BA (Jazz/Musical Theatre).
Theatre Conny Janssen Danst, Nanine Linning dance company (Theater and Orchester Heidelberg, Germany), Kiss Me, Kate (Schloss Heidelberg, Germany), Vuur & Vlam Productions, Disney’s The Lion King (The Netherlands).
Film BBC ‘US’ dramaserie.
Other Worked with different choreographers such as Wubkje Kuindersma, Shailesh Bahoran, Davide Bellota, sing song writer iET, Lynn Meijer, Art Srisayam, Jan Martens, Krisztina de Châtel, actrice Martine Zeeman, Art collaboration Bart Hess, One minute Film Festival EYE (Ramon Schreuder).
José Ahued
Ensemble
Birthplace México City, México.
Training Broadway México Studio.
Theatre Shrek the Musical, Disney’s The Lion King (México City), Kiss of the Spider Woman, Jesus Christ Superstar (México’s National Tour).
Other Bass vocalist in Los Saviñon a cappella band.
Zoe Arabella Garcia
Young Nala (at certain performances)
Birthplace Pasig City, Philippines.
Training Dance: Explorations Preschool Ballet, 2012-2015. Voice: Trumpets Playshop 2013-2015, The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab 2018-2019, Atlantis Theatre Workshop (2018).
Theatre Lulu in Waitress (Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment, 2018).
Waynehart Claire Geonzon
Young Nala
Birthplace Metro Manila, Philippines.
Training Atlantis Theater Workshop, PETA, StarMagic.
Television The Voice Kids Season 3 Top 8 Team Lea, Semi Finalist in Hype Kang Bata Ka (Eat Bulaga), Argentina and Jollibee (television commercials).
Short Film Clara, Free Thyself, Tahanan, Esmeralda.
Other Philippines Golden Globe Annual Awards awardee 2018 and 2019 in Music and Entertainment, Gawad Musika awardee 2016 and 2017 as Best Child Performer, Proud Scholar of OB Montessori, A member of the Angels Choir, Mini Madz Children’s Choir and the LGAC Dance Group, Promil iShine Ambassador, World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA) 2017 semi-finalist. Division Champion Winner in Opera and Multi Medallist held in Long Beach California. Disney’s The Lion King marks Claire’s musical theatre debut.
Daniella Elise Albano
Young Nala (at certain performances)
Birthplace Pasig City, Philippines.
Training The Stage Awaits You by Chancel Repertory Theatre (2016).
Children’s Musical Theater by Learning Plus (2017-2018).
Other Kid’s Takeover Music Video by Warner Music Philippines (2018). Daniella has loved performing since she was 4 years old. She loves all things slime and occasionally plays the ukulele. She fell in love with theatre when she was 7. Disney’s The Lion King marks Daniella’s musical theatre debut.
Bonga Zulu
Swing
Birthplace Boston, Lincolnshire, UK.
Training Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts.
Theatre Peter Pan (Theatre Royal Plymouth).
Film The Arc of Nirvana (Dancer Inc.)
Television The X-Factor Live Final (ITV)
Other Electric Dreams (Dancers Inc.) Z Bo Jackson Company Promotional Shoot, Imagine Cruising Corporate Event (Singapore).
Ope Sowande
Ensemble
Birthplace Boston, Lincolnshire, UK.
Training Wilkes Academy of Performing Arts.
Theatre Peter Pan (Theatre Royal Plymouth).
Film The Arc of Nirvana (Dancer Inc.)
Television The X-Factor Live Final (ITV)
Other Electric Dreams (Dancers Inc.) Z Bo Jackson Company Promotional Shoot, Imagine Cruising Corporate Event (Singapore).
Jordan Shaw
Simba
Birthplace London, United Kingdom
Training Ridgeway Studios, The Brit School and The Arts Educational School.
Theatre Worker in Hadestown (National Theatre), It’s Only Life (Union Theatre), Kevin in Follies (National Theatre), Michael in Tick, Tick… Boom! (Park Theatre), Stevie Wonder and u/s Marvin Gaye in Motown the Musical (Shaftesbury Theatre), Pouncival in Cats (London Palladium and Blackpool Opera House), Miss Saigon (Prince Edward Theatre), u/s Charlie, Olen, Andy, Clarence and Dance Captain in The Scottsboro Boys (Young Vic).
Television Galavant (ABC Studios) and The Olivier Awards.
Other Rooh in Vanara (Workshop); Absolute Hell (NT Studio/Workshop), & Juliet (Workshop), Lucky Gordon in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Stephen Ward (Workshop), Soloist in Friday Night is Music Night with Michael Ball.
Kiran Patel
Swing
Birthplace London, England.
Training The London School of Musical Theatre
Theatre Just So (The Barn Theatre), Lock Up Your Daughters (The Bridewell Theatre).
Nick Mercer
Timon
Birthplace Huddersfield, UK.
Training Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Theatre The Lion King, London 2005-11, Switzerland 2015, Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (National Theatre), Great Expectations (Old Vic), A Christmas Carol (Young Vic), Tosca (Liverpool Everyman), Bent (Etcetera Theatre). Macbeth (African Tour, London Bubble Theatre)
Film: Genius
Television Poirot, Last of the Summer Wine, Hi-de-Hi, Playdays, Greenclaws, Story Makers
Voice Work: BBC Radio Plays & Readings; Bob the Builder, Blue Cow, Those Scurvy Rascals
Reoagile Choabi
Ensemble
Birthplace Johannesburg, South Africa
Training The National School of the Arts
Other Disney’s The Lion King marks Reoagile’s musical theatre debut.
Mpho Bodibe
Ensemble
Birthplace Free State, South Africa
Training Waterfront Theatre School
Other Disney’s The Lion King marks Mpho’s musical theatre debut.
Marcus Cabais
Young Simba (at certain performances)
Birthplace Balanga City, Philippines.
Film My 2 Mommies (Regal Films).
Television Host on Team Yey! (ABS-CBN).
Other Boy Grand Winner SM Little Stars (2016) SM Supermalls; Commercial model for various television, print and digital ads.
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King marks Marcus’ musical theatre debut.
Sipho Mlombile
Ensemble
Birthplace Daveyton, South Africa.
Training Arts (Music) from Black Tie Music Academy (2009).
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (Brazil and Mexico).
Television I Love South Africa (etv).
Dashaun Young
Simba
Birthplace Buffalo, New York.
Training California State University, Fullerton.
Theatre Aida (Ogunquit Playhouse); Hello, Dolly! (Stages St. Louis); Hairspray (North American tour); Simba in Disney’s The Lion King (North American tour, New York, Vegas, London, South Korea, UK Tour); Sister Act (North American tour); Motown The Musical (New York); Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (New York, North American tour); The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Papermill Playhouse)
Film Sex and the City 2 (Warner Bros)
Other Dashaun is featured on the soundtracks for Sex and the City 2 and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Jayden Lionel Ingram
Young Simba (at certain performances)
Birthplace Jakarta, Indonesia
Other Jay has been active in school musical productions since Pre-K. He loves singing, dancing and playing the piano. Jayden also enjoys most sports. Disney’s The Lion King marks his musical theatre debut.
Jonathan Andrew Hume
Simba
Birthplace Oxford, England.
Theatre Soloist in Bernstein’s MASS (Royal Festival Hall, London); ‘Blue Caterpillar’/’Knave of Hearts’ in Alice In Winterland (Rose Theatre, London); ‘Simba’ in The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre, London & Sands Theater, Singapore); ‘Bernard’ in Rufus Longbottom and the Space Rabbit (UK Tour); ‘Judas Iscariot’ in Jesus Christ Superstar (Wyllyotts Theatre, UK).
Film ‘Animated Weasel’ in Mary Poppins Returns (Walt Disney Pictures – due for release, December 2018).
Television Strictly Come Dancing (BBC); Disney’s Favourite Songs (ITV); Eastenders (BBC); Down To Earth (BBC); Anything’s Possible (Channel 5); Hope & Glory (BBC).
Recordings Jonathan has performed on the soundtracks for the feature films, 10,000 BC (Warner Bros); Amazing Grace (Momentum Pictures); Pride (Lionsgate).
Other Jonathan is also a voiceover artist and has worked on numerous commercials for TV and radio, both for the UK and abroad. Jonathan recently narrated the audiobook version of Chauffeur by Anton Marks for Audible.
Angeles Reyes
Ensemble
Birthplace México City, México.
Training Royal Ballet School (Cum laude) (2011).
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (México).
Other Rhythmic Gymnastics National Champion in 2002. Outstanding performance at Festival Internacional Cervantino 2013.
Sandile Zondi
Ensemble
Birthplace Durban, South Africa.
Television Clash of the Choirs (South Africa, 2013).
Monde Zondi
Ensemble
Birthplace Durban, South Africa.
Training The South African Film Institute.
Theatre Policeman in SARAFINA! (The South African State Theatre).
Daniel Zazueta
Standby Scar, Pumbaa and Ed
Birthplace Culiacán, México.
Training Universidad de Guadalajara (2012), Instituto de Desarrollo Artístico (2010).
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (México), Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors, Peter in Peter and the Starcatcher, Pilot in The Little Prince, Prince Indra in Avatar.
Other Participant in the Manizales International Theater Festival, International Theater Festival Casablanca in Bogotá, FET Galerías 1st edition (actor and director).
Benn Welford
Standby Scar, Timon, Pumbaa and Zazu
Birthplace Whyalla, Australia.
Training NIDA (2007), Atlantic Acting School, NYC (2016).
Theatre Oscar Lindquist in Sweet Charity (NIDA), Simon in Inside Out (Christine Dunstan Productions), Tim in The Distance From Here (Griffin Theatre), Swallow in The Happy Prince (Theatre of Image), Disney’s The Lion King (Australian Tour).
Film X–Men Origins: Wolverine (20th Century Fox).
Television Mark Johnson in Crownies (ABC), Const. Craig Woods in A Model Daughter: The Killing of Caroline Byrne (Network 10), Benn Moon in Whatever Happened to That Guy? (Comedy Channel).
Tlholo Tsotetsi
Ensemble
Birthplace Free State, South Africa.
Training Tshwane University of Technology (2016).
Theatre Dear Oliver Tambo (South Africa), Disney’s The Lion King (Shanghai).
Vuyelwa Tshona
Swing
Birthplace Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Training Central Technical College (2013) and Ekhaya Multi Art Central (K–CAP) 2014.
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (México), Amambazo the Musical, Jabulani South Africa Celebrates, One Among Many: Tribute to Chief Albert Luthuli.
Television Uzalo (SABC 1).
Other Worked with the legendary Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Romy Jo Swales
Ensemble
Birthplace Cape Town, South Africa.
Training Waterfront Theatre College (2015), Broadway Dance Centre Professional Semester (2016).
Television Dancer in Idols South Africa – Season 13 (M–Net), Dancer in SA’s Got Talent – Season 8 (eTV).
Other Dancer in Bring It On: All Stars (Universal Studios). Disney’s The Lion King marks Romy’s professional musical theatre debut.
Phumelele Sikhakhane
Ensemble
Birthplace Durban, South Africa.
Training Tshwane University of Technology (2014).
Theatre Me & You (Johannesburg, South Africa), World Gymnaestrada (Helsinki, Finland), PeepDance (TAMI Dance Company, Israel), A Spartacus of Africa (Cape Town, South Africa).
Film Iris Warriors (Roydon Turner).
Other Choreographer for Sins (2013 Standard Bank Ovation Award) and No Air (2014 Standard Bank Ovation Award) for Kmad Dance Company, Co-director of the Jozi Youth Dance Company.
Khanyisani Shoba
Ensemble
Birthplace Ladysmith, South Africa.
Training Khaya Multi Art Centre K–CAP (2012).
Theatre Madam President (Johannesburg, South Africa and USA, New Orleans).
Television Lead Singer in Royalty Soapie Award (Winnie Ntshaba), Lead Singer for The Next Level in The Sing–Off SA (SABC 1).
Nonofo Olekeng
Ensemble
Birthplace Mafikeng, South Africa.
Training Tshwane University of Technology (2006).
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (South Africa, Taiwan and Singapore), Dada Masilo’s Swan Lake and Carmen, The Dance Factory Tour (South Africa, Israel, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Russia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Canada, USA, Georgia, Finland, UK, Greece, Austria, Sweden, Norway and Belgium), various works for Hong Kong Dance Festival, Moving Into Dance Mophatong Dance Umbrella, National Arts Festival.
Peace Nzirawa
Ensemble
Birthplace Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Theatre The Mandela Trilogy (Italy, UK and Ireland Tour, Cape Town Opera & Wales Millennium Centre).
Film Frank & Fearless (Grey Hoffmeyer), Vuil Wasgoed (The Film Factory SA),100 Lives, The Chemo Club (Fireworx Media).
Television 40 North/The Looming Tower, Roots (A&E Studios), Mamello (RSA Endemol Studios), Tempy Pushas (RSA Endemol Studios).
Other Professional voice artist/actor, for many renowned South African production houses in films, television and commercial productions. Winner of DSTVs M-Net Movies Action Voice Competition.
Thato Nkwe
Ensemble
Birthplace Pretoria, South Africa.
Training Tshwane University of Technology.
Theatre SANDT’s Spartacus of Africa as Crassus (2015), No Air and 7 Deadly Sins (KMAD.Com, Grahamstown National Arts Festival, both received Standard Bank Ovation Awards).
Television “Rouge” – Sheba Ngwan’O (music video).
Other Disney’s The Lion King marks Thato’s musical theatre debut.
Lwazi Mzimase
Swing
Birthplace Johannesburg, South Africa.
Training The National School of the Arts (2014), The Cape Academy of Performing Arts (2017).
Theatre Cape Dance Company, Cape Dance Company 2, Johannesburg Youth Ballet, Grahamstown National Arts Festival, Naledi Theatre Awards & KKNK, Oudtshoorn.
Television Various television commercials.
Other Ido Showdance World Championships (South African dance team). Disney’s The Lion King marks Lwazi’s musical theatre debut.
Zodwa Mrasi
Ensemble
Birthplace Cape Town, South Africa.
Training College of Cape Town (2010).
Theatre J.L Zwane Siyaya directed by Bongani Magatyana (US Cultural Exchange Tour, 2006 –2009), Isango Ensemble (2012 – 2013), The Magic Flute (Germany), London Hackney Empire, The Globe Theatre, Venus & Adonis, Ragged Trousers, Aesop’s Fables, La Bohème, The Magic Flute (France Martinique Island), Disney’s The Lion King (México).
Noluyanda Mqulwana
Ensemble
Birthplace Cape Town, South Africa.
Training Dance For All, South Africa (2003), Cinevox Junior Company, Switzerland (2008).
Theatre Dance For Life (Holland, Vancouver and British Columbia), Disney’s The Lion King (Singapore), Cape Town City Ballet, Der König der Löwen (Hamburg), Dreamgirls benefit show (Hamburg), A Spartacus of Africa (South Africa), West Side Story (Salzburg), Equila (Apassionata, Munich).
Other Joop van den Ende Academy by Stage–Entertainment (Teacher in Hamburg), Choreographer for Mother Africa – Khayelitsha My Home and New Stories, Patron Ambassador for Dancescape of South Africa. Personal Trainer for BalletRIP.
Fumane Moeketsi
Ensemble
Birthplace Mt. Fletcher, Ha–Sethathi, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Training University of the Witwatersrand – BA (Applied Theatre & Media Studies), BA Hons. (Media Studies).
Theatre Umoja, Drum Struck (Japan), Vumani Oedipus (South Africa).
Lungile Khambule
Sarabi & Ensemble
Birthplace Durban, South Africa.
Training K–CAP Multi Art Centre.
Theatre Madam President (K–CAP), Mambazo (K–CAP), Have You Been Heard, Duma Ndlovu’s The Game (Playhouse Company).
Film Malokazana (Durban Motion Pictures/Mzansi Magic), uRisho (Mzansi Magic).
Television Uzalo (Word of Mouth – SABC 1).
Other Model for wedding gown magazines.
Sfiso Matlala
Ensemble
Birthplace Pretoria, South Africa.
Training National Film Academy (2014).
Theatre Marikana the Musical (The South African State Theatre), Freedom the Musical (The South African State Theatre).
Television Singer in Gospel Classic (SABC 2).
Other Who Are We the Musical, The Spirit of Africa the Musical.
Amanda Kunene
Nala
Birthplace Durban, South Africa.
Training University of KwaZulu-Natal – BA Music & Drama Performance Studies, Howard College (2016).
Theatre Sinbad the Sailor (Kickstart Productions).
Television Idols South Africa – Season 12 – Top 16 Finalist (M–Net, 2016).
Other Winner of the South African ACT/DALRO Nedbank Arts & Culture Scholarship (2012), Represented Africa as a continent for the ANOC Olympics 2016 Gala Dinner/Launch in Bangkok, Thailand (2014).
Kudzai Christine Kapswarah
Swing
Birthplace Harare, Zimbabwe.
Other Disney’s The Lion King marks Christine’s musical theatre debut.
Phumelele Jili
Ensemble
Birthplace Durban, South Africa.
Training Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, Training in Advanced Ballet, Contemporary,
African and Freestyle.
Theatre Blank Space by Sisters Harris with Art of Motion (Joburg Theatre), Souls of Our Nation (2014),
7 Deadly Sins (2015), Screaming Whispers (2016), If the World Was Listening (OWLAG Dance Company, 2017).
Other Disney’s The Lion King marks Phumelele’s musical theatre debut.
Viridiana Cortés
Swing
Birthplace México City, México.
Training Empiric Dancer, 2 scholarship years in Visceral Studio Company (Chicago, USA).
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (México).
Tertia Coetzee-Dippenaar
Swing
Birthplace Johannesburg, South Africa.
Training Tshwane University of Technology (2010).
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (Brazil and Germany), Spamalot (Theatre Lübeck, Germany).
Television Bonnie in Soulbuddyz. Dancer in commercials in the UK.
Other Worked with top South African choreographers such as Andile Sotiya, Timothy Le Roux, Debbie Rakusin, Liam Anthony
(Tailormade group), Celeste Botha & French choreographer Redha Benteifour. She is also a European certified personal trainer.
Dayan Kingsley Beukes
Ensemble
Birthplace Potchefstroom, Promosa, South Africa.
Training Tshwane University of Technology (2010).
Theatre Dada Masilo’s Swan Lake (European Tour), A Spartacus of Africa (Veronica Paeper), guest artist for Cape Dance Company (Debbie Turner), performer on Tui Cruises (Mediterranean Tour), Tshwane Dance Theatre (Esther Nasser), Doo Bee Boobies (Mark Hawkins), 10th Annual Ballet Gala (Christopher Montigue), Cape Town City Ballet, KMad Dance Company (Kelsey Middleton), AFCON Opening Ceremony principal dancer, JOMBA Dance Festival (Bailey Snyman), NAF Chronicle Dance season (Debra Gush), Redah’s Giselle Botswana Tour, Afrikaans is Groot Music Festival (Hayley Bennett), Bidvest (Debbie Rakusin).
Film Iris Warriors (Roydon Turner).
Other Featured in Unati’s music videos, Choreographed performances for Jozi Youth Dance Company, IDO World Championships Gold Medallist 2011/12.
Chachano Báez
Swing
Birthplace Celaya, Guanajuato, México.
Training National School of Classical and Contemporary Dance, National Center of the Arts, México (2011).
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (México).
Other Soloist dancer in different companies from México as well as various tours around the Americas.
Felicity Kyle Napuli
Young Nala (at certain performances)
Birthplace Mandaluyong City, Philippines.
Training Repertory Philippines Theater Workshop (2016), Atlantis Musical Theater Workshop (2017).
Theatre Becky in A Little Princess (Repertory Philippines, 2016), Matilda in Matilda the Musical (Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment, 2017).
Short film Duyan ng Alon (UP Thesis).
Other Gawad Musika Award as Outstanding Child Performer (2016) and Outstanding World Class Child Performer (2017).
Uma Naomi Martin
Young Nala (at certain performances)
Birthplace Manila, Philippines.
Training Repertory Philippines Summer Workshop (2013), Once Upon A Time Storybook Theatre (2015), street dance and tap, Steps Dance Studio (2017), Atlantis Musical Theatre Workshop (2017).
Theatre Lottie in A Little Princess (Repertory Philippines, 2016), Matilda in Matilda the Musical (Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment, 2017).
Sheena Kirtsten Bentoy
Young Nala (at certain performances)
Birthplace Metro Manila, Philippines.
Training Voice Lessons at Center for Pop (2016 – 2017), Atlantis Musical Theatre Workshop (2017) at the Opera Haus, Makati.
Television It’s Showtime – Mini Me (ABS-CBN, 2015).
Other She is also a commercial model for local and international products in television, print media, billboards and catalogues. Disney’s The Lion King marks Sheena’s musical theatre debut.
Julien Joshua M. Dolor Jr.
Young Simba at certain performances
Birthplace Davao City, Philippines.
Other Played the violin since age five and sings at church and for his inter–school choir. Disney’s The Lion King marks his musical theatre debut.
Mark Tatham
Ed
Birthplace Johannesburg, South Africa.
Training University of the Witwatersrand – BA Dramatic Arts (Hons) (2014).
Theatre Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio (Joburg Theatre, 2017), Man Up (Liquid Fusion, 2017), Khokho’s Treasure (National Children’s Theatre, 2015 –2017), Burn (Liquid Fusion, 2015 – 2017).
Other Awards include Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for Pinocchio (SATMag Awards), Top Four Best Plays for Man Up (SCrIBE
Competition), Best Children’s Production for Khokho’s Treasure (Naledi awards) and Standard Bank Ovation for Burn (NAF Grahamstown). Presenter of The Bundu Basher (YouTube).
Björn Blignaut
Banzai
Birthplace Johannesburg, South Africa.
Theatre Dreamgirls, Jersey Boys, Beautiful Creatures, Sister Act.
Television Coca Cola Popstars (SABC 1, 2004), Idols South Africa – Top 6 (M–Net, 2007), Generations
The Legacy (SABC 1),The Grit (BBC 1), Colour TV, Binnelanders.
Other Winner of the 2011 Naledi Award for Best Newcomer/Breakthrough for Dreamgirls, Lead Vocalist for Costa Pacifica.
Candida Mosoma
Shenzi
Birthplace Pretoria, South Africa.
Training Tshwane University of Technology (2005).
Theatre Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Mary Magdalene in Jesus Christ Superstar, Shenzi in Disney’s The Lion King, Nandi in Shaka Zulu the Musical, Lorelle Ribbon in Dreamgirls, Deloris Van Cartier in Sister Act, Diva in Priscilla Queen of the Desert (International Tour), Dolly Rathebe in Mandela Trilogy (International Tour).
Film To the Power of Anne (African Power Productions).
Television Zodwa in Rhythm City (eTV), Idols South Africa – Top 18 (M–Net, 2012).
Other Winner of the Naledi Theatre Award for Best Supporting Female in a Musical for Dreamgirls and the Naledi Theatre Award for Best Female Lead in a Musical for Sister Act.
Noxolo Dlamini
Nala
Birthplace Johannesburg, South Africa.
Training University of Pretoria – BA Dramatic Arts (2014).
Theatre Sarafina in SARAFINA! (South African State Theatre, 2017), Gone Native (Lindiwe Lekasapa, Joburg City Theatres, 2017), Bilharzia in Fantasy of Light (2016), Disney’s The Lion King (London, 2015).
Other Winner of the 2014 KykNet Best Overall Female Performer at the Krekvars Student Arts Festival, and the 2017 SATMag award for Best Actress in a Musical for SARAFINA
Calvyn Grandling
Simba (at certain performances)
Birthplace Western Cape, South Africa.
Training Johannes Brahms Conservatory, Hamburg (2011).
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (Johannesburg, Taiwan, Germany and London), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (South Africa and New Zealand).
Film Documentary about Hollywood Acting Coach Bernard Hiller, The Pink Elephant and Guy in Breathe Easy.
Other Winner of the Yamaha Young Talent Competition in Carnival City in 2004.
Pierre van Heerden
Pumbaa
Birthplace Cape Town, South Africa.
Training The Waterfront Theatre School (2001).
Theatre Cats (Asia Tour, Scandinavia and Qatar), Amos Hart in Chicago (Johannesburg and Cape Town), Marcel in Aspects of Love (Johannesburg), Pumbaa in Disney’s The Lion King (Johannesburg, Taipei and Singapore), Eddie/Dr Scott in The Rocky Horror Show (Cape Town and Johannesburg).
Film Willem in Faan se Trein.
Television Proesstraat (Kyknet), Pieter in Bluestone 42 (BBC).
Other One man shows Feel, Tune Jy My and Borderline.
André Jewson
Zazu
Birthplace Melbourne, Australia.
Training Victorian College of the Arts School of Drama (2005), École Philippe Gaulier (2012).
Theatre Ed, u/s Zazu & Scar in Disney’s The Lion King (Australian Tour), Camille in Thérèse Raquin (Critical Stages), Soldier in As Told By The Boys Who Fed Me Apples (La Mama), Crowther in The History Boys (Melbourne Theatre Company), Max in Heaven (La Mama), Karpati in Arabian Night (Griffin Stablemates).
Film Mothboy in Hugo (Thaumatrope Productions/AFC).
Other Co–facilitator for Kakiseni International Arts Exchange (Malaysia, 2012).
Antony Lawrence
Scar
Birthplace Truro, United Kingdom.
Training Guildford School of Acting (2012).
Theatre Park Keeper/Von Hussler, u/s Mr Banks in Mary Poppins (UK Tour), Escapologist, u/s Miss Trunchbull & Mr Wormwood in Matilda the Musical (Cambridge Theatre/RSC), u/s Khashoggi & Rebel Leader in We Will Rock You (International Arena Tour), u/s Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar (UK Arena Tour), Simon Stride in Jekyll and Hyde (Union Theatre).
Other My Fair Lady (BBC Proms/Royal Albert Hall), Peter Pan (Workshop/Lyric Theatre).
Gabriel P. Tiongson
Young Simba at certain performances
Birthplace Parañaque City, Philippines.
Training Trumpets Playshop Musical Theatre Classes (2010 – 2017).
Theatre Tiny Tim in Scrooge (Repertory Philippines), Tommy in Always Upon A Time (Trumpets Playhouse), Story Teller/Merchant in Little Prince & Princess (Trumpets Playhouse), Nigel in Matilda the Musical (Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment).
Mthokozisi Emkay Khanyile
Mufasa
Birthplace Durban, South Africa.
Training University of the Witwatersrand – Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Dramatic Arts and Music.
Theatre Mufasa u/s in Disney’s The Lion King (London), Khokho’s Treasure, Under the Baobab Tree (National Children’s Theatre), Stromboli in Pinocchio, Jr., Mad Hatter & King of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, Jr. (People’s Theatre), Beautiful Creatures (Teatro at Montecasino, South Africa).
Film Defiance (Mzansi Magic), Crossed Wires (Mzansi Magic), Hhayi Lapha Kwami (ETV Extra).
Television Remix (Coalstove Pictures).
Omar Sharief L. Uddin
Young Simba at certain performances
Birthplace Manila, Philippines.
Theatre The Emperor’s New Clothes (Kids Act Philippines), A Christmas Carol (Globe Iconic), Decade of Dreams (Frame Productions), Tagu-taguan Nasaan ang Buwan (Philippine Educational Theater Association).
Television The Voice Kids (Season 3) and various television commercials.
Ntsepa Pitjeng
Rafiki
Birthplace Limpopo, South Africa.
Training Tshwane University of Technology.
Theatre Disney’s The Lion King (Las Vegas, London, China and Brazil).
Steve Canyon Kennedy
Sound Design
Steve Canyon Kennedy was the production engineer on such Broadway shows as Cats, Starlight Express, Song & Dance, The Phantom of the Opera, Carrie and Aspects of Love. Broadway sound design credits include, On Your Feet, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill (Tony Award®), Hands On A Hardbody (Drama Desk Award), Jesus Christ Superstar, Catch Me If You Can, Guys and Dolls, Mary Poppins, THE LION KING, Jersey Boys (Drama Desk Award), Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays, Hairspray, The Producers, Aida, Titanic, Big, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Carousel and The Who’s Tommy (Drama Desk Award).
Marey Griffith
Associate Choreographer
A native New Yorker, Marey has toured worldwide with the acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as a featured dancer/soloist. Other guest appearances include Déjà vu Dance Theatre and the Spoleto festival in Italy. Marey has worked as co-choreographer on the star-studded production of The Wizard of Oz in concert at Avery Fisher Hall with Nathan Lane, Joel Grey, Jewel and Natalie Cole. She has also appeared in numerous soap operas, commercials and voice-overs. Since joining the creative team of Disney’s The Lion King in August of 2000, Marey has been mounting and maintaining numerous productions worldwide. She feels incredibly honoured to be working with award winning choreographer Garth Fagan.
Anthony Lyn
Associate Director
Anthony Lyn was born in South Wales in the United Kingdom and trained at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. London theatre incudes Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Anything Goes, Oklahoma!, Damn Yankees, Disney’s The Lion King and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. On Broadway, Anthony has also been the associate director of Les Misérables, Mary Poppins and Disney’s The Lion King. He has also staged a multitude of theatre productions regionally in both the UK and the US, as well as productions internationally in many countries including China, Australia, Germany, México and Austria. His television work includes the Tony® Awards (2007 & 2014), America Celebrates, a gala performance for the US President and First Lady, four Royal Variety Performances and the 2013 Academy Awards®. Anthony is proud to have represented Julie Taymor’s work on Disney’s The Lion King since 1999.
David Kreppel
Music Supervisor
David is proud to continue his association with Disney’s The Lion King since 2003. Broadway conducting credits include Aladdin, Disney’s The Lion King, Sister Act, Rock of Ages, A Chorus Line (revival) and playing those as well as Motown, Tarzan®, The Little Mermaid and Saturday Night Fever and others. Additional credits include vocal arranger for Bandstand (Broadway), music supervisor/arranger for the US Tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and the international touring group The Broadway Dolls, and composer of 1st and Ten, A Host of Sparrows and The Velveteen Rabbit. He is a graduate of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music.
Bruce Fowler
Orchestrator
Bruce Fowler is an accomplished trombonist who has played with such notables as Woody Herman, Buddy Rich, Frank Zappa, Toshiko Akiyoshi and Don Van Vliet. He performs with his family’s band, The Fowler Brothers (there are five Fowlers); his own band, The Enormous Bones; and Banned from Utopia. Bruce was the supervising orchestrator for Pearl Harbor (he also composed the big band numbers), Shrek, As Good as It Gets, Black Hawk Down and Hans Zimmer’s Academy Award®-winning THE LION KING movie score.
David Metzger
Orchestrator
David Metzger has orchestrated many films, including the Disney animated film Tarzan, Training Day, Domestic Disturbance, Bait and Return to Paradise. His television work includes composing episodes of “The Magnificent Seven” and Disney’s “The Legend of Tarzan” and five years as an arranger/composer for “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” David was nominated for Tony® and Drama Desk awards for THE LION KING.
Robert Elhai
Associate Music Producer, Orchestrator
Tony® and Drama Desk nominee Robert Elhai has orchestrated many concert, theatre and film scores for composers Elliot Goldenthal (Juan Darien, Final Fantasy) and Michael Kamen (Don Juan de Marco, X-Men), among others. His arrangements for Metallica’s GRAMMY® Award-winning “S&M” made good use of his doctorate in composition from Yale University.
Duma Ndlovu
South African Casting Director
Michael Ward
Hair & Makeup Design
Michael Ward designs for opera and theatre. For Disney: THE LION KING (Broadway and others) and Der Glöckner von Notre Dame (Berlin). Other work has been seen in Britain, the United States, Holland, France, Japan, Israel and Portugal. Along with his design work in theatre, he works as a garden and landscape designer.
Michael Curry
Mask & Puppet Design
Over 25 years Michael has worked widely as a visual and concept designer for numerous companies, such as Disney Theme Parks and Theatrical Productions, Cirque du Soleil, The Metropolitan Opera, seven Olympics Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Universal Studios Theme Parks, and many others. He collaborates regularly with visionary directors and producers. Mr. Curry has received many prestigious awards, including several for his work on Broadway, Olympic ceremonies, and his continued innovations in the fields of scenic visual effects, and puppetry design. In the music industry Michael is known for his innovative designs for Michael Jackson, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and countless others. Michael Curry Design, Inc. is comprised of 50 innovative designers and fabricators who conceive and produce state of the art creations for live entertainment. His studio is located in Portland, Oregon.
Donald Holder
Lighting Design
Donald Holder received the 1998 Tony®, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for The Lion King (Broadway) and the Molière Award for The Lion King (Paris). Broadway: Over fifty productions, including: Anastasia; She Loves Me (2016 Revival); The King and I (2015 Revival); The Bridges of Madison County; Golden Boy; South Pacific (2008 Tony® Award); Oslo, Ragtime, Les Liaisons Dangereuses; A Streetcar Named Desire; Gem of the Ocean; Movin’ Out; Juan Darien: A Carnival Mask (all Tony® nominated); On The Twentieth Century; You Can’t Take It With You; Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark; Promises, Promises; Annie (2012 revival); Arcadia; Come Fly Away; Cyrano de Bergerac; The Little Dog Laughed; Thoroughly Modern Millie; The Boy from Oz; and many others. Television: Smash seasons one and two for NBC/DreamWorks. Education: Yale School Of Drama, Head of Lighting Design, Rutgers University.
Richard Hudson
Scenic Design
Richard Hudson was born in Zimbabwe and educated in Zimbabwe and England. In 1988 he won a Laurence Olivier Award for designing a season of seven plays at the Old Vic Theatre, London. His set designs for The Lion King have won numerous awards, including a Tony® in 1998. He is a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI). In 2003 he won the Gold Medal for Set Design at the Prague Quadriennale, and in 2005 he was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Surrey. He has designed sets and costumes for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, the Young Vic and the Gate, London. In opera he has worked at the Royal Opera, English National Opera, La Scala Milan, Metropolitan Opera New York, Opéra National de Paris, Lyric Opera Chicago, Staatsoper, Vienna, Glyndebourne Festival Opera and in Zurich, Munich, Amsterdam, Venice, Florence, Turin, Bregenz, Houston and Washington. He designed American Ballet Theatre’s current productions of The Nutcracker and The Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet for National Ballet of Canada, and La Bayadère and Le Coq D’or for Royal Danish Ballet.
Jay Rifkin
Additional Music & Lyrics
The Grammy Award®-winning producer, together with producing and composing partner Hans Zimmer, created Media Ventures, a multifaceted entertainment group that includes music, new media, film and television. Their partnership has earned them numerous awards and nominations, including Academy Award® nominations, for the film scores of Driving Miss Daisy, Rain Man and THE LION KING. Following the success of THE LION KING, Jay conceived and produced the gold-selling follow-up album Rhythm of the Pride Lands. He is also chairman of Media Revolution and a founder of the film production company Media Ventures Pictures.
Hans Zimmer
Additional Music & Lyrics
Hans Zimmer received the Oscar®, Golden Globe® and two Grammy® awards for his original film score for the film version of THE LION KING. He started his film scoring career with My Beautiful Laundrette in 1985, and his other credits include six Oscar-nominated film scores, among them Gladiator, The Thin Red Line, As Good as It Gets and Rain Man. Additional credits include the Grammy-winning score for Crimson Tide, Driving Miss Daisy, Thelma and Louise, Black Hawk Down and The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise. Mr. Zimmer also heads the film music division for DreamWorks SKG studios.
Mark Mancina
Additional music & lyrics, Music produced for the stage, Additional Score
A Tony® nominee and multi-platinum, three-time GRAMMY Award®-winning composer, Mr. Mancina produced songs for Disney’s blockbuster animated feature film, and proved a uniquely qualified choice to produce the music for the stage production of The Lion King. The 1994 film’s critical and box office success spawned the hit album Rhythm of the Pride Lands, for which he co-wrote and produced multiple tracks, including “He Lives in You” and “Shadowland”, songs featured in the stage production. In addition to his songwriting and producing achievements, he is a seasoned film score composer. Mr. Mancina’s credits include mega-hits Moana, Training Day, Speed, Twister, Bad Boys, Tarzan® and August Rush among many others.
Lebo M.
Additional Music & Lyrics, Vocal Score, Choral Director
Lebo M. is known as the “voice and spirit of The Lion King.” Once a teenage singer in Soweto, the GRAMMY® Award winner and Tony® nominee’s music brings audiences to tears with hauntingly inspiring African rhythms and melodies. Lebo’s talents have been hailed by the worldwide press in superlatives that might describe the most delightfully poetic of musical deities. Since his arrival in America, Lebo has attracted music industry giants such as Quincy Jones, Jimmy Cliff and Hans Zimmer as mentors, allies and collaborators. Lebo has performed and produced four albums, Rhythm of the Pride Lands (Disney), Deeper Meaning (Gallo) and The Lion King (Japanese and Hamburg cast recordings). Other credits include The Power of One, Back on the Block and Listen Up with Quincy Jones; the feature films Outbreak (Warner Bros.), Congo (Warner Bros.) and Born to Be Wild (Paramount); he is the composer and co-producer of The Legend of Tarzan theme song, “Opar”; and the Disney television special People. He has performed on the Academy Awards® and the Essence Awards Show, with Vanessa Redgrave at Kthimi – The Return in Kosovo, and been honored by Artists for a Free South Africa.
Garth Fagan
Choreographer
Garth Fagan is the recipient of the 1998 Tony Award®, the 2000 Laurence Olivier Award (London, UK) and the 2004 Helpmann Award® (Australia) for Best Choreography in a Musical as well as the Drama Desk Award, the Astaire Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award for his work in The Lion King. Mr. Fagan was born in Kingston, Jamaica, where he received the Prime Minister’s Award, a Special Gold Musgrave Medal for his “Contribution to the World of Dance and Dance Theater” and in 2001, he received the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander. For more than 47 years he has toured the world with Garth Fagan Dance. On television the company has appeared on Great Performances, The Tonight Show and the Academy Awards®. Mr. Fagan forged his own dance language and technique from Afro-Caribbean, ballet and post-modern dance, and has choreographed for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Jose Limon Company, the New York City Ballet and others. In addition, he choreographed Joseph Papp’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and directed & choreographed the Duke Ellington street opera, Queenie Pie at the Kennedy Center. A Chancellor’s Award-winning Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of the State University of New York, his awards include the 2001 Samuel H. Scripps American Dance Festival Award, a Bessie Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Fulbright 50th Anniversary Distinguished Fellow. In 2001 he was the recipient of the Golden Plate Award and inducted into the American Academy of Achievement. He was selected in 2012 as an “Irreplaceable Dance Treasure” by The Dance Heritage Coalition. In 2017, Mr. Fagan received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Dance Guild.
Julie Taymor
Director, Costume Design, Mask/Puppet Co-Design, Additional Lyrics
Julie Taymor won the 1998 Tony® Award for Best Direction of a Musical and for Best Costumes for The Lion King. It also garnered Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards for Taymor’s direction; three Molière Awards, including Best Musical and Best Costumes; and myriad awards for her original costume, mask and puppet designs. Taymor made her Broadway debut in 1996 with Juan Darien: A Carnival Mask (Lincoln Center), nominated for five Tony® Awards.Other theatre work includes The Green Bird (New Victory Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, the Cort Theater on Broadway); Titus Andronicus; The Tempest; The Taming of the Shrew (Theatre for a New Audience); The Transposed Heads (Lincoln Center and American Music Theatre Festival); Liberty’s Taken (Castle Hill Festival); and Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark (Hilton Theatre on Broadway). Her opera productions include the Pulitzer finalist, Grendel, composed by Elliot Goldenthal (Los Angeles Opera and the Lincoln Center Festival); Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, in repertory at the Metropolitan Opera since 2004 and Oedipus Rex with Jessye Norman, conducted by Seiji Ozawa, for which she earned the International Classical Music Award for Best Opera Production and an Emmy® for a subsequent film version. Her first film Fool’s Fire, an adaptation of an Edgar Allan Poe short story, aired on PBS in 1992. Her feature films include Titus, starring Anthony Hopkins and Jessica Lange; Frida, starring Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina (six 2002 Academy Award® nominations, winning two); Across the Universe (2008 Golden Globe® nomination for Best Musical/Comedy) and The Tempest, starring Helen Mirren. She recently directed the play Grounded, starring Anne Hathaway at the Public Theater and completed a cinematic version of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, filmed during her stage production that ran at Theatre for a New Audience’s new home in Brooklyn. Taymor has received a MacArthur “genius” grant, a Guggenheim Fellowship, two Obie Awards and the first annual Dorothy B. Chandler Award in Theater, among many others. A book spanning her career, Julie Taymor: Playing with Fire, is available from Abrams. She most recently directed M Butterfly on Broadway starring Clive Owen in 2017.
Irene Mecchi
Book
Irene began her association with Disney in March 1992, when she wrote Recycle Rex, the 1994 Environmental Media Award-winning animated short. Irene shares a screenplay credit on Disney’s animated features The Lion King, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hercules. Along with co-author Roger Allers, she received a 1998 Tony® nomination for writing the book for The Lion King. Irene wrote the teleplay for ABC’s Annie. She shares a writing credit on Disney Pixar’s Brave, which won the Academy Award® for Best Animated Feature in 2013. Irene wrote the teleplay for NBC’s Peter Pan Live!, and recently developed television projects with NBC Universal and Netflix. She is currently working on a stage musical for Universal Stage Productions. Irene would like to thank the cast, crew, creative team and executives who keep The Lion King roaring ‘round the world.
Roger Allers
Book
Roger Allers made his Broadway debut with co-author Irene Mecchi, with this Tony®-nominated book, adapted from the animated feature, which he co-directed. Mr. Allers has been instrumental in shaping the structure and dialogue for many Disney animated features since 1988, including Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Oliver & Company, The Rescuers Down Under, and the first CGI movie, Tron. He directed the Academy Award® nominated short The Little Matchgirl for Disney and co-directed the 2006 animated feature Open Season for Sony Studios. Prior to working with Disney, he created animation on children’s programs and features for studios in Boston, Toronto and Tokyo. Mr. Allers wrote and directed the 2015 animated adaptation of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, a book of philosophical poetry. Currently, he is writing an original musical for the stage.
Elton John
Music
The monumental career of international singer/songwriter and performer Elton John has spanned more than four decades. Since launching his first tour in 1970, Elton has over 4,000 performances in more than 80 countries. He is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, with 35 gold and 25 platinum albums and more than 300 million records sold worldwide. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences has awarded Elton multiple GRAMMY® Awards, including the GRAMMY® Legend Award. In the early 1990s, Elton collaborated with lyricist Tim Rice on the soundtrack for The Lion King, winning him an Academy Award®. The album produced two top-selling, award-winning singles: “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “Circle of Life.” The Tony® Award-winning Broadway productions of The Lion King and Aida both awarded Elton with GRAMMY® Awards for Best Musical Show Album. Billy Elliot was nominated for a record-tying 15 Tony® Awards and won 10 including Best Musical. In 1992, Elton established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which today is one of the leading nonprofit HIV/AIDS organisations. In 1998, the Queen of England knighted him Sir Elton John, CBE. In 2004, Elton received the Kennedy Center Honor for his lifetime contributions to American culture and excellence through the performing arts. In 2013, Elton was honored as the first recipient of the prestigious BRITs Icon Award.
Tim Rice
Lyrics
Tim Rice has worked in music, theatre and films since 1965 when he met Andrew Lloyd Webber, a fellow struggling songwriter. Rather than pursue Tim’s ambitions to write rock or pop songs they turned their attention to Andrew’s obsession – musical theatre. Their first collaboration (lyrics by Tim, music by Andrew) was an unsuccessful show based on the life of Dr. Barnardo, the Victorian philanthropist, The Likes of Us. Their next three works together were much more successful – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita. Tim has also worked with other distinguished popular composers such as Elton John (The Lion King, Aida), Alan Menken (Aladdin, King David, Beauty and the Beast), Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (Chess) and Stuart Brayson (From Here to Eternity). He has won several awards (Oscars®, Tonys etc.) mainly for the wrong thing or for simply turning up.