The Lion King Australia Tour 2014
The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice along with the musical score created by Hans Zimmer with choral arrangements by Lebo M. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The show is produced by Disney Theatrical.
Run
Sydney – Capitol Theatre 12 Dec 2014 – 31 Aug 2014
Brisbane – Lyric Theatre, QPAC 27 Sept – 25 Jan 2015
Melbourne – Regent Theatre Feb 2015 – ?
History
The musical debuted July 8, 1997, in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Orpheum Theatre, and was an instant success before premiering on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on October 15, 1997 in previews with the official opening on November 13, 1997. On June 13, 2006, the Broadway production moved to the Minskoff Theatre to make way for the musical version of Mary Poppins, where it is still running after more than 6,700 performances. It is Broadway’s fourth longest-running show in history and the highest grossing Broadway production of all time, having grossed more than $1 billion.
The show debuted in the West End’s Lyceum Theatre on October 19, 1999 and is still running. The cast of the West End production were invited to perform at the Royal Variety Performance 2008 at the London Palladium on December 11, in the presence of senior members of the British Royal Family.
First Australia Tour 2003 – The show played at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia, from October 16, 2003, until June 26, 2005. The production then ran at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne from July 28, 2005 until June 4, 2006.
Australian Cast 2014
Josh Quong Tart – SCAR
Rob Collins – MUFASA
Buyi Zama – RAFIKI
Cameron Goodall – ZAZU
Jamie McGregor – TIMON
Russell Dykstra – PUMBAA
Nick Afoa – SIMBA
Josslynn Hlenti – NALA
Ruvarashe Ngwenya – SHENZI
Terry Yeboah – BANZAI
Andre Jewson – ED
Jasper James Lloyd – YOUNG SIMBA
Joshua Park – YOUNG SIMBA
Adrian Pulvirenti – YOUNG SIMBA
Ethan Puse – YOUNG SIMBA
Ruby Alexander – YOUNG NALA
Ayanda Dladla – YOUNG NALA
Ariana Haghighi – YOUNG NALA
Sabrina Sialeipata – YOUNG NALA
Bernard Angel – STANDBY
Caleb Bartolo – ENSEMBLE
Laurence Creevey – SWING
Ed Deganos – SWING
Akina Edmonds – ENSEMBLE
Jabulani Gambu – SWING
Sandile Gontsana – ENSEMBLE
Mietta Gornall – SWING
Graeme Isaako – ENSEMBLE
Jacqueline Ison – ENSEMBLE
Sophia Laryea – ENSEMBLE
Sharon Lee – ENSEMBLE
Nicholas Li – ENSEMBLE
Loredo Malcolm – SWING/ DANCE CAPTAIN
Gabisile Manana – ENSEMBLE
Lee Morunga – SWING
Buti Mothamana – ENSEMBLE
Zoe Mthiyane – SARABI/ ENSEMBLE
Matu Ngaropo – ENSEMBLE
Bhekani Nkalankala – ENSEMBLE
Max Oliveira – ENSEMBLE
Joseph Rivera – ENSEMBLE
Anica Scott-Garrell – ENSEMBLE
Diana Ricks – ENSEMBLE
Rebecca Selley – ENSEMBLE
Pamela Sidhu – ENSEMBLE
Noluthando Sithole – ENSEMBLE
Toni Stewart – SWING
Jason Te Patu – ENSEMBLE
Jeffrey Trinidad – ENSEMBLE
Tarisai Vushe – ENSEMBLE
Benn Welford – STANDBY
Joshua Williams – ENSEMBLE
Wei Wei Zhang – SWING/ DANCE CAPTAIN
Creative
Julie Taymor – Director, Costume Design, Mask/Puppet Co-Design, Additional Lyrics
Elton John – Music
Tim Rice – Lyrics
Lebo M – Additional Music & Lyrics, Additional, Vocal, Score, Vocal Arrangements, Choral Director
Mark Mancina – Additional Music & Lyrics, Music Produced For The Stage, Additional Score
Hans Zimmer – Additional Music & Lyrics
Story
As the sun rises, Rafiki the mandrill calls the animals to Pride Rock. She greets King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi before presenting their cub to the gathered animals (“Circle of Life”). Elsewhere, Mufasa’s brother, Scar, laments his lost chance at becoming king. Back at her baobab tree, Rafiki paints an image of the cub and asks the spirits to conjure the new prince’s name: Simba.
The musical incorporates several changes and additions to the storyline as compared to the film. The mandrill Rafiki’s gender was changed to a female role because Taymor believed that there was generally no leading female character in the film. Rafiki was portrayed by Tsidii Le Loka in the original Broadway musical, and by Josette Bushell-Mingo in the original London production.
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