The Lion King Australian Tour
2014- 2015 Tour Dates and Reviews
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.
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.
Reviews
Tour Details
The cities, theatres, and dates for the tour are as follows:
Sydney 12 Dec 2014 – 31 Aug 2014
Capitol Theatre Sydney
Brisbane 27 Sept 2014 – 25 Jan 2015
Lyric Theatre Briasbane
Melbourne 13 Feb 2015 – 28 June 2015
Regent Theatre Melbourne
Please Note Tour Dates/Tour Cast are all Subject to Change without notice check your daily press.
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
