"Circle of Life": Lion King Reopens at the Minskoff Theatre June 13

By Andrew Gans
13 Jun 2006

A scene from Disney's hit musical The Lion King.
A scene from Disney's hit musical The Lion King.
Photo by Joan Marcus

The Tony Award-winning Disney musical The Lion King, which played its final performance at the New Amsterdam Theatre June 4, reopens at the Minskoff Theatre June 13.

The move was necessitated by the upcoming arrival of Mary Poppins, the new Disney-Cameron Mackintosh musical that will begin performances at the New Amsterdam Oct. 14.

A spokesperson for The Lion King told Playbill.com that no changes have been made to the physical production of the musical. Though a few new sets were built to accommodate the move, audiences will see exactly the same show that played the New Amsterdam. "[Only] backstage changes and 'choreography' of scene changes [have been made]," said Boneau. The musical will also employ the same number of cast, crew and musicians.

The Lion King currently features Tshidi Manye as Rafiki, Alton Fitzgerald White as Mufasa, Jean Michelle Grier as Sarabi, Tony Freeman as Zazu, Patrick Page as Scar, Bonita J. Hamilton as Shenzi, Benjamin Sterling Cannon as Banzai, Enrique Segura as Ed, Danny Rutigliano as Timon, Tom Alan Robbins as Pumbaa, Josh Tower as Simba and Kissy Simmons as Nala.

The Lion King originally opened at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre Nov. 13, 1997. Directed by Julie Taymor — who became the first woman to ever receive a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical — the musical has become an international hit with productions playing all around the globe. In fact, the Elton John-Tim Rice musical has won over 30 major awards. Those include six Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical; eight Drama Desk Awards; six Outer Critics Circle Awards; two Sir Laurence Oliviers; the Evening Standard Award for Best Theatrical Event; and three Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards.

The Minskoff Theatre is located in New York at 200 West 45th Street.

Visit www.disneyonbroadway.com for more information.