Casting Announced for Disney’s THE LION KING Broadway’s Award-Winning Best Musical
May 17, 2006
Phindile Mkhize as Rafiki
Photo: Joan Marcus
Philadelphia’s Limited Premiere Engagement Begins June 8 at Academy of Music
Casting has been announced for the Philadelphia engagement of Disney’s THE LION KING. Philadelphia’s most eagerly awaited stage production ever will leap onto the Academy of Music stage from Thursday, June 8 to Sunday, Sept. 10, making it the longest engagement to play Philadelphia in over a decade since The Phantom of the Opera in 1992. The press opening night is Saturday, June 10 at 8pm. This Philadelphia engagement is currently one of eight productions running worldwide along with New York, a second United States National Tour, London, Hamburg, Tokyo, Scheveningen, and Melbourne. A new production is scheduled to open in Shanghai in July 2006. Disney’s THE LION KING is part of the Kimmel Center Presents Cadillac Broadway at the Academy theater series.
A handful of local Philadelphia area performers will be returning to their hometown with the national touring production, including two young cast members who will be making their Philadelphia professional debut after joining the tour last month. Cody Ryan Wise, from South Philadelphia and Zuri Reed, from West Philadelphia—both aged 10—will alternate with two other young actors in the roles of “Young Simba” and “Young Nala,” respectively. Also, Cherry Hill, NJ native Ben Lipitz, will star as ‘Pumbaa’ the warthog. Wayne Pyle, born in Chester, PA and raised in Selingrove, PA is ‘Ed’ the hyena. Pyle, along with fellow cast member John Plumpis (Timon), are both University of Delaware graduates. In addition, company manager Alan Kosher, a touring veteran of over 25 years, is also a Scranton, PA native who now resides in Philadelphia.
The malevolent and evil “Scar” will be played by Derek Smith, who played “Scar” in The Lion King on Broadway for 4 years. Other Broadway credits include The Green Bird, for which he received a Tony nomination, Ring Round the Moon, Jackie, Getting and Spending, Timon of Athens and The Government Inspector. L. Steven Taylor will play the lion king “Mufasa.” Mr. Taylor joins the tour from the Broadway Company where he understudied the role. Additional New York and West Coast credits include Ataria the Musical, Smokey Joe’s Café, Songs for New World, Miss Saigon and A Chorus Line. Phindile Mkhize, a native of South Africa, is the wise “Rafiki.” Ms. Mkhize has traveled to Germany, Australia, Holland and Amsterdam performing and sharing her talents, and her credits include The Lion King Soundtrack ‘94, Sarafina 2; Mama, Maria, Maria, and WozaMyFohloza.
The meerkat “Timon” will be played by John Plumpis, who has appeared in the national tours of Barrymore with Christopher Plummer and Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Mr. Plumpis received his MFA from University of Delaware. Mark Cameron Pow, who will portray “Zazu,” is a native of England and has appeared Off-Broadway in Comedy of Errors, King Lear, and The Iliad I. And Ben Lipitz, who grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, is “Pumbaa,” the warthog; Mr. Lipitz’ stage credits include Red, Hot and Blue, Just So, ART, Dirty Blonde, Laughter on the 23rd Floor, and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Chauntee Schuler— whose credits include Dreamgirls, The Producers, Smokey Joe’s Café, Company, Anything Goes, A Doll’s House and Mother Courage and Her Children—is the lioness “Nala.” Mufasa’s son, “Simba,” will be played by S.J. Hannah, who makes his musical theatre debut with The Lion King.
The three hyenas will be played by: James Brown-Orleans (“Banzai”), a two-time Helen Hayes Award Nominee, whose film credits include the role of “Doc” in Disney’s The Princess DiariesCaroline or Change, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Nuncrackers; and Wayne Pyle (“Ed”), who has toured around the world in such productions as American Shakespeare Theater Company’s Hamlet and Medea, and Mother Courage and Her Children in Germany. Mr. Pyle received his MFA from the P.T.T.P. University of Delaware.
Performances in the role of “Young Simba” will be alternated between Trevor Jackson and Cody Ryan Wise. Mr. Jackson, from Indianapolis, Indiana, starred in the Beef and Boards Christmas Show, Hoop City Kid and has won many dance competitions. Mr. Wise is a fourth grade honors student at the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School. He played “Fritz” in the P.A. Ballet’s Nutcracker and appears in Kanye West’s video “Heard ‘Em Say.” Performances in the role of “Young Nala” will be alternated between Olivia Ford and Zuri Reed. Ms. Ford past credits include Uncle Jed’s Barbershop, The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy) and Tell Hell I Ain’t Coming. Ms. Reed, a native of West Philadelphia, is making her professional debut in the Lion King. She found her passion for the arts at Gates of Heaven Church and Christian Stronghold Learning Academy where she was a student for 5 years.
Now in its ninth sold-out year in New York at the New Amsterdam Theatre, THE LION KING is the winner of six Tony® Awards including Best Musical, eight Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, the New York Drama Critics award for Best Musical, the Evening Standard Award for the Theatrical Event of the Year, two Olivier Awards, a Theatre World Award, the Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography, two Drama League Awards and a Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album.
Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in Broadway history to win the Tony® Award for Best Director of a Musical. Taymor, along with Michael Curry, created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING. Choreography is by Garth Fagan, scenic design is by Richard Hudson, costume design is by Julie Taymor and lighting design is by Donald Holder. The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated film and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay for 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.
In Philadelphia, THE LION KING will play Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm and Sunday evenings at 6:30pm. Matinees are scheduled for Saturdays at 2pm, Sundays at 1pm, and Wednesdays, June 14, July 5, July 22 and August 2 at 2pm. No performances are scheduled for Tuesday, July 4 and Tuesday, August 1. Ticket prices range from $25.50 to $87.50. Premium Ticket Packages which include special services at the theatre are also available for $138. Tickets are available at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Sts. (open daily 10am to 6pm and later on performance evenings); at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Sts., during all Academy shows; charge by phone at 215-731-3333, or online at www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway. Orders for groups of twenty (20) or more may be placed by calling 215-790-5883.
The Philadelphia engagement of Disney’s THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with Kimmel Center Presents and is a subscription offering of the Cadillac Broadway at the Academy theater series.
All performances of the 2005-06 Kimmel Center Presents Cadillac Broadway at the Academy are generously supported by Cadillac, the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, WPVI-TV 6, and The Philadelphia Inquirer & Philadelphia Daily News. American Airlines is the Official Airline of Cadillac Broadway at the Academy.
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