Casting has been announced for the St. Louis engagement of   Disney’s The Lion King  

St. Louis’ most eagerly awaited stage production ever will leap onto the Fox Theatre stage from Thursday, June 21 to Sunday, July 29.  This St. Louis engagement is currently one of seven productions running worldwide along with New York, a second United States National Tour, London, Hamburg, Tokyo, and Seoul.  Upcoming productions include Johannesburg, South Africa beginning June 2007 and Paris, France beginning September 2007.

 

The malevolent and evil “Scar” will be played by Kevin Gray, whose theatre credits include The King & I, Phantom of the Opera, Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar, Titanic, Showboat, Music of the Night, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Chu Chem, Night of the Iguana, Pacific Overtures, The Bakers Wife and The Death of Garcia Lorca.  Mr. Gray was the recipient of the National Institute for Music Theatre Award.  Geno Segers will recreate the role of the lion king “Mufasa” after having played with the Australian and Shanghai Companies.  Born and raised in Winston/Salem, North Carolina, he has participated in various television commercials and campaigns in the United States, Canada, and New Zealand.  The Lion King is Mr. Segers’ professional musical theatre debut.  Gugwana Dlamini—a native of Durban, South Africa—is the wise “Rafiki.”  Ms. Dlamini is an original cast member of the London Company of The Lion King and most recently played Rafiki in that production; her other theatre credits include Sarafina, Township Fever, Godspell, and Magic at 4am.

 

The meerkat “Timon” will be played by John Gardiner, a graduate of Northern Kentucky University (BA) and University of Alabama (MFA).  He appeared Off-Broadway in Gold Rush (Henry), and his regional theatre credits include The Tempest (Ferdinand) Alabama Shakespeare Festival, A Christmas Carol (Young Scrooge) Geva Theater, Greater Tuna (Arles), and Big River (Huck Finn) St. Michael’s Playhouse.  Michael Dean Morgan, who will portray “Zazu,” moves up the food chain from fish to fowl, coming to this tour directly from originating the role of Marlin (Nemo’s dad) in the world premiere of Disney’s Finding Nemo – The Musical.  Mr. Morgan earned his MFA in acting from University of California – Irvine. 

 

And Bob Amaral will portray “Pumbaa”—the warthog—after originating this role with this company in Chicago.  His Broadway credits include …Forum, Guys & Dolls, and The Lion King; his national tour credits include The Producers (Max), Annie Get Your Gun, and Patent Leather Shoes; and his regional theatre credits include The Robber Bridegroom, Mike, Ken Hill’s Phantom of the Opera, Wizard of Oz, Joseph, Music Man, Good News, Anything Goes, Noises Off, Triumph of Love, and The Merry Widow (San Francisco Opera).  Mr. Amaral’s television credits include NYPD Blues, Son of the Beach, Any Day Now, Brother’s Keeper, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, Babylon 5, Mad About You, and was Eddie Hayes in Rob Reiner’s Morton & Hayes.

  

Mufasa’s son, “Simba,” will be played by Clifton Oliver, whose Broadway credits include Wicked (Fiyero Cover) and The Lion King (Simba); other theatre credits include The Lion King (Simba) Los Angeles Production, Miracle Brothers (Green Eyes), Rent (Benny/Collins) Australian Tour, Grease (Teen Angel) National Tour, Smokey Joe’s Café (Victor) North Shore, Godspell (Judas) MUNY, Ragtime Los Angeles/Vancouver, and Pippin (Paper Mill Playhouse). 

 

His television and film credits include Law & Order Criminal Intent, Side Effects, ABC’s Making the Band, Ed McMahon’s Next Big Star, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, and The Rosie O’Donnell Show.  Ta’Rea Campbell, a native of Philadelphia and a graduate of Marymount Manhattan College, is the lioness “Nala.”  Ms. Campbell’s Broadway credits include Aida (Aida), Little Shop of Horrors, Aida National Tour (Nehebkah), and Gospel According to Fishman (Jolene); television credits include Law & Order, Whoopie, and Primetime Live.

 

The three hyenas will be played by:  Rudy Roberson (“Banzai”), who is the recipient of the 1995 Dallas Theater Critics’ Forum Award for “Roscoe” in Avenue X, and whose Broadway credits include The Life, Rollin’ On the T.O.B.A., Kat and the Kings; Jacquelyn Renae Hodges (“Shenzi”), whose Broadway credits include The Lion King and Ragtime; and Robbie Swift (“Ed”), a BFA in Acting graduate from The Theatre School at DePaul University, who was most recently seen as “Linus” in the West Coast premiere of Snoopy.

 

Performances in the role of “Young Simba” will be alternated between Nicholas L. Ashe and Trevor Jackson.  Mr. Ashe, an 11-year-old, is an honor roll student, involved in the drama club, newspaper club, student council, all county chorus, and the jazz band (he plays Alto Saxophone). Mr. Jackson, a 10-year-old, has starred in The Beef and Boards Christmas Show and Hoop City Kid and was recently the "Star of Tomorrow" on Showtime at the Apollo.  Performances in the role of “Young Nala” will be alternated between Diamond Curvy and Jamani Epps.  Ms. Curvy is making her theatrical debut in The Lion King, and one day would like to study law.  Ms. Epps—a native of Baltimore, Maryland—is 11 years old and has wowed audiences with Stephanie Powell’s Baltimore Dance Tech and The Baltimore School for the Arts; in addition, she has trained with the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Masters & Mentors Intensive.

 

Now in its tenth sold-out year on Broadway, The Lion King is the winner of six Tony^â 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^â 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.

 

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In St. Louis, The Lion King will play Tuesday through Friday evenings at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 & 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 & 6:30 p.m.  There are also Thursday matinees on June 28, July 5 and

July 26 at 1 p.m.  Ticket prices range from $25 to $75.  There are also VIP Ticket Packages available for $127.50, which include premium seating, a complimentary souvenir program, and complimentary parking.  Tickets can be purchased at the Fox box office, at all MetroTix outlets, and by calling 314/534-1111 or www.metrotix.com.  Orders for groups of twenty (20) or more may be placed by calling 314/535-2900.

 

 

The St. Louis engagement of The Lion King is presented by arrangement with Fox Associates and is a subscription offering of the U.S. Bank Broadway Series.