Marquis Kofi Rodriguez and Alphonso Romero Jones II will be alternating in the role of Young Simba, with Shannon Skye Tavarez and Shereen Pimentel alternating in the role of Young Nala in The Lion King Broadway production currently playing at Minskoff Theatre. It is the Broadway debuts for all four of the 10 and 11 year old actors.

Costume pieces that were designed for The Lion King by Julie Taymor, along with a mask that is used in the hit musical co-designed by Michael Curry and Taymor, were donated to the National Museum of American History of the Smithsonian. The costume elements, which include the lion mask and headdress for Simba and the hat, custom shoes and costume designed for Rafiki, are joining with other Broadway iconic objects from musicals like The King and I, Rent and Cats, which are all part of the permanent entertainment collection of the museum.