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.

Last night Pementel and Rodriguez had their first performances. The first outing for Tavarez will be tonight, with Jones debuting on October 1. Lion King, the Julie Taymor directed, Tony Award winning show, is an adaptation of the popular Disney animated movie with the same name.

Also currently featured in the Broadway cast are Derek Smith playing Scar, Nathaniel Stampley playing Musfasa, Tshidi Mayne playing Rafiki, Cameron Pow playing Zazu, Ben Lipitz playing Pumbaa, Danny Rutigliano playing Timon, Dashaun Young playing Simba and Ta’rea Campbell playing Nala. Enrique Segura playing Ed, Bonita J. Hamilton playing Shenzi and James Brown-Orleans playing Banzai are the three hyenas.