On June 15 the Lion King, the Tony award-winning musical that is playing currently at the Minskoff theater, will be welcoming several new actors for their cast.

Gareth Saxe joins the cast as Scar, the power hungry and evil lion; Alton Fizgerald White will play Mufasa, Pridelands ruler and great lion warrior; Cameron Pow will portray Zazu, the proper and prim hornbilled bird; Ben Jeffrey will play Pumbaa, the carefree warthog; Fred Berman will play the role of Timon, the wisecracking meercat; and Chauntee Schuler will play Nala the loyal lioness.

Schuler, Berman and Jeffrey are making their Broadway debuts with Lion King.  Also featured in the cast are Tshidi Mayne playing Rafiki, James Brown-Orleans in the role of Banzai, Dashaun Young playing Simba, Mufasa’s son, Enrique Segura in the role of Ed, and Bonita J. Hamilton playing Shenzi.

The Loin King is based on the Disney animated film with the same name.  According to Disney the story follows Simba, young lion cub, on his adventures as he is struggling to accept responsibilities that come with becoming an adult as well as the role destined for him as King.

Since opening on Broadway on November 13, 1997, 50 million people have seen the Lion King worldwide.  Julie Taymor is the director, and is the first woman ever to win a Tony as Best Director of a Musical.  A huge international hit, The Lion King has productions playing currently all over the world.  The Tim Rice-Elton John musical has won more than 30 major awards, including six Tony Awards which includes Best Musical; six awards from the Outer Critics Circle; eight awards from the Drama Desk; two Sir Laurence Olivier awards; a Best Theatrical Event from Evening Standard; and three awards from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle.

Currently The Lion King is playing on Broadway at Minskoff Theatre.  More information is available at www.DisneyOnBroadway.com.