The circle of life continues over at The Lion King as a new set of actors moves into the Pridelands for the summer. Gareth Saxe (as Scar), Alton Fitzgerald White (Mufasa), Cameron Pow (Zazu), Ben Jeffrey (Pumbaa), Fred Berman (Timon) and Chauntee Schuler (Nala) will join the cast beginning June 15 at the Minskoff Theatre.
Saxe’s Broadway credits include The Homecoming and Heartbreak House. White is returning to The Lion King’s Broadway company after having originated the role of Mufasa on the show’s first national tour and at Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay. He also appeared in The Color Purple and Ragtime. Pow is also rejoining King after touring with the show. This marks the Broadway debut of Jeffrey, Berman and Schuler.
The Lion King currently stars Tshidi Manye as Rafiki, Dashaun Young as Simba, James Brown-Orleans as Banzai, Bonita J. Hamilton as Shenzi and Enrique Segura as Ed. Disney’s The Lion King is the eighth longest running show in Broadway history. The production, based on the hit animated film of the same name, opened on November 13, 1997, and went on to win six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.