Disney’s The Lion King continues to wow theatergoers, and on November 13 the blockbuster show will celebrate its 15th year on Broadway! To mark the milestone Broadway.com will roll out a series of Character Study videos featuring the musical's leading actors.
The videos head backstage at the Minksoff Theatre to see how show stars Andile Gumbi (Simba), Patrick R. Brown (Scar), Chantal Riley (Nala) and Tshidi Manye (Rafiki) transform into their Pride Rock characters before each performance. The anniversary series launches on November 8 with Brown’s detailed preparation process to become the villainous lion Scar.
Based on the popular Disney film, The Lion King opened on Broadway on November 13, 1997 at the New Amsterdam Theatre and won six Tony Awards in 1998 including Best Musical. Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in history to win the Tony for Best Direction of a Musical. The show has spawned 19 productions around the world and has been translated into seven different languages. The Lion King is the fifth longest-running show in Broadway history.