Andrew Gans (March 11, 2009). "Sesma, White, Williams, Zama and Simmons Cast in Las Vegas Lion King". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. The Lion King is a stage musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, with additional music and lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. It is based on the 1994 Walt Disney Animation Studios' film of the same name. [1] Directed by Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The show is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. [2]

Ntomb'Khona Dlamini is the actress who served as an understudy or ensemble member for the longest time. She was in the original Broadway company as an understudy to Tsidi LeLoka. After leaving for a brief time between 2000 and 2001, she went on to perform in the American tours. Summing up all this time, she's been in the show for more than 15 years, finally leaving the company in 2013. Robert Elhai, David Metzger and Bruce Fowler orchestrated the original Broadway production for 23 players, including: [82] 1 wood flute soloist/flute/piccolo, 1 concertmistress, 2 violin, 1 violin/viola, 2 celli, 1 flute/clarinet/bass clarinet, 3 French horns, 1 trombone, 1 bass trombone/tuba, 1 bass player (playing both contrabass and electric bass), 1 drum player, 1 guitar, 2 mallets/percussion players, 2 percussion players (both of them at the sides of the stage) and 3 keyboard synthesizers. Aquilina, Tyler (May 12, 2021). "All the Broadway shows that are reopening this fall". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved May 13, 2021. Steven., Suskin (2011). The sound of Broadway music: a book of orchestrators and orchestrations. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p.595. ISBN 978-0199790845. OCLC 700406779.

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Cynthia Momdjian (June 13, 2014). "Disney's 'The Lion King' Coming to Shanghai Disney Resort, ESPN and Google Collaborate for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Josh Trank to Direct Stand-Alone 'Star Wars' Film". The Walt Disney Company. An all-star line up unveiled for the 80th anniversary show on BBC ONE" (PDF). Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2008 . Retrieved November 17, 2008. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom mandating the closure of all theatres, the production was forced to take a lengthy hiatus and its return at the London Lyceum Theatre was announced for July 29, 2021. [44]

a b "Broadway's Lion King Now Nine Minutes Shorter". Playbill. June 26, 2010 . Retrieved July 22, 2017. Gans, Andrew. " The Lion King Is Now Top-Earner in Box-Office History", Playbill, September 22, 2014. Gaia Aikman will be the first actress ever to perform as both Young and Adult Nala. She was one of the children assigned for that role in the original Dutch production (2004–2006) and was selected as the leading for the adult version of the same character in the Dutch revival production (2016–2017). Other notable young actors and actress' who have gone on to be a part of the Adult Ensemble include: Lauren Alexandra Young Nala (London 2000) Ensemble Cover Nala (London 2013–2014), André Fabien Francis Young Simba (London 2004) Ensemble (Germany 2015–2018), Jermaine Woods Young Simba (London 2005) Ensemble Cover Ed (UK Tour 2014–2015). With the release of the Mexican cast recording, Spanish was the first language in which the musical was performed that spawned two different cast recordings. Mexican Spanish lyrics were translated by Aleks Syntek and Armando Manzanero. [79] The Lion King to play 10,000th performance on Broadway this Saturday". Broadway World. May 4, 2023 . Retrieved May 8, 2023.The show had a limited run at Shanghai's Grand Theatre from July to September 2006. This production was led by Buyi Zama and was performed in English, though a couple of Chinese elements were added to the story. [58] From June 14, 2016, until October 8, 2017, The Lion King returned to China, in a new production that was staged at the 1,200 capacity Walt Disney Grand Theatre, in the Shanghai Disney Resort, where it ran for 500 performances. This production was performed in Mandarin and led by Ntsepa Pitjeng. [59] Note: The songs "Grasslands Chant", "The Lioness Hunt", "Chow Down", "They Live in You", "Rafiki Mourns", "One by One", "The Madness of King Scar", "Shadowland", "Endless Night" and "Simba Confronts Scar" are new songs written for the musical. Portia Manyike is the only actress to perform in three languages, though she was never promoted to leading cast member. She's been part of the ensemble in France, Brazil and Mexico.