The Lion King: welcomes six new principals on 15 Jun

The Lion King: welcomes six new principals on 15 Jun Walt Disney's Broadway production of The Lion King welcomes six new principal cast members on 15 Jun 2010. Joining the company on that date are Gareth Saxe as the evil and power-hungry lion Scar; Alton Fitzgerald White as Mufasa, the great lion warrior and ruler of the Pridelands; Cameron Pow as the prim and proper hornbilled bird Zazu; Ben Jeffrey as the carefree warthog Pumbaa; Fred Berman as the wisecracking meerkat Timon; and Chauntee Schuler as the loyal lioness 'Nala.' Jeffrey, Berman and Schuler will mark their Broadway debut with The Lion King. They will join existing cast members Tshidi Manye as the wise baboon shaman 'Rafiki' and Dashaun Young as Mufasa's son, 'Simba,' the lion prince born to be king. James Brown-Orleans (Banzai), Bonita J. Hamilton (Shenzi) and Enrique Segura (Ed) play the three evil hyenas and the role of 'Young Simba' is alternated between Joshua Jackson and Alphonso Romero Jones II, and the role of 'Young Nala' is alternated between Khail Toi Bryant and Jade Milan. The musical opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on 13 Nov 1997, following previews from 15 Oct. On the 13 Jun 2006 the musical moved to the Minskoff Theatre. The Lion King is the 8th longrst running show in Broadway history. The musical tells the story of the epic adventures of a young lion cub named Simba as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role as king. Directed by Julie Taymor and choreographed by Garth Fagan, The Lion King currently features Derek Smith (Scar), Nathaniel Stampley (Mufasa), Tshidi Manye (Rafiki), Jeff Binder (Zazu), Tom Alan Robbins (Pumbaa), Robert Crighton (Timon), Dashaun Young (Simba), Ta'Rea Campbell (Nala), James Brown-Orleans (Banzai), Bonita J. Hamilton (Shenzi), Enrique Segura (Ed) and Alphonso Romero Jones II and Joshua J. Jackson (Young Simba), and Khail Toi Bryant and Jade Milan (Young Nala). Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in Broadway history to win the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical. The Lion King has book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, music by Elton John, with additional music by Hans Zimmer, Lebo M, Mark Mancina, and Jay Rifkin, and lyrics by Tim Rice. The creative team for The Lion King features Richard Hudson (sets), Michael Curry (costumes), Donald Holder (lighting) and Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound). The Lion King won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and is the 9th longest-running musical on Broadway, surpassing the record previously held by 'Miss Saigon.' Bios: Gareth Saxe (Scar) Broadway: 'The Homecoming,' 'Heartbreak House.' Off-Broadway: 'Richard III,' 'The Winter's Tale' (Public); 'Echoes of the War' (Mint Theater). Regional: 'A Moon to Dance By' (George Street Playhouse); 'Hamlet,' 'Dangerous Liaisons' (Shakespeare Theatre of NJ); 'Sexual Perversity in Chicago' (American Conservatory Theater); 'iWitness' (Mark Taper Forum). Film and TV: Michael Mann's "Public Enemies," "Law & Order," "SVU." "MFA: NYU." Alton Fitzgerald White (Mufasa). After originating the role of 'Mufasa' on the first national tour, and most recently at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Alton returns to the Broadway company. Other Broadway credits: 'The Color Purple,' 'Ragtime,' 'Miss Saigon,' 'Smokey Joe's Café,' 'The Hawker,' 'The Who's Tommy.' Cameron Pow (Zazu) rejoins the Broadway company from the West End and National touring productions of The Lion King. Other theatre includes: '2008 Royal Variety Performance' (London Palladium). Off-Broadway: 'Comedy of Errors,' 'King Lear,' 'The Iliad.' Regional & Touring: 'Julius Caesar' (Folger Shakespeare Lib.), 'The Tempest,' 'Wrath of Achilles,' 'Oedipus,' 'King Lear/the Iliad.' Ben Jeffrey (Pumbaa) Broadway debut. Ben holds an MFA (Acting) from Rutgers University, where credits included 'Antigone,' 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'In the Sawtooths.' His BFA (Acting/Musical Theater) is from Abilene Christian University where credits included 'Jane Eyre' and 'Seussical!' TV: "The Good Wife," "Works in Progress." Fred Berman (Timon) Broadway debut. Off-Broadway: 'Bury The Dead,' 'Room Service,' 'Shockheaded Peter,' 'The Normal Heart,' 'The Vocal Lords.' Nat'l Tour: 'The Buddy Holly Story.' Regional: North Shore Music Theatre, Papermill Playhouse, O'Neill Theater, Geva Theatre, Huntington Theatre, New Repertory, Cleveland Playhouse. Film: "Twelve Thirty," "A Very Special Episode," "Goin' Down," "Re-Directing Eddie." TV: "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Daily Pops," "All My Children." Chauntee Schuler (Nala) Broadway debut. Favorite productions include: the national tour of 'The Lion King' (Nala), 'Dreamgirls,' 'You May Now Worship Me,' 'Applause' (Encores!) and the international tour of 'The Producers.' Chaunteé was most recently seen as "Bonnie McKechnie" on the CBS daytime drama "As the World Turns."