The Lion King: Jeffrey Kuhn and Tshidi Manye join cast

Walt Disney's Broadway production of The Lion King, the fifth longest-running show in Broadway history, welcomes Jeffrey Kuhn and Tshidi Manye, who rejoins the production as 'Rafiki.'

Kuhn returns to The Lion King as the prim and proper hornbilled bird, 'Zazu.' Manye, Broadway's longest-running R'afiki,' returns to the Broadway production, having recently spent four months playing the role to critical acclaim on the North American Tour.

Jeffrey Kuhn has been seen in the Broadway productions of 'The 39 Steps,' 'Spamalot,' 'Wicked,' 'Assassins,' 'Ragtime' and Off-Broadway in John Guare's '3 Kinds of Exile' (Atlantic).

Tshidi Manye toured Europe and Japan with M. Bongeni Ngema in the musical 'Sarafina.' She made her Broadway debut in The Lion King in 2004. Other stage credits include 'Rafiki' in the Toronto production, 'Daughter of Nebo' by Hillary Bletcher, 'Mfowethu' by Gibson Kente and 'The Stick' by Aubrey Sekhabi.

The Lion King 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, where it is currently booking trough to 06 Jul 2014. Now in its 16th year, the musical is the 5th longest 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 now features Gareth Saxe (Scar), Alton Fitzgerald White (Mufasa), Tshidi Manye (Rafiki), Jeffrey Kuhn (Zazu), Ben Jeffrey (Pumbaa), Fred Berman (Timon), Aaron Nelson (Simba), Chantel Riley (Nala), James Brown-Orleans (Banzai), Bonita J. Hamilton (Shenzi), Enrique Segura (Ed), Jaden Jordan and Caleb McLaughlin alternate the role of 'Young Simba' and, Bobbi Bordley and Teshi Thomas alternate the role of 'Young Nala'.

Alton Fitzgerald White as Mufasa, Chantel Riley as Nala, Gareth Saxe as Scar, Buyi Zama as Rafiki, Jeff Binder as Zazu, Ben Jeffrey as Pumbaa and Fred Berman as Timon. 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 6th longest-running musical on Broadway, surpassing the record previously held by 'Oh! Calcutta.'