Casting has been announced for the East Lansing engagement of Disney’s "The Lion King," which will leap onto the stage at Wharton Center for Performing Arts from Wednesday, July 11 through July 29, 2018.
The production features Mark Campbell as “Scar,” Gerald Ramsey as “Mufasa,” Mukelisiwe Goba as “Rafiki,” Nick Cordileone as “Timon,” Greg Jackson as “Zazu,” Ben Lipitz as “Pumbaa,” Jared Dixon as “Simba,” Nia Holloway as “Nala,” Keith Bennett as “Banzai,” Martina Sykes as “Shenzi” and Robbie Swift as “Ed.”
The role of “Young Simba” is alternated between Joziyah Jean-Felix and Salahedin Safi and the role of “Young Nala” is alternated between Danielle W. Jalade and Gloria Manning.
Rounding out the cast are Derek Adams, Kayla Rose Aimable, Andrew Arrington, William John Austin, Kyle R. Banks, Eric Bean, Jr., Kolin Jerron, Thabani Buthelezi, Sasha Caicedo, Kyle Robert Carter, Thembelihle Cele, Erynn Marie Dickerson, Tony Freeman, Deidrea Halley, William James Jr., Jane King, Gregory Manning II, Brandon A. McCall, Christopher L. McKenzie, Jr., Nhlanhla Ndlovu, Aaron Nelson, Selloane Nkhela, Phindile Nyandeni, Phylicia Pearl, Christopher Sams, Jordan Samuels, Mpume Sikakane, Sadé Simmons, Kimber Sprawl, Kevin Tate, Jennifer Theriot, Courtney Thomas, Shacura Wade, Zola Williams and Krystal Worrell.
There will be a sensory-friendly performance on Saturday, July 21, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. Wharton Center, in collaboration with a variety of MSU and community partners, has created an initiative to provide a supportive and welcoming environment that will make live theatre accessible to those with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, sensory processing disorder and other sensory-sensitive people and their families.
The SFP of Disney's "The Lion King" will be the first of what will be many upcoming Broadway SFPs. For more information on Wharton Center’s SFP programs, please visit www.whartoncenter.com/sfp.
Tickets are now on sale at Wharton Center’s official ticketing outlets: online at whartoncenter.com, at the Auto-Owner’s Insurance Ticket Office at Wharton Center or by calling 1-800-WHARTON. Orders for groups of ten or more may be placed by calling (517) 884-3130. VIP ticket packages - which include a prime seat location, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item - are also available.