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Disney’s THE LION KINGBroadway’s Award-Winning Best MusicalLimited Premiere Engagements Begins Friday, September 13, 2002 at the Music Hall at Fair Park
The malevolent and evil “Scar” will be played by Patrick Page, whose been seen on Broadway in Beauty and the Beast (Lumiere), Kentucky Cycle, and Christmas Carol (Scrooge/Marley). Alton F. White will play the lion king “Mufasa”; Mr. White’s Broadway credits include Ragtime (Coal House Walker, Jr.), the original cast of Miss Saigon, The Who’s Tommy, and Smokey Joe’s Café. Fredi Walker-Browne is the wise “Rafiki”; Ms. Walker-Browne created the role of JoAnne Jefferson in Rent and also appeared in Once On This Island, Ain’t Misbehavin’, and Liz Swados’ Esther- A Vaudeville Meghillah. The meerkat “Timon” will be played by John Plumpis, who has appeared in the national tours of Barrymore with Christopher Plummer and Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor. Jeffrey Binder, who will portray “Zazu,” appeared on Broadway and in London’s West End in Side Man. And Blake Hammond is “Pumbaa,” the warthog; Mr. Hammond’s Broadway credits include The Music Man, Kiss Me Kate, and On the Town. Mufasa’s son, “Simba,” will be played by Josh Tower, who appeared in Ragtime, both on Broadway and in the national tour. Kissy Simmons—whose professional credits include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator), Little Shop of Horrors (Ronnette), and Jacques Brel—is the lioness “Nala.” The three hyenas will be played by: James Brown-Orleans (“Banzai”), a two-time Helen Hayes Award Nominee, whose film credits include the role of “Doc” in Disney’s The Princess Diaries; Jacquelyn Renae Hodges (“Shenzi”), who has appeared on Broadway in Ragtime and in the national tour of AIDA; and Wayne Pyle (“Ed”), who has toured around the world in such productions as American Shakespeare Theater Company’s Hamlet and Medea, and Mother Courage and Her Children in Germany. Performances in the role of “Young Simba” will be alternated between two, 12-year-olds: Akil I. LuQman and Chris Warren. Mr. LuQman is making his theatrical debut in THE LION KING; he attended Smith Renaissance School of the Arts in Denver and is currently a student at Denver School of the Arts. Mr. Warren shared the character portrayal of the first black Navy diver Carl Brasheer” with Cuba Gooding Jr. in the feature film Men of Honor. And performances in the role of “Young Nala” will be alternated between 11-year-old Paula Collins and 10-year-old Cajai Fellows Johnson. Ms. Collins is making her professional debut in THE LION KING. And Ms. Johnson is a juvenile competitor in figure skating. Now in its fifth sold out year in New York at the New Amsterdam Theatre, THE LION KING is the winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, eight Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, the New York Drama Critics award for Best Musical, the Evening Standard Award for the Theatrical Event of the Year, two Olivier Awards, a Theatre World Award, the Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography, two Drama League Awards and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in Broadway history to win the Tony® Award for Best Director of a Musical. Taymor, along with Michael Curry, created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING. Choreography is by Garth Fagan, scenic design is by Richard Hudson, costume design is by Julie Taymor and lighting design is by Donald Holder. The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated film and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay for THE LION KING. The score features Elton John and Tim Rice's music from the animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice, additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer. Dallas’s THE LION KING weekly performance schedules and ticket information are as follows: Music Hall at Fair Park The New Box Office at Preston Royal Shopping Center: 542 Preston Royal Shopping Center, Dallas Ticketmaster: 214/631-ARTS Ticketmaster outlets: The Majestic Theatre, Foley’s, Fiesta, Tower Records, Wherehouse Music Groups (20 or more): 214/426-GROUP Online: www.ticketmaster.com Performance schedule: Tuesdays – Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Pricing: $27.50 - $77.50 The Dallas engagement of Disney’s THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with Dallas Summer Musicals and is a subscription offering of the Dallas Summer Musicals 2002 Season and the State Fair of Texas 2002 presentation. Tropicana Pure Premium is the official sponsor of Disney’s THE LION KING National Tour. For more information on THE LION KING, visit www.disneyonbroadway.com. |
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Disney’s THE
LION KING. 