Gavin Lee Will Join THE LION KING On Broadway This July
.png)
“Be prepared!” Two-time Tony Award nominee Gavin Lee will join the company of The Lion King on Broadway as Scar beginning July 22. Lee replaces Stephen Carlile in the role, who left the company earlier this year to star as Hades in Disney’s Hercules on the West End. Michael Hollick will continue as Scar on Broadway until Lee joins the company.
This is Lee’s third Disney production. He originated the role of Bert in both the West End and Broadway productions of Mary Poppins, for which he was nominated for both the Olivier and Tony Awards. He recently concluded his run on Broadway in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends alongside Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga. He was also nominated for a Tony Award for originating the role of Squidward Q. Tentacles in SpongeBob SquarePants on Broadway.
In addition to Hollick as Scar, The Lion King principal company currently includes Tshidi Manye (Rafiki), L. Steven Taylor (Mufasa), Blakely Slaybaugh (Zazu), Ben Jeffrey (Pumbaa), Fred Berman (Timon), Vincent Jamal Hooper (Simba), Pearl Khwezi (Nala), James Brown-Orleans (Banzai), Bonita J. Hamilton (Shenzi), Robb Sapp (Ed), Leela Chopra (Young Nala at certain performances), Juliana Martinez (Young Nala at certain performances), Jacob Pham (Young Simba at certain performances) and Albert Rhodes (Young Simba at certain performances).
The Lion King is approaching a landmark 30 years on Broadway, making theatrical history with two productions worldwide running 20 or more years and three others running 25 or more years. It won six 1998 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design for Richard Hudson, Best Costume Design for Julie Taymor, Best Lighting Design for Donald Holder, Best Choreography for Garth Fagan, and Best Direction of a Musical for Julie Taymor. Taymor was the first woman to win the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, and remains actively involved in the show.
The Lion King runs at the Minskoff Theatre on West 45th Street in New York City. For tickets and more information, visit here.
