The Lion King - cast changes and news May 5, 2008
Posted by Linda in : Lyceum Theatre, Musicals, cast changes, lion king , trackbackThere will be a new cast soon in Disney’s Lion King at the Lyceum Theatre. Changes will include thirteen new cast members Shaun Escoffery (Mufasa), George Asprey (Scar), Gloria Onitiri (Nala), Andile Gumbi (Simba), Cameron Pow (Zazu), Vincent Bugg, Sheila Kerr, Sakhumzi Mbele, Nqobile Nbanjwa, Yael Alano Pineda, Jermaine Rowe, Craig Williams, Wei Wei Zhang.
Shawn Escoffery - Olivier-nominated for Parade, at the Donmar Warehouse 2007, previous West End credits: Les Miserables, The Who’s Tommy and Smokey Joe’s Cafe.
George Asprey - Billy Flynn in the UK tour of Chicago.
Gloria Onitiri - returns to the show after several years. Other West End credits include Avenue Q.
Andile Gumbi - played ‘Simba’ in Melbourne, Shanghai and Johannesburg
Cameron Pow - a West End debut for Pow, he’s from Wales but has spent most of his career in the States where he’s played Zazu for the last 5 years in a touring production.
Tony Schumacher, producer of the Lion King and Disney also have have an interest in High School Musical, currently touring and with a second production coming to the Hammersmith Apollo.
The Mail points out that Schumacher written a book aimed at the young audiences these shows attract called How Does The Show Go On? - An Introduction To The Theatre
He added: “We constantly complain about our youth and if your kid is not in a band, a choir, on a sports team, in a play or a dance concert, where are they?”
He argued that learning about the theatre can help teach you about real life.
“We don’t promote the arts in the same way we do sports,” he said.
The Lion King, currently at the Lyceum Theatre, is coming up to its 10th year in the West End in October. During that time it has grossed £244million, according to today’s Daily Mail.
I don’t think there’s much problem with young people’s interest in the musical theatre in the UK 
Particularly if the crowds streaming into Lion King, Wicked and soon into High School Musical no doubt are anything to go by! I’d just like to see more funding and support for kids in the inner cities beyond London to access after school stage clubs. Maybe we could get ‘competing on reality TV shows for parts in musicals’ elevated to an Olympic sport and grab some of that juicy sports funding
Whoooo is George Asprey?? But I’m excited for new cast change. Hope they’re as good as previous cast!!!
George Asprey , 41, played Roxie’s oily lawyer, Billy Flynn in Chicago. Asprey has made a bit of a speciality of playing bad guys and had great reviews for his UK tour with Chicago.
I would like to audition for the part of Nala but i’m not sure how?
I have written to Pippa Ailion Casting as it said to in the back of the program if you are interested. Does anyone know when the auditions are? Will i get a reply? I am 11 years old. x
I would like to audition for the part of Big Nala but i’m not sure how? I have written to Pippa Ailion Casting as it said on the back of the program if you are interested.Does anyone know when the auditions are?Will i get a reply? I am 13 years old.x
I’ve edited your comment to remove your surname Marissa. It’s not a good idea to use your full name online if you are under 16.
I’m sorry we can’t really help with details for auditions here.
Rumours say there gonna make a Uk tour of The Lion King and close the London production at the Lyceum Theatre and will close sometime in 2009 or 2010 if you wanna know for sure type in lion king musical then click Wikipedia then they’ll say on the U.S. international productions story.
Hi Vincent, Wikipedia is only as accurate as the last person to edit it so I wouldn’t be too sure about that. I think Lion King will keep going in London so long as it’s playing to fairly full houses. We’ll see
Is that true that a London Cast Recording has been made?
There’s still no sign of any London cast recording yet, only the Broadway cast recording I’m afraid.
Who was actress playing Rafiki on saturday matinee 22 November this year ie last saturday? Absolutely stunning voice and such a powerful performance.(Indeed the whole show blew my family away…one of the most memorable shows we have seen) Dave