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The Lion King by Broadway-San Diego  Can You Feel the Love Tonight in San Diego? It might
be emanating from the Civic Theatre, where Disney’s The Lion King has
finally arrived into our Circle of Life. And despite the fact that it’s
a special five-week run, the natives have flocked to buy tickets in record
numbers and they are hard to get. If you’re able to hunt one down, you’ll be glad you did!
Ticket holders are treated to one of the most visually spectacular productions ever, bringing the savannahs of Africa alive with Director/Costume Designer Julie Taymor’s award-winning costumes leading the way. The Civic Theatre was temporarily modified with two aisles through the center of the orchestra seating to allow the triumphant entrance of the cast parading up to Pride Rock on the stage – a chorus of giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, zebras, and birds gliding and lumbering toward the front with natural elegance, the costumes and their puppeteers mesmerizing young and old. Whether it’s the prancing of antelopes or the swaying of the savannah grasses, there is a beauty, vibrancy, and athletic grace that pervades the entire show, thanks both to the costumes and to a stellar ensemble of singers, dancers, and actors. They’ve also got a great show and music to dance and sing to. The show sticks fairly strictly to the animated feature film, including all the songs and a few new ones. Rufus Bonds, Jr. issues strength, courage, and nobility as the Lion King, father of young Simba who tries to teach his son the importance of the kind of good leadership that benefits all of his society in a balanced way that will last for generations – long after they have died. His young son is played alternately by Khaleel Mandel Carter and Michael Nino Locke, Jr. On opening night it was the charismatic Khaleel who just couldn’t wait to be king. He is joined by either Milan Barnes-Shuford or Kenisha Simone Harris as Young Nala, with Milan playing his young girlfriend opening night, and doing it with an infectious style and rhythm to her movements. Their I Just Can’t Wait to be King and scene in the elephant graveyard are terrific. As our their adult versions. Wallace Smith is the nice, free-wheeling, Hakuna Matata Simba who is strong in body but haunted and weakened by his childhood trauma, with Ta’rea Campbell as the lovely Nala who both loves him and challenges him to be the king he could be. Then, of course, there’s the more humorous critters of the wild. Damian Baldet, a graduate of UCSD’s MFA theatre program, is the clever, wise-cracking Timon with Phil Fiorini as the lovable Pumbaa – both spitting images in character, voice, and comedic timing as the film versions. Derek Hasenstab is the proper and stuffy kingly assistant/nanny bird Zazu. Gugwana Dlamini shines as the wild and wise ape Rafiki set to pound a little sense into Simba. And, lastly, there’s the not-at-all-humorous Scar with Larry Yando as the cold, creepy villain lording over his clownish cohort of hyenas, adding the drama that will allow the true Lion Kings to either cower in fear or bravely rise to save their loved ones and preserve the delicate Circle of Life.
Performs through January 15, 2006.
~ Cast ~  Rafiki: Gugwana DlaminiMufasa: Rufus Bonds, Jr. Sarabi: Marvette Williams Zazu: Derek Hasenstab Scar: Larry Yando Young Simba: Khaleel Mandel Carter Michael Nino Locke Jr. Young Nala: Milan Barnes-Shuford Kenisha Simone Harris Shenzi: Shaullanda LaCombe Banzai: Melvin Abston Ed: Robbie Swift Timon: Damian Baldet Pumbaa: Phil Fiorini Simba: Wallace Smith Nala: Ta'Rea Campbell Ensemble: Sant'gria Bello Russell Joel Brown Joseph Cox Ntomb'Khona Dlamini Roberto Dos Santos Kehinde B. Hart Kenny Ingram Hanifa L. Jackson Andrea Jones Todd M. Kryger Nqobile Mbanjwa Willia-Noel Montague Eboni Dawn Morrow Thabile Mtshali Geoff Myers Monica J. Palmer Jindra Payne Ketsia Poitevien Shane Scott Keena Smith Vusi Sondiyazi Omari Tau Marvette Williams Nichelle Wright Director: Julie Taymor Costume Design: Julie Taymor Scenic Design: Richard Hudson Lighting Design: Donald Holder Mask & Puppet Design: Julie Taymor and Michael Curry Sound Design: Steve C. Kennedy Hair and Makeup Design: Michael Ward Music Director: Jay Alger Choreography: Garth Fagan
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