The Lion King returns to Sydney: Opening night tonight!

Hakuna Matata! (It means no worries…)

After an extensive audition process and an intense rehearsal period, the cast, crew and production team of Disney’s The Lion King are preparing for their much anticipated opening night at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney tonight. Nerves aside, the company are sure to be singing Hakuna Matata as they enter the Sydney musical theatre market with a strong brand, impressive marketing (have you seen the bollards?) combined with a loveable story.

It has been nearly two years since Disney’s Thomas Schumacher announced the return of The Lion King to Australia and tonight 34 ensemble members, 11 principal performers and 2 members of the 8-strong children’s cast will take to the stage, making Sydney’s The Lion King the 10th concurrent production running worldwide.

Leading the cast tonight will be Rob Collins in the coveted role of Mufasa. Born and raised in Darwin, Rob has been hailed as a ‘new discovery’ in the musical theatre industry and is sure to wow the crowds in this epic production directed by Julie Taymor.

Rob will be joined by 2013 Helpmann Award winning actor (The Addams Family) Russell Dykstra as Pumbaa, popular television and theatre performer Josh Quong Tart as Scar, well-known theatre actor Cameron Goodall as Zazu and the charismatic New Zealand performer Jamie McGregor as Timon.

With no other touring cities announced at this stage (and with nothing ruled out either) it is likely that The Lion King will sit in the Capitol Theatre for a good portion of 2014. With only Strictly Ballroom (opening in April 2014) to compete with in an ongoing capacity, the King is sure to be in town for a while. (Opera Australia’s The King and I makes its way to the Opera House in September – a battle of the Kings may ensue?).

The Lion King Sydney tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster:

BUY TICKETS – THE LION KING ON TICKETMASTER