Tshidi Manye To Depart THE LION KING On August 31, 2025

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/27/25 at 3:08pm

Manye has played over 9,000 performances in the hit musical since she started in the Toronto production in 2000 - the longest-running Rafiki - and has been with the Broadway company since 2013. Her successor will be announced next week. 

Congrats on a marvelous run!

 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/27/25 at 3:51pm

Over 9000 performances? That's incredible. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/27/25 at 3:53pm

I wish she gave us a little more notice. But congratulations on an amazing run.

[Idiot]

Posted: 8/27/25 at 5:03pm

The amount of love a person has to carry for their craft to play this role nine thousand times leaves me speechless in appreciation and joy.  Truly, truly remarkable. 

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 8/27/25 at 5:06pm

ACL2006 said: "I wish she gave us a little more notice. But congratulations on an amazing run."

 

 

She's given you 9,000 chances 😂

[suzycat]

Posted: 8/27/25 at 5:18pm

A legend!!

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/theater/tshidi-manye-lion-king-rafiki.html?unlocked_article_code=1.hU8.IV1P.jIeqoemBH6DI&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Updated On: 8/27/25 at 05:18 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/27/25 at 5:43pm

TotallyEffed said: "ACL2006 said: "I wish she gave us a little more notice. But congratulations on an amazing run."





She's given you 9,000 chances😂"

i saw her both times I saw the show, but thanks for asking.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 8/27/25 at 6:00pm

ACL2006 said: "I wish she gave us a little more notice. But congratulations on an amazing run."

Ditto. Will be traveling out of town (actually to see the Toronto production’s closing and visit family), bummed I won’t get to see her final performance. Bravo Tshidi! 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/31/25 at 7:36pm

Was anyone at her final performance tonight?

[mmh1019]

Posted: 8/31/25 at 10:55pm

I wasn't at her final show, but absolutely want to give her her flowers. what an astonishing achievement. the video their social team put out when the company came back to rehearse together in Sept 2021, the moment she opened her mouth, I was a total puddle. What a force she is. Well done, legend.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 8/31/25 at 11:59pm

The first time I ever heard her name was when I was a little broadway obsessed 14 year old when she appeared on a little Disney Channel featurette about the show back in 2007ish when she'd just joined on Broadway.