Lion King cutting songs - anyone know if legit?- Page 4

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/22/10 at 5:05am

CapnHook, one of those actors (I think) was Tim Alan Robbins, who played Pumbaa (now being played by Ben Jeffrey) and was a remaining member of the original cast. According to IBDB, Jeff Binder was the only Zazu involved with the Lion King since its transfer to the Minskoff. The role is now being played by Cameron Pow.

You can see more replacements here:

http://ibdb.com/productionreplacements.asp?ID=4761

[threetwoone]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 12:45pm

Does anyone know if the changes were incorporated to the tour?

Scar, Rafiki, Simba and Nala all are now being played by new actors/actresses on the tour btw, as of a few days ago, which SUCKS because all I wanted to see was Phindile Mkhize as Rafiki! Oh well, I'm sure her replacement will be good =)

[gypsy4]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 12:56pm

Caught the show three weeks the cast was top notch, but act 2 just dragged song after song and some tweaking was needed but after 13 years I don't think it's necessary. but hands He Lives in you (reprise) is one of the best moments of the show and it's sad that the tour is slowly scaling since the time I saw it 5 years ago.

[Justin D]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 3:46pm

Just sat the new tour cast on the website and wow.

Yes I know she was there forever, But I was actually thinking of flying to Toronto to see Phindile as Rafiki, maybe she will make it to NYC someday. The new Rafiki at least has some experience in other companies around the world.

and I'm not sure, but isn't this the first time there is a white Simba?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 3:53pm

You mean Adam Jacobs? He's half Filipino.

[Justin D]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 3:59pm

Ok, hard to tell from that head shot.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 4:06pm

I saw Adam in Mamma Mia. He was adequate, but nothing special.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 4:17pm

This is kind of late but I'm not sure if Jeff Binder was fired...I know at least as of February he was playing Mr. Banks in Mary Poppins. Did he go back to Lion King or something?

[byebyebaby12]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 4:55pm

Wasn't the original Simba white?

Posted: 7/14/10 at 6:12pm

The Original Simba (Jason Raize) was of unknown ethnicity.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 6:14pm

Yep, he was adopted and didn't know.

[Justin D]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 9:27pm

Looking forward, hopefully, for some new production photos.

[Actor2]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 9:48pm

Wait wait wait...why did they fire people?

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 10:18pm

I'm trying to read the message board post on allthatchat but it won't let me because I'm not logged in (I registered but it's telling me I have to wait 48 hours) so can someone post the content from that link on here so we can know why they were fired (if it even said)?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 10:39pm

You don't have to be a member nor logged in to read ATC.

[AudreyTwoTwo]

Posted: 7/14/10 at 10:46pm

Oh really? Okay maybe the post was deleted, cause it said "you are not logged in" and below that it said "message unavailable" so i'll try again

[westycenterstagejack]

Posted: 7/15/10 at 9:22am

Grasslands Chant, Morning Report, and Chow Down need to GO. I've always thought this. It is a PHENOMENAL show, and with them gone it could be perfect.

And as to someone earlier saying they should cut Madness of King Scar...NO. Just...just NO.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/15/10 at 9:37am

Oh really? Okay maybe the post was deleted, cause it said "you are not logged in" and below that it said "message unavailable" so i'll try again


It's probably just gone. ATC posts permanently expire after a while.

[Justin D]

Posted: 7/15/10 at 3:13pm

I was looking to access it also and got the same message.

It sounds harsh to fire people, but sometimes you get shows that have people in it way too long, particularly a show like Lion King that is seen as an ensemble show. On some levels I am torn about the current Rafiki on Broadway, she's been with the show forever, and in Toronto even before then. But she is a lovely person and I guess is seen as sort of a 'mother' to the cast, but they are way better sounding Rafikis out there nowadays.

I don't agree about grasslands chant, It is a wonderful moment in the show when they rise up out of the ground, I suppose it could be shortened, but not eliminated all together.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 7/15/10 at 5:28pm

It is strange that they fired an entire cast! but I figured it's for a smooth transition for the small changes made having a cast that already rehearsed and well adapted to the changes.

[TreyKenyon]

Posted: 7/15/10 at 5:31pm

Just to clarify, was the majority of the cast actually "fired"?? I don't think Equity would like this too much. Now if it is merely a matter of contracts not being renewed, that's fine but I think that's a little different than being fired.

[gypsy4]

Posted: 7/15/10 at 5:34pm

well I'm figuring most of the principles contracts were at the end of the month in portland, Or. the last venue before the changes. they brought the new cast making it a smooth transition for the changes.

[Justin D]

Posted: 7/15/10 at 6:17pm

Alot of the ensemble members have remained the same according to the website cast lists, however the broadway cast list still has the tour's Rafiki in the ensemble