The North American tour of Disney’s The Lion King will welcome Zama Magudulela to the role of Rafiki beginning January 13 at the Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center in Sacramento, California, where the Tony-winning musical begins a three-week return engagement January 7.

Magudulela will succeed Mukelisiwe Goba, who played her final performance January 4. The North American tour will mark Magudulela’s eighth production of The Lion King, having previously performed the show in six languages in seven international productions: France, Spain, Brazil, China, Germany, Australia, and, most recently, in Toronto.

Magudulela will join a cast that includes Peter Hargrave as Scar, David D’Lancy Wilson as Mufasa, Nick Cordileone as Timon, Nick LaMedica as Zazu, Danny Grumich as Pumbaa, Gilbert Domally as Simba, Thembelihle Cele as Nala, Forest VanDyke as Banzai, Martina Sykes as Shenzi, and Sam Linda as Ed, plus standbys Wiliam John Austin and Thom Christopher Warren. The role of Young Simba is alternated between Aaron Chao and Josiah Watson, while the role of Young Nala is alternated between Journey Compas and Marley Gomes.

Rounding out the company are Kayla Rose Aimable, Ellen Akashi, Aja Simone Baitey, Eric Bean, Jr., Vernon Brooks III, Shaquelle Charles, Reoagile Choabi, Daniela Cobb, Lyric Danae, Maurice Dawkins, Cedrick Ekra, Camryn Hampton, Quiana Onrae’l Holmes, Valériane Louisy Louis Joseph, Joel Karie, Gabisile Manana, Keyveontae’ Martin, Morgan Reed McDaniel, Justin Mensah, Sarita Amani Nash, Nhlanhla Ndlovu, Aaron Nelson, Yuka Notsuka, Sicelo Ntshangase, Sayiga Eugene Peabody, Yael Pineda-Hall, Nathan Andrew Riley, Jordan Samuels, Poseletso Sejosingoe, Eric Shawn, Jennifer Theriot, Brena K. Thomas, Courtney Thomas, Ben Toomer, Denzel Tsopnang, and Jordan Nicole Willis.

The Lion King has been touring North America for more than 23 years, and during that time has played more than 10,000 performances in over 90 cities and welcomed more than 25 million theatregoers.

Watch: International Casts of The Lion King Perform Multilingual 'Circle of Life'

Director, costume designer, and mask co-designer Julie Taymor, the first woman to win a Tony for Best Director of a Musical, remains actively involved in the show, launching new productions and maintaining the flagship Broadway production. Composer Lebo M and Tony-winning choreographer Garth Fagan hold their own records: With The Lion King at over 11,000 Main Stem performances, they are the longest-running Black composer and choreographer in Broadway history

The Lion King won six Tony Awards in 1998: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan), and Best Direction of a Musical. The international hit musical has also earned more than 70 major arts awards, including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year, and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. The worldwide gross of The Lion King musical exceeds that of any film, Broadway show, or other entertainment title in box-office history.

The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs from The Lion King animated film, along with three new songs by the pair. There's also additional musical material by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. It also inspired an album: Rhythm of the Pride Lands, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, and Hans Zimmer.

The book was adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated The Lion King feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay.

Other members of the creative team include Michael Curry (who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor), as well as sound designer Steve Canyon Kennedy, hair and makeup designer Michael Ward, associate director Anthony Lyn, associate choreographer Marey Griffith, music supervisor Clement Ishmael, production supervisor Lisa Dawn Cave, and general manager Thomas Schlenk with casting by ARC's Mark Brandon.

Produced by Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart, The Lion King has made theatrical history with two productions worldwide running 20 or more years and three others running 25 or more years. The Broadway production continues at the Minskoff Theatre.

Visit LionKing.com.

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Photos: The Lion King North American Tour

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