(Gilbert Domally as Simba. Photo by Evan Zimmerman)
By Jerome Langston
“I love ‘Hakuna Matata.’ I love swinging out on that vine. It’s such a star entrance you know… to swing out and bust out those high notes,” says actor Gilbert Domally, who plays Simba, in the current North American tour of Broadway’s The Lion King. The actor, who grew up in Miami, recalls that big moment on stage at the end of Act 1 — one of his favorite moments in the iconic show, with a knowing laugh. It’s early on a Friday afternoon, and the cast is in Detroit for a few more performances at the Detroit Opera House, before playing Grand Rapids. Considered one of Broadway’s most successful shows of all time, Disney’s The Lion King will play Norfolk’s Chrysler Hall for twenty-three performances, beginning later this month, and bringing an end to the current Broadway in Norfolk season. And notably, the upcoming 2026-27 Broadway season is scheduled to move to the prestigious Harrison Opera House, due to the upcoming multimillion-dollar renovation of Chrysler Hall.
The original Broadway production of The Lion King, which officially opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on November 13, 1997, is still going strong decades later — now playing at the Minskoff Theatre, which has been its home since 2006. It is the third longest-running show in Broadway history, having remarkably played over 11,200 performances since its opening. And the North American tour of the Tony award-winning Broadway musical, has also been running for a very long time, having officially started performances back in April of 2002 at the Buell Theatre in Denver, Colorado. The current cast of the tour includes actors Peter Hargrave as Scar, David D’Lancy Wilson as Mufasa, Zama Magudulela as Rafiki, Sarita Amani Dash as Nala, and the aforementioned Gilbert Domally, inhabiting the lead role of Simba. Gilbert has only been with the tour for 7 months but has been with the show overall for 3 years; he tells me, early in our conversation. He understudied the Simba role on Broadway, as an ensemble member, and was offered the role for the tour, last year.
Prior to joining this hugely successful Disney franchise, the actor made quite a name for himself as part of the vibrant Chicago theater scene; including a high-profile role in Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Choir Boy, at the prestigious Steppenwolf Theatre, back in 2022. Gilbert first came to Chicago to attend school, graduating from Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. But unlike many young actors and other performers who immediately head to NYC or Los Angeles, he decided to stay in the Windy City post-graduation. It was a pivotal decision that worked out quite well for him. “I made a pit stop in Chicago and actually fell in love… Met a bunch of people. Did a lot of theatre there. I did not know how much of a theatre town Chicago was, at the time,” Gilbert says. “That’s where I’ve done the majority of my work up until Lion King, was in Chicago… It was great.”
The Lion King began as an animated musical drama film, which featured the voices of Matthew Broderick, Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Whoopi Goldberg, and the legendary James Earl Jones as the voice of Mufasa. Released in June of 1994, the film is considered a Disney animation classic and has grossed nearly a billion dollars. The film won two Oscars, and even the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. It tells the story of a pride of lions in the Pride Lands, where a young lion prince called Simba is exiled from his kingdom following the murder of his father Mufasa, who was the King, but in a plot is murdered by the prince’s wicked uncle Scar, who coveted the throne. The musical adaptation, as previously mentioned — premiered on Broadway in late 1997. It features music and lyrics by the iconic partnership of Elton John and Tim Rice, with a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, and visionary direction by filmmaker Julie Taymor, who designed many of the heralded costumes and masks. The show won six Tony Awards in 1998; including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Choreography, which was won by the legendary Garth Fagan. The Broadway production alone has grossed over $2 billion. And of course, the Disney franchise has included a well-received 2019 film sequel to The Lion King, as well as a 2024 prequel story film, Mufasa: The Lion King. And there are currently touring productions of the show in the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and France, amongst other countries.
The show is an expansive two-act spectacle, with large set pieces, over 300 costume changes… with tall animals featured through the power of puppetry, including elephants and giraffes. Twelve musicians play over 80 musical instruments, including different types of drums and flutes. And impressively, there are five indigenous African languages spoken throughout the show, including Zulu and Setswana. The tour includes 49 cast members, and there are over 130 people directly involved in the daily production of the musical. “I love the authentic African influence in the show, which is so evident in the music, and the costuming, and the mask work… It’s really a one-of-a-kind show,” says Gilbert, who is also quite talented as a dancer. Regarding his iconic character, he says that “Simba is a seeker. And I identify heavily with that.”
Besides “Hakuna Matata,” the Florida native also loves performing “He Lives in You,” which connects the young prince to his father Mufasa, after he’s passed on. It’s a moment in Act II that serves as a reminder that “our loved ones who passed on are still with us,” says Gilbert. “Rafiki kind of leads him on a journey back to himself.” Towards the end of our chat, I ask Gilbert what he enjoys most about bringing The Lion King to different audiences around the country. “I think it’s always a joy to get to do what you love with a good group of people. And telling such an iconic story.”
Disney’s The Lion King
Presented by Broadway in Norfolk
April 30 through May 17
Chrysler Hall