Ntsepa Pitjeng-Molebatsi will return to the Broadway production of “The Lion King.” Pitjeng-Molebatsi will assume the role of Rafiki in the long-running musical on Sept. 2 at the Minskoff Theatre. Pitjeng-Molebatsi will take over for departing company member Tshidi Manye, who, after playing the role for multiple tenures since 2004, will take a previously announced final bow on Aug. 31.
Pitjeng-Molebatsi previously played Rafiki for a limited engagement from December 10, 2024, through June 22, 2024, while Manye was on a hiatus. While this stint marked Pitjeng-Molebatsi’s Main Stem debut, she is no stranger to “The Lion King.” She previously performed in the ensemble and understudied Rafiki in the Las Vegas sit-down production of the Disney musical and appeared in global “Lion King” stagings in Brazil, China, the United Kingdom and France.
Featuring Tony Award-winning direction by Julie Taymor, “The Lion King” is based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name. “The Lion King” opened on Broadway on Nov. 13, 1997, at the New Amsterdam Theatre and transferred to its current home, the Minskoff, in 2006. The production was nominated for 11 Tony Awards, and took home six, including the award for Best Musical. “The Lion King” is the third-longest-running show in Broadway history.
“The Lion King” is produced by Disney Theatrical Group, under the leadership of Andrew Flatt, Anne Quart and Thomas Schumacher.
