The Broadway production of “The Lion King” has revealed the departure of a longtime principal player. Tshidi Manye will play her final performance as Rafiki in the Disney musical on Aug. 31 at the Minskoff Theatre. A successor to the role will be announced.
Manye made her “Lion King” debut in the 2000 Toronto mounting, before stepping into the Broadway production as Rafiki in 2004. Manye has remained in the role for the majority of the last two decades, having taken periodic breaks. Most recently, Mayne was on hiatus beginning in December 2024, rejoining the company on June 24, 2025. Ntsepa Pitjeng-Molebatsi played Rafiki during the interim. Manye’s additional stagework include roles in European and Japanese tours of the musical “Sarafina!”
Based on the 1994 animated film of the same name and featuring music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, “The Lion King” opened on Broadway on Nov. 13, 1997. The production was named Best Musical during the 1998 Tony Awards ceremony, on top of taking home five additional wins. “The Lion King” is the third-longest-running show in Broadway history.
“The Lion King” is produced by Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt, Anne Quart and Thomas Schumacher.
