The Broadway production of The Lion King has announced an incoming principal player. Ntsepa Pitjeng-Molebatsi will take her first bow in the role of Rafiki on Dec. 10 at the Minskoff Theatre, for a limited engagement through summer 2025, with an exact end date to be announced. Pitjeng-Molebatsi takes over for Tshidi Manye, who, having exited the production in October, will step back into the role next summer. Manye is a longtime cast member, having played several long tenures as Rafiki since January 2004; she initially performed in the 2000 Toronto production.
While The Lion King at the Minskoff will mark the Broadway debut of Pitjeng-Molebatsi, she is an alum of the Julie Tayor-directed musical. Pitjeng-Molebatsi appeared in the ensemble and understudied Rafiki in the Las Vegas sit-down production, in addition to appearances in global Lion King stagings in Brazil, China, the United Kingdom and France...READ MORE