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Sense of pride: Tony Award-winning musical 'Lion King' returns to Popejoy Hall for extended run
On stage, Gerald Ramsey and Peter Hargrave portray Mufasa and Scar in Disney鈥檚 鈥淭he Lion King.鈥�
Because of their characters, they have to be enemies of sorts.
Yet, when it comes to being backstage or in between performances, the two are best of friends.
鈥淚鈥檓 always in Peter鈥檚 dressing room chatting,鈥� Ramsey says with his deep voice. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the time we use to talk and just chill from all that鈥檚 going on around us.鈥�
The two actors are part of the Broadway hit, which is making a stop at Popejoy Hall beginning Wednesday, Oct. 18, and running through Nov. 5.
鈥淭he Lion King鈥� musical on Broadway tells the story of the young lion prince, Simba, who is destined to be king.
Sense of pride: Tony Award-winning musical 'Lion King' returns to Popejoy Hall for extended run
Simba鈥檚 evil uncle, Scar, had other plans and plots to usurp the throne and kill Simba and his family.
Scar succeeds in killing Simba鈥檚 father, Mufasa, and encourages Simba to flee rather than face blame for the death of his father.
Simba is saved from Scar鈥檚 clutches and grows up in exile.
As the years pass, Simba and his friends, Timon and Pumbaa, live in the jungle and forget about their past.
One day, Simba鈥檚 friend, Nala, arrives and tells him that Scar is abusing the animals in the kingdom.
Simba is advised by his good friend, Rafiki, to go back to the Pride Lands and confront Scar. Simba and his friends return and overthrow Scar, and Simba takes his rightful place as king.
After 25 landmark years on Broadway, 鈥淭he Lion King鈥� is one of the most popular stage musicals in the world.
Since its premiere on November 13, 1997, 28 global productions have been seen by over 112 million people.
The production has made theatrical history with six productions worldwide running 15 or more years, with four of those running 20 or more years.
It has also been performed over its lifetime in nine different languages 鈥� English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese.
鈥淭he Lion King鈥� won six 1998 Tony Awards.
Though Hargrave and Ramsey share the stage today, their journeys to 鈥淭he Lion King鈥� are different.
Hargrave saw the Broadway show for the first time at 11 鈥� and instantly became intrigued.
When he began training to be an actor, he felt like 鈥淭he Lion King鈥� was so out of reach.
鈥淥ut of grad school, I auditioned and didn鈥檛 get the part,鈥� Hargrave says. 鈥淭he casting director stayed in contact and four years later, when the part opened, I got it.鈥�
Meanwhile, Ramsey was a Polynesian dancer in Hawaii when 鈥淭he Lion King鈥� traveled through in 2014.
The production was having an open call, yet it wasn鈥檛 in his plans for a future career.
鈥淎 friend of mine was trying to get people to audition,鈥� Ramsey says. 鈥淪he offered to buy me lunch. I think I did it because of that. You had to sing a non-Disney and non-Broadway song. I had about 50 panic attacks walking in. Though I was nervous, I nailed it.鈥�
Hargrave says the enthusiasm from cast and crew, as well as attendees, continues to grow decades after the story.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a staple of childhood,鈥� Hargrave says. 鈥淭here are so many of us that watched the animated feature when we were kids. The show means a lot to us.鈥�
Though the pair are enemies on stage, Hargrove says he has nothing but admiration for Ramsey.
鈥淚 admire Gerald so much,鈥� he says. 鈥淕erald is the leader of our company, and he鈥檚 a steady pulse of our values and care. I aspire to be like him, even though Scar kills Mufasa.鈥�
Ramsey returns the kind words to Hargrave.
鈥淧eter is the brother everyone needs,鈥� Ramsey says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 uplifting. I鈥檝e been in the show eight years now, minus the COVID years. I鈥檝e seen a number of Scars come though and Peter comes in, and you鈥檙e a little nervous of how it鈥檚 going to do. Peter comes in as a puzzle piece and fits. From the way he speaks and through his work ethics, that鈥檚 one of the highlights of getting to work with him.鈥�
