Gavin Lee to Play Scar in The Lion King on Broadway

Two-time Tony Award nominee Gavin Lee (SpongeBob SquarePants) will join the company of The Lion King on Broadway as Scar, beginning Tuesday, July 22.

Lee replaces Stephen Carlile, who departed the production earlier this year to star as Hades in Disney’s new production of Hercules in the West End. Michael Hollick will continue playing the role of Scar in the interim.

The current Lion King principal company also includes Tshidi Manye as Rafiki, L. Steven Taylor as Mufasa, Blakely Slaybaugh as Zazu, Ben Jeffrey as Pumbaa, Fred Berman as Timon, Vincent Jamal Hooper as Simba, Pearl Khwezi as Nala, James Brown-Orleans as Banzai, Bonita J. Hamilton as Shenzi, Robb Sapp as Ed, Leela Chopra and Juliana Martinez as Young Nala (at certain performances), and Jacob Pham and Albert Rhodes as Young Simba (at certain performances).

This is Lee’s third Disney production. He was Olivier- and Tony-nominated for originating the role of Bert in the West End and Broadway productions of Mary Poppins. He also played Lumière in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the London Palladium. He most recently appeared on Broadway in Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends.

The Lion King, based on the 1994 Disney animated film, won six 1998 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Director, costume designer, and mask and puppet co-designer (with Michael Curry) Julie Taymor was the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical for this production. The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs from The Lion King animated film as well as new songs, plus additional music by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. The book is by Roger Allers, who co-directed the film, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay.