WHO’S WHO IN THE CAST Philadanco: Aida (China tour), The Phantom of the Opera (Broadway and national tour), Alicia Keys (Girl On Fire tour). TV and Film: Victoria Secret’s Fashion Show, Beyonce, Friends with Benefits, and So You Think You Can Dance. Thanks to God and my parents for all their Love! Mykallaury.com
Playhouse. She then graduated from Fordham University and the Alvin Ailey school with B.F.A. and a minor in communications. Since then she has appeared in various print ads, TV shows,commercials, music videos, and films. TONY FREEMAN (Standby for Scar, Zazu, Timon and Pumbaa) has played Zazu (and occasionally Scar) on Broadway and across the country more than 3,000 times. Now he loves also getting to play Timon and Pumbaa. He did Tony Kushner’s musical Caroline, or Change in Los Angeles and San Francisco with the original Broadway cast. Tony performed guest roles on both Law & Order (twice) and Law & Order: SVU.
RODERICK LAWRENCE (Ensemble/Understudy Simba) Gratefully fulfilling a dream joining The Lion King. Credits: Comedy Centrals “Broad City”, and August Rush The Musical. IG: @rodericklaw Love to Mom, Pops, Evan, Shelby, Aunts, Cousins, Wolockos, Cynthia, Vicky, Scott, Dickersens, Nelsens, Gabe, FFAM and Chelsea. Baldwin Wallace JASON LEWIS (Swing) from Long Beach, California, Jason has worked commercially with such artists as Britney Spears, Toni Braxton and Missy Elliott. He has trained with Lula Washington, Karen McDonald and Alvin Ailey. He is thrilled to be in The Lion King.
MUKELISIWE GOBA (Ensemble/understudy Rafiki) was born in Durban, South Africa. Training: Mbongeni Ngema’s Academy. Credits: K-Cap, Umoja, and Lion King (Madrid). Television: Telethon (France) and 40 Principals (Madrid). She was a back-up vocalist for a South African Gospel star Rebecca Malope. Mukelisiwe thanks her family for their constant support.
FARAH LOPEZ (Swing/Understudy Rafiki & Shenzi). A native of Montreal, Canada, is so honored to be a part of this amazing company. She began her journey with the The Lion King Las Vegas company two years ago and she’s so thankful and blessed for the amazing opportunity to now be a part of the national touring company. She would like to thank her family for their support.
DEIDREA HALLEY (Swing) is proud to be from Toronto, Canada. Favorite credits include; The Lion King (Broadway, Las Vegas, West End, and Toronto Companies), We Will Rock You (Mirvish), Cabaret (Stratford Festival), and Chicago (Stage West). Many thanks to THouse, my family and William. Continuous gratitude to God always.
AMBER MAYBERRY (Ensemble) is from Washington, DC. B.F.A., SUNY–Purchase. Regional: On The Town, Oklahoma! (5th Avenue), Measure for Measure (STC). Company Experience: Elisa Monte, Wideman/Davis Dance, Donald Byrd’s Spectrum Dance Theater and The Trey McIntyre Project. For my Parents, Papa, Ayana, Matthew and Don.
MICHAEL HOLLICK (Standby Scar and Pumbaa) Broadway: Tarzan, Jumpers. National Tour: The Lion King. Off-Broadway: Fuerza Bruta, De La Guarda. TV: Law & Order, Sex and the City, Guiding Light, Hawaii Five-O. Regional: The Wilma, Goodspeed Opera House, Pittsburgh CLO, Great Lakes Theatre Festival. B.F.A., Carnegie Mellon. Michael starred as Niko Bellic in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV. Love to my wife Angela and our little cubs Max and Eva.
TONOCCUS MCCLAIN (Ensemble/Understudy Banzai) is proud to be making his touring debut! He could be seen reporting on Channel One News, performing in Los Angeles Opera’s Porgy and Bess, three Academy Awards live telecasts, and heard singing in television’s Glee, The Good Wife, and film soundtracks Avatar, Star Trek, and The Simpsons Movie.
WILLIAM JAMES, JR. (Ensemble/understudy Simba) From Chicago, Will last appeared in workshops for Lin Manuel Miranda’s “revolutionary” new musical, Hamilton. This moment is made possible by many relatives, friends, several teachers, a few Halleys, 3 grandparents, 2 parents, one brother and one God. “Be kind, love thy neighbor, and enjoy the show” : )
AISHA MITCHELL (Ensemble) from Syracuse, studied at North Carolina Dance Theatre, Lines Ballet School, The Joffrey Ballet School, a graduate of the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. program, and a member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from 08-13. She can be found in the Best-selling book Dancers Among Us.
J.E. JOHNSON (Ensemble) trained at the Chicago Academy for the Arts. He’s danced with Forces Of Nature, Creative Outlet, Hubbard Street 2, DanceWorks Chicago, Cleo Parker Robinson, Lyric Opera, Chicago Opera, Cirque Du Soleil (Beatles LOVE), and the national tour of The Color Purple.
KENDRA MOORE (Swing/Dance Captain) is Canadian born and trained in Edmonton, Alberta. A member of The Lion King Cheetah tour from 2003–08, Kendra has danced with BalletAustin,
MYKAL D. LAURY II (Swing) is honored to be a part of The Lion King national tour. Stage:
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