At This Performance

March 18, 2025 – 7:30PM

Young Nala will be played by

she/her. Ritisha is joining the Pridelands from Basking Ridge, NJ. Her Broadway credits include The Skin of our Teeth and 29-hour readings for the Radio Galaxy and The Lunchbox. Off-Broadway: Fifty Key Stage Musicals at 54 Below, NYC. Other theater credits include playing Annie in Annie Jr. (W. Orange, NJ). Film credits include Concessions and Bubblegum Rox (Short) and TV: “Sesame St - Together We Can.” Instagram: @ritisha.chak

Young Simba will be played by

Julian Villela

Thrilled to make his National Tour debut! Last seen at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and Orlando Family Stage. Enjoys singing and martial arts with his sister Alejandra. Thanks to mom, dad, family, friends, Arc Casting, Disney, BAA, Yael Chanukov (voice) and The First Academy. Representation: Barry Kolker. IG: @julianvillela26

Zazu will be played by

Drew Hirshfield

Is happy to return to The Lion King. In addition to a previous stint as Zazu, he is lucky enough to have worked on plays by Bertolt Brecht, Sandy Rustin, Arthur Miller, Robert Askins, Jordan Seavey, Lucas Knath, Steve Martin, Peter Shaffer, Lanford Wilson, Oliver Goldsmith, Tom Stoppard, Neil Simon, Kate Hamill, Shakespeare, and many others, at theaters large and small across the county. He's long served on the faculty at New York Film Academy. Thanks to A+S, WTG+LG.

Specialties

Guinea Fowl

Gabriel Croom

Has performed in the 1st National Tour and Broadway productions of The Lion King and is thrilled to be joining the Rafiki Tour. Recent: Live in Concert’s Hollywood Bowl productions of The Little Mermaid (2019) and Beauty and the Beast (2018). Other credits: Hollywood Fringe Festival’s A Soldier’s Play, Sirens of Titan (Sacred Fools Company), Carmen (La Jolla Playhouse), West Side Story (Trinity Repertory Company) and George C. Wolfe’s Harlem Song (Apollo Theatre).

Buzzard Pole

Courtney Thomas

Incredibly humbled to be rejoining The Lion King National Tour. Born in Atlanta, Ga he began dancing at North Atlanta High School at 16 under the direction of Tracy Vogt and immediately fell in love with arts. He studied dance at AREA (Atlanta’s Resource for Entertainment and Arts) under the direction of Jai Jones and is humbled that The Lion King is his first professional work as a dancer. Insta:@cthomdance94

Cheetah

Shacura Wade

A St. Louis City native, Wade’s previous credits include: The Opera Theatre St. Louis, The Ailey School, The University of Missouri- KC, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance, NU World Contemporary Danse Theatre, and The KP Project. Shacura is grateful to honor her family on this journey ahead; giving all the glory to God.

Joining the Company