Disney’s The Lion King Roars Into The Smith Center Las Vegas

It’s been seven years since Simba, Nala, Mufasa and all the unforgettable characters from Disney’s The Lion King captured the hearts of Las Vegas theatergoers. Now the six-time Tony Award-winning musical is returning to Sin City for a three-week limited engagement.

The touring production roars into The Smith Center November 7-25. It includes a special sensory-friendly performance at 2 p.m. Saturday, November 17 for those with sensory sensitivities and other intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Photo Credit: Courtesy Disney’s The Lion King

Actress Nia Holloway will portray Nala in the Las Vegas production. An actress, vocalist and dancer, she considers The Lion King a “speechless experience” and encourages audiences of all ages to check it out.

“Whether you’ve never seen it before, or if you’ve seen it 10 times before, this show appeals to everyone,” she says. “There’s something beautiful about the Lion King that’s universal. It’s honestly the peak of theater.”

The Las Vegas cast will also feature Spencer Plachy (Scar), Gerald Ramsey (Mufasa), Buyi Zama (Rafiki), Nick Cordileone (Timon), Greg Jackson (Zazu), Ben Lipitz (Pumbaa) and Jared Dixon (Simba).

Photo Credit: Courtesy Disney’s The Lion King

Holloway joined the cast in 2013 at age 17, finishing her senior year of high school on the road. While this will be her second time coming to Las Vegas, it’s her first time performing here. She looks forward to exploring the many hiking trails around the Las Vegas valley and discovering great views of the city.

The Lion King was directed by Julie Taymor and choreographed by Garth Fagan (both of whom won Tony Awards for their roles). The third longest-running Broadway show in history, it’s based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name and features music from Tony Award-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice.

Photo Credit: Courtesy Disney’s The Lion King

With more than 200 awe-inspiring puppets and actors dressed in elaborate animal costumes, the show is this year celebrating its 20th anniversary. It was last performed in Las Vegas at Mandalay Bay from May 2009 through December 2011.

The production has been seen by more than 20 million theatergoers across North America and 95 million worldwide.

Tickets start at $40 and are available at The Smith Center box office, online or by phone at (702) 749-2000.