The Lion King Touring Company’s Mufasa is Dionne Randolph through 2013
Dionne Randolph is Mufasa in the Broadway touring company of The Lion King Musical. Randolph recently signed a new contract that will keep him in the lion mask through 2013. Dionne Randolph, 39, a nine-year company veteran plays Mufasa in the Lion King Touring team.
Dionne Randolph in the Lion Mask as Mufasa - Lion King Musical
Randolph, in fact, was just about to sign a new contract for the theme-park show when he got the call from The Lion King tour; he originally understudied Mufasa before taking on the role full time six years ago.
He got into performing accidentally. He was studying aeronautical engineering at Morehouse College in Atlanta when he participated in Disney’s college-worker program. A show producer heard him talking in the “tunnels” under the Magic Kingdom and asked him to record some voice-overs. That led to a job as the voice of Disney’s Star Wars Weekends and a gig on the resort’s radio station. A Busch Gardens casting director heard him singing on the radio, which led to a job in that theme park, as well as cruise-ship and regional-theater work before returning to Disney.
“Every six months for me, it’s a new show,” he says. That’s because the bulk of Mufasa’s stage time is spent with children portraying young Simba, and the child actors frequently switch as they outgrow the part. “Those boys are hilarious,” says Randolph, “They bring a new energy for me.” “It shows the power of imagination. That’s the key to ‘The Lion King.’ That’s why people love ‘The Lion King,'” he says.”It’s the circle of life … that’s what we do.”
Lion King is currently performing at Mahalia Jackson Theatre in New Orleans LA through April 15, 2012. From here it moves to the Dionne Randolph’s home town Orlando Florida – Schedule (April 17 to May 13, 2012). Get $10 OFF on Lion King Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre Tickets Orders over $350! Use Code #SpringSavings at Checkout.
