August 1, 2024 — The new cast of Toronto’s production of Disney’s The Lion King will include a Filipino-Canadian actor playing the role of young Simba.
Twelve-year-old Ira Nabong has been cast as the lion cub heir and son of King Mufasa in the well-loved musical, opening at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto on Nov. 2, 2024.
Twelve-year-old Ira Nabong began his journey in the performing arts in 2022.
Mirvish Productions announced the new cast of the Tony Award-winning musical on July 18, with Nabong as one of three young male actors playing young Simba. The other two are Lucien Duncan-Reid and Oliver Woon. South African actor Aphiwe Nyezi will play the role of adult Simba.
“After an extensive seven-month search across Canada and abroad, we are delighted to be offering the professional debuts of many new actors, and, for already established actors, an opportunity to be part of this truly one-of-a-kind production,” David Mirvish said in a statement.
Nabong is one of 51 actors participating in the new sit-down production of the Lion King, the second such production in Toronto since March 2000. Toronto is the only city in North America to host a second sit-down production of the Lion King, according to Mirvish.
“I’m so excited to be part of this amazing production,” said Nabong, recalling the day he got the call from the casting team to inform him that he got the part.
“I was so nervous. The Lion King has been one of my favourite movies growing up, and now to be part of it, and play young Simba is such an honour and privilege.”
Nabong is the youngest child of Dennis and Irene Nabong, and little brother to two older siblings, Iden and Iesha. Born in Newmarket, Ontario, the young actor began his journey in the performing arts in 2022.
He is currently a member of the Magic in Moments Performing Arts’ (MIMPA) competition team, located in Bradford, Ontario. He has performed in several MIMPA productions, including Aladdin, 101 Dalmatians and Tuck Everlasting.
Soon after joining MIMPA, Nabong immediately became a favourite in competitions, winning numerous awards and accolades, including MIMPA’s Most Outstanding Dancer in 2023 and Most Outstanding Triple Threat Performer in 2024, Broadway Bound award at the 2023 Shooting Star competition in Ontario, Best Junior Dancer at Access Broadway’s 2024 competition in Pittsburgh, and Best Junior Vocalist at Access Broadway Nationals Dollywood 2024.
The Lion King cast will begin rehearsals in Toronto in September. Nabong says he understands he will have to work extra hard to ensure he remains on top of his school work despite the busy rehearsal schedules.
“My parents have been very supportive in helping me manage my time, and I am so thankful to them. School will always be my priority so I will make sure that I always spend enough time to do my homework,” Nabong said.
The Lion King musical debuted in Toronto in 2000 with a record-breaking 1,567 performances at the Princess of Wales Theatre. The sit-down show closed in 2004, and was seen by more than three million theatre patrons. Since then, the Lion King touring productions visited Toronto three times, in 2011, 2014 and 2019.
Mari-Len De Guzman is a freelance writer and editor based in British Columbia. De Guzman worked as a journalist and communications professional in the Philippines before migrating to Canada in 2001. Over the last 20 years, she has worked at some of Canada’s leading business publishing companies, including Thomson Reuters, Annex Business Media, IT World Canada and CLB Media. She has been the editor of several business magazines, and more recently, she was the managing editor at Western News, Western University’s online news website.
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