Albertans are getting set to join the more than 100 million people around the world who have experienced the incredible visuals, costumes and vocals of The Lion King musical. The award-winning show is gearing up for its 2025 Broadway Across Canada stops in Edmonton and Calgary this July and August.
AMA Insider spoke with Darnell Abraham, who plays Mufasa in the show, about what audiences can expect. Abraham previously played George Washington in the Broadway Across Canada tour of Hamilton in 2022, which also had stops in Alberta.
“I remember landing in Edmonton with Hamilton, and it was [late] at night and the sun was still up,” Abraham says. “And I just remember thinking, ‘What is going on?’ Well, apparently [in Alberta] the sun doesn’t go down in the summer until [10:30] at night.”
“That’s something I’m looking forward to again: experiencing the beautiful sunsets there in Alberta.”
The Lion King show is known not only for its iconic story, but also for its incredible costuming. As Mufasa, Abraham wears two different masks: one that moves and one that is a stationary headdress. The masks from the show all weigh under a pound and are made of silicone rubber with a carbon fiber overlay—the same material used in airplanes.
Along with the masks, massive puppets are involved in the performance—including an elephant that takes four actors to move and several 18-foot-tall giraffes that require stilt-walking performers to operate.
Abraham says that while the costuming is a major part of the show, the connection between the actors and audience is what truly brings it to life.
“When you’re on stage, you’re always aware of the audiences’ presence and the energy they’re giving,” Abraham says. “We feel like the audience is right there with us.”
“Playing the role of Mufasa is such a tribute to fathers, and specifically to my own father who I often dub as ‘my living Mufasa,’” Abraham says.
He adds that The Lion King’s story, while using animals as the characters, is truly a story of humanity, family, and togetherness.
“Whether you are four years old or 94 years old, there’s something on stage for everyone. I think the show lands for everyone differently, depending on where they are in life.”
Abraham added that during his 2022 visit to Alberta with Hamilton, he was also able to attend the Calgary Stampede.
“If you’ve never experienced Stampede, it’s really hard to put into words. It was so much fun to be immersed in that culture, in that experience,” Abraham says.
“The people in Canada are some of the most kind people I have ever met in the world. And I’ve travelled a lot.”
The Lion King visits the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Edmonton from July 9 – 27, 2025. It then heads to Calgary at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium from July 30 – Aug. 17, 2025.
AMA members can save up to 20% on their online tickets (and receive a free beverage voucher valued at $12) to Broadway Across Canada Shows, including The Lion King.