Disneyland has canceled a performance of a new “Lion King” musical stage show less than a week after opening at the Anaheim theme park after several members of the cast fell ill amid a surge in COVID-19 cases across the United States.
The performance of the “Tale of the Lion King” in the Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland planned for Thursday, June 2 has been canceled out of an abundance of caution after several Disneyland cast members called in sick, according to Disneyland officials.
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The “Lion King” cast illnesses come as Orange County, California and the United States experience the latest spike in COVID-19 illnesses. Extremely contagious but less severe omicron variants are expected to keep coronavirus case levels high this summer as the U.S. grapples with the latest wave of COVID-19, according to CNN.
Thursday’s “Tale of the Lion King” performance was planned as part of a summer kickoff media event while Disneyland hosts national and international news outlets.
Disneyland has not yet announced if the “Tale of the Lion King” show will be canceled on future dates.
The Disneyland website lists “no performances today” for the “Tale of the Lion King” show on Thursday — the first day of the two-day media event. The Disneyland calendar still shows five daily performances on Friday, June 3 and for future dates.
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The “Tale of the Lion King” debuted on May 28 with singers, dancers and drummers offering a new adaptation of the ancestral story of how a young lion cub becomes king of the jungle.
The “Tale of the Lion King” show moved to the Fantasyland Theatre after playing on the banks of Paradise Bay in the “World of Color” viewing area in 2019 prior to the pandemic closure of Disney California Adventure.
The Disneyland presentation features a larger set along with new original musical arrangements and choreography.
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Set on the African plains, the story tells the tale of the battle for Pride Rock after the death of Mufasa the lion king. The exiled Simba the lion cub must figure out how to grow up and take back his rightful throne from Scar, Mufasa’s murderous brother.