INTERVIEW: Brandon A. McCall roars into Broadway’s ‘Lion King’
Photo: Brandon A. McCall stars as Simba in Broadway’s The Lion King. Photo courtesy of Deen van Meer / Provided by Disney with permission.
NEW YORK — The Lion King continues to be king on Broadway. Ever since returning to live performances in September, the beloved musical has packed in the crowds at the Minskoff Theatre in Times Square, telling its Hamlet-inspired tale of Simba taking over the kingdom after the death of his father, Mufasa. But first Simba needs to get past his devilish uncle, Scar.
The show, directed by Julie Taymor, is often seen as the quintessential Broadway experience, a solid musical for first-timers, youngsters, dedicated repeat customers and everyone in between. For Brandon A. McCall, The Lion King has meant a great deal to him personally and professionally. He was on the national tour, first as an ensemble member and then as Simba, before the pandemic, and then when Broadway opened back up again, he was asked to take on the “lion king” role in New York City. This engagement serves as the actor’s Broadway debut.
“There are so many emotions,” McCall said in a recent phone interview. “I’m from Birmingham, Alabama, so coming to New York, that was a big, big difference. … Overall, it was definitely exciting to come here and to live out one of my dreams and to be able to do what I love for a living, so, yeah, it’s been wonderful. It has its challenges just like any other dream that you’re chasing, but I’m glad to be in the position I am.”
McCall’s first performance at the Minskoff Theatre was Sept. 14 when Broadway had its grand reopening. He remembers the entire day as if it were yesterday. He was feeling the pressure, but he tried not to let it sink in. His wife helped him stay calm and focused.
“I remember going through that day and being occupied,” he said. “What are the things that would take my mind off this being my first Broadway show? But once we got to the show, it was amazing to hear Rafiki do that first call, to see my cast members go on that stage — because I don’t come in until the end of Act I — to have a chance to go around to my cast mates and talk to them, encourage them. So the whole day was special, and I really have to thank my cast and the crew for welcoming me in and reassuring me that I was in the right place. I belonged there. That night was going to be awesome.”
McCall’s journey with The Lion King started in 2018. That’s when he booked a spot as an ensemble member on the national tour. At the same time, he was also covering and understudying the role of the adult Simba. Then, in October 2019, he was promoted to the principal role of Simba, and he stayed with the part until March 2020. When COVID-19 shut down the tour, he, much like other actors, stayed away from the stage for 18 months.
“We went through the pandemic, and finally 18 months later, we were talking about starting back up,” McCall said. “By this time, I was supposed to go back on tour, but a little birdie told me that the position was open on Broadway. My manager and I did some digging, sent emails, and basically they were like, ‘We would love to have you.’ That’s how I got here.”
As McCall mentioned, he makes a grand entrance at the end of Act I. He actually swings onto the stage as the younger Simba takes his final exit. With Timon and Pumbaa by his side, he is ready to head back to his ancestral grounds and avenge the death of his father.
“We always joke about it backstage,” the actor said about the entrance. “That moment is like being shot out of a cannon. You go straight into it. There is no warm-up for it. You swing in, and you start singing. But I do know before I swing in, I do take a moment to gather myself, and as the young Simba is coming off, we have a little thing. He looks at me, and I just point at him, basically saying good show or proud of you, just encouraging him. I get ready for that swing. The adrenaline starts pumping, and once I land, I always look out to the audience with a smile because I want them to know that this is the Simba I want you guys to know, playful and young. That moment is always special because there’s a different reaction from the audience every night. You never know what you’re going to get, but I have to go out there expecting the best.”
When McCall looks out at the audience during that grand entrance, he is able to see many young audience members in their seats. That’s a special moment for him and for them. He is bringing to life one of the most iconic characters in the Disney catalog, and they are experiencing live theater — perhaps for the first time. McCall does not take the experience for granted.
“That for me is one of the best things about this gig or this industry, giving back to the young people,” he said. “My motto is, if I change one life in that audience, then my job was done for that show. It’s very important for me when there are young people there because they get a sense of the arts. I assume that here in New York they have great performing arts schools or programs, but back home they’re starting to pull those programs out of the schools. So when young people come to a show, or they’re exposed to any type of art or theater, it means a lot to me because a lot of these kids need different outlets, different ways to express themselves, and sometimes it’s not always with a lecture or sitting in the classroom. Sometimes they need to get up, they need to dance, they need to draw, they need to paint, they need to act or use their imaginations to express themselves. It means a lot when we have youth in the audience because it’s a way to show them that this can be done, this can be a career for you, if you’re interested, and if not, then you get to discover other talents that you may have.”
McCall added: “That’s kind of what happened with me when I was growing up. I knew that I could sing at a very early age. I knew I could dance a little, but I didn’t really know I could act until my mom put me in this acting troupe. She took me to my first audition, and from there that’s when I fell in love with acting. So it’s all about exposing them to new things and new possibilities.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Lion King, starring Brandon A. McCall, is now playing at the Minskoff Theatre on Broadway. Click here for more information and tickets.
