Richard Hudson
THE LION KING Will Welcome Mduduzi Madela as Simba Beginning February 24 (Feb 13, 2026)
Review: THE LION KING is the Pride of Broadway Sacramento (Jan 15, 2026)
Zama Magudulela Will Join THE LION KING Tour as Rafiki (Jan 7, 2026)
BIO
Richard Hudson was born in Zimbabwe and educated in Zimbabwe and England. In 1988 he won a Laurence Olivier Award for designing a season of seven plays at the Old Vic Theatre, London. His set designs for The Lion King have won numerous awards, including a Tony® in 1998. He is a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI). In 2003 he won the Gold Medal for Set Design at the Prague Quadriennale, and in 2005 he was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Surrey. He has designed sets and costumes for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, the Young Vic and the Gate, London. In opera he has worked at the Royal Opera, English National Opera, La Scala Milan, Metropolitan Opera New York, Opera National de Paris, Lyric Opera Chicago, Staatsoper Vienna, Glyndebourne Festival Opera and in Zurich, Munich, Amsterdam, Venice, Florence, Turin, Bregenz, Houston and Washington.
Photos
davebennett(2).jpg?format=auto&width=600)
Productions
Awards and Nominations
Richard Hudson, Leopoldstadt
Richard Hudson, The Lion King
winner
Richard Hudson, The Lion King
winner
Richard Hudson - , The Lion King
winner
Richard Hudson, The Lion King
winner
Richard Hudson, The Lion King
Richard HudsonVolpone
Richard Hudson, La Bete
Richard Hudson, La Bete
winner
Richard Hudson, La Bete
Richard Hudson, La Bête
winner
Richard HudsonPerformance Season
Videos
Video: THE LION KING's Tshidi Manye Takes Her Historic Final Bow as 'Rafiki'
by Michael Major - 2025-09-03 13:17:12
Video: Watch Gavin Lee Join THE LION KING on Broadway as 'Scar'
by Michael Major - 2025-07-23 11:54:23
VIDEO: Watch THE LION KING's Broadway Makeup Team Transform Stephen Carlile into Scar
by Blair Ingenthron - 2023-10-08 10:43:04
Video: Watch an All New Trailer for LEOPOLDSTADT on Broadway
by Show Highlights - 2022-11-22 10:28:40
Watch: THE LION KING on Broadway Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Short Film Highlighting 'The Circle of Life'
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2022-11-10 17:44:06
Video: Julie Taymor Talks THE LION KING 25th Anniversary and More!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - 2022-10-24 05:33:48
TV: Celebrate THE LION KING's Anniversary With a Look at Scar's Makeup Process
by Linnae Medeiros - 2019-11-13 10:28:11
VIDEO: THE LION KING Takes Over King's Cross in Honor of its 20th Anniversary in the West End
by Stephi Wild - 2019-10-19 09:49:58
VIDEO: Get a Backstage Look at THE LION KING Bringing Its Giraffe To Life
by Linnae Medeiros - 2019-08-09 12:52:42
VIDEO: THE LION KING Celebrates 100,000,000th Guest Worldwide With Multi-Lingual 'Circle of Life' Music Video
by Stephi Wild - 2019-05-16 09:10:16
April 1 - THE LION KING Will Become First Musical to Play Seven Continents- Antarctic Production Will Open in 2019!
by Nicole Rosky - 2018-03-31 19:01:42
VIDEO: THE LION KING Cast Members Perform Dual-Language 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight' For 20th Anniversary
by Stephi Wild - 2017-12-12 07:21:40
VIDEO: On This Day, March 30- THE LION KING Plays 1,000 Broadway Performances
by A.A. Cristi - 2017-03-30 20:49:19
News
by Stephi Wild - Feb 13, 2026
The Lion King has announced that longtime cast member Mduduzi Madela will assume the role of Simba beginning Tuesday, February 24. Learn more about him here!
by Courtney Symes - Jan 15, 2026
Broadway Sacramento is starting off the new year with a legend. The Lion King, winner of six Tony Awards, is back in town after seventeen years. The familiar score by Elton John and Tim Rice has been a favorite since the animated version debuted in 1994. Songs like “Hakuna Matata,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” and “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” have helped to catapult The Lion King to the status of highest-grossing Broadway production of all time. This was my first time experiencing the magic, and you shouldn’t wait as many years as I have.
by Stephi Wild - Jan 7, 2026
The North American tour of Disney’s The Lion King will welcome Zama Magudulela as Rafiki. Magudulela will begin performances on Tuesday, January 13 in Sacramento at the Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center.
by BWW Awards - Dec 29, 2025
This is the last chance to vote for the 2025 BroadwayWorld Toronto Awards! Voting ends on 12/31/2025 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
by BWW Awards - Dec 22, 2025
We're in the final weeks to vote for the 2025 BroadwayWorld Toronto Awards! Voting ends on 12/31/2025 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
by BWW Awards - Dec 15, 2025
The latest standings have been released for the 2025 BroadwayWorld Toronto Awards! Voting ends on 12/31/2025 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
by BWW Awards - Dec 8, 2025
The latest standings have been released for the 2025 BroadwayWorld Toronto Awards! Voting ends on 12/31/2025 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
by BWW Awards - Dec 1, 2025
The first standings have been released for the 2025 BroadwayWorld Toronto Awards! Voting ends on 12/31/2025 at midnight. Don't miss out on making sure that your favorite theatres, stars, and shows get the recognition they deserve!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 6, 2025
Disney’s The Lion King is coming to The Paramount Theatre stage.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 3, 2025
Disney's THE LION KING runs at Cadillac Palace Theatre until October 19. Get ticket info and details about this must-see Chicago show!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 23, 2025
The Lion King celebrated its 11,000th performance on Broadway over the weekend at the matinee on Saturday, September 20th. See footage here and learn more about The Lion King.
by Michael Major - Sep 3, 2025
The production features Peter Hargrave (Scar), David D’Lancy Wilson (Mufasa), Mukelisiwe Goba (Rafiki), Robert Creighton (Timon), Nick LaMedica (Zazu), Danny Grumich (Pumbaa), Gilbert Domally (Simba), and more.
by Michael Major - Sep 3, 2025
Watch a video of Tshidi Manye, who played Rafiki in Disney's THE LION KING on Broadway for over 9,000 performances, take her final bow on Sunday after being a part of the production for 25 years.
by Stephi Wild - Sep 2, 2025
The Lion King is welcoming Ntsepa Pitjeng-Molebatsi back as Rafiki beginning September 2. Pitjeng-Molebatsi stepped into the role temporarily earlier this year and is now taking it over officially following the final performance of longtime cast member Tshidi Manye.
by Alyson Eng - Aug 31, 2025
Disney’s The Lion King musical is playing in Vancouver, BC for a limited four-week engagement at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from August 20 to September 14.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Aug 27, 2025
After 9,000 performances as Rafiki in The Lion King, Tshidi Manye is set to depart the Broadway production. Learn more about Manye and about The Lion King here.
by Stephi Wild - Aug 26, 2025
The North American tour of Disney’s The Lion King will welcome David D’Lancy Wilson as Mufasa and Gilbert Domally as Simba. Wilson and Domally will begin performances on Tuesday, September 23 in Portland, OR at Keller Auditorium.
by Josh Sharpe - Jul 25, 2025
On Thursday, CBS News journalist Gayle King, along with Oprah Daily creative director Adam Glassman, made their Broadway debuts in The Lion King, appearing in the opening number of the hit musical. Watch footage from rehearsals and the performance here!
by Michael Major - Jul 23, 2025
Gavin Lee has made it to Pride Rock! The Tony nominee has officially joined the cast of The Lion King on Broadway as 'Scar.' Watch a video of his first bow now!
by Stephi Wild - Jun 30, 2025
Two-time Tony nominee Gavin Lee will take on the role of Scar in THE LION KING starting July 22. Discover more about his journey here!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Best Scenic Design of a Play (Tony Awards) for Leopoldstadt, Best Set Designer (Olivier Awards) for The Lion King, Outstanding Set Design - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Lion King, Best Set Design (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Lion King, Best Scenic Design (Tony Awards) for The Lion King, Outstanding Revival-Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Lion King, Best Costume Designer (Olivier Awards) for Volpone , Outstanding Choreography (Drama Desk Awards) for La Bete, Outstanding Set Design (Drama Desk Awards) for La Bete, Scenic and Costume Design (The Hewes Awards) for La Bete, Best Scenic Design (Tony Awards) for La Bête and Designer of the Year (Olivier Awards) for Performance Season.
Richard Hudson has won several prestigious awards, including Outstanding Set Design - Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for The Lion King, Best Set Design at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for The Lion King, and Best Scenic Design at the Tony Awards for The Lion King. He also received Outstanding Revival-Play at the Drama Desk Awards for The Lion King, Scenic and Costume Design at The Hewes Awards for La Bete, and Designer of the Year at the Olivier Awards for a performance season.
Videos