Overview

• Pitjeng-Molebatsi officially starts performances as Rafiki at the Minskoff Theatre on Sept. 2.
• She succeeds Tshidi Manye, who gave her final performance on Aug. 31 after more than 9,000 turns in the role.
• Pitjeng-Molebatsi previously covered Rafiki in a limited Broadway engagement while Manye was on hiatus.
• Her Lion King history includes joining the ensemble in 2010, understudying Rafiki in Las Vegas, and performing in productions in Brazil, China, the West End, the U.K. tour and France.
• The Lion King, a six-time Tony winner that opened in 1997 and moved to the Minskoff in 2006, ranks as Broadway’s third-longest-running show.