[Photo provided to China Daily]

According to Felipe Gamba, director of international production strategy for Disney Theatrical Group, the musical will bring a global cast and crew of over 100 people representing 19 nationalities to China. Amanda Kunene, who was born in Durban, South Africa, and Jordan Shaw from the UK play Nala and Simba, respectively.

Besides real actors and actresses, there will be puppets, masks and costumes, which will take audiences to the tropical rainforest, desert and the grasslands of the African savanna as part of the classic Disney story.

Based on the 1994's animated film, the musical tells the tale of a young lion called Simba on his path to succeeding his father, Mufasa, as king.