The Lion King Marks 27 Years on Broadway with Surprise Appearance by Show's Original Young Nala: 'A Surreal Moment'

The Lion King had a very special performance on Broadway this week.

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, the stage musical adaptation of the beloved animated film celebrated it's 27th anniversary. And to mark the milestone, the cast surprised the crowd with Kajuana S. Marie, who created the role of Young Nala at the age of 10 when the show opened in 1997.

"I absolutely was here the opening night of the show because I am actually the very first Young Nala," Marie said, in video from the moment shared to The Lion King's social media channel.

The actress, whose Equity name in 1997 was Kajuana Shuford, has been busy in film and television since that Broadway debut, though has not returned to the boards yet. Still, she said on Wednesday evening that she feels "such gratitude and love being a part of this show, and this family and meeting all of you guys who have carried on the legacy of this show."

"Let me just tell you, the show looks just as good today as it did 27 years ago, so congratulations," she said.

Marie also gave a shot-out to the 14 original cast members who are still a part of the production. "'[You] have been here since Day 1, my OGs," Marie said, tearing up. "We love you, we see you, we adore you and I just pray for many, many more reunions with my Lion King family."

"A surreal moment," she wrote on her Instagram Stories, reposting the video.

The Lion King is the third longest running show on Broadway, and for 27 years and counting has found itself among the top 5 shows on the Broadway League' list of weekly grosses.

There have been 29 productions over the life of the show, playing over 100 cities in 24 countries on every continent except Antarctica. It has been seen in nine different languages (English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese) by a staggering 120 million people.

Currently, 90,000 people every week enjoy the show in eight productions on three continents: Broadway, Toronto, London, Paris, Hamburg, Madrid, Tokyo and on tour across North America.

Directed by Julie Taymor, The Lion King features Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs from the animated film (like “Can You Feel the Love Tonight," "Circle of Life" and "Hakuna Matata") along with three new songs by John and Rice. The score is flushed out with additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Taymor and Hans Zimmer, as well as music from Rhythm of the Pride Lands — an album inspired by the original music in the film.

Its book is adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated The Lion King feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay.

The Lion King won six 1998 Tony Awards including best musical and best director, a win that put Taymor — who also designed The Lion King's costumes and co-designed its masks — in the history books as the first women every to win a Tony for directing.

Composer Lebo M and the Tony-winning choreographer Garth Fagan hold their own Broadway records; with The Lion King at over 10,600 main stem performances, they are the longest running Black composer and choreographer in Broadway history.

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Among the 14 original company members is Lindiwe Dlamini, who has performed in the show since its first pre-Broadway preview in Minneapolis in summer 1997.

Additionally, many of the artists and craftspeople who launched the show remain an integral part of it. Original crew members include Cynthia Boardman (assistant wardrobe supervisor), Elizabeth Cohen (production makeup supervisor), Hilda Garcia-Suli (wardrobe), Doug Graf (head follow spot operator), Anne Salt (puppet technician and props) and Sean Strohmeyer (Varilites electrics).

Seven musicians have been in the orchestra pit since its Broadway opening: Tom Brett, Avril Brown, George Flynn, Eliana Mendoza, Rolando Morales-Matos, Horace “Junior” Wedderburn and David Weiss.

Tickets to The Lion King are on sale now.