When Disney’s “The Lion King” roars into the Kansas City Music Hall from May 22 through June 1, a familiar face will play the lead role. Erick D. Patrick, who plays adult Simba in the North American tour, is an area native who graduated from Olathe South High School before launching his successful theater career.
For Patrick, the KC stop represents a heartfelt homecoming and a chance to perform for friends and family.
We recently spoke with Patrick about returning to his hometown, his journey to “The Lion King,” and what audiences can expect from this iconic production.
What can folks expect from seeing “The Lion King” on stage vs the movie?
It’s so different. It’s unlike anything people have seen before. There are more songs than in the movie, and the story is a little bit more fleshed out. But the biggest thing is the puppetry — it’s truly one of a kind.
We’re trained to use our bodies to work the mask or puppets, so it’s like a “double event” happening on stage. There are certain movements where you could completely get the story based on just movement and puppet work alone if you weren’t hearing what we were saying. I have two faces — a mask that’s a big lion head, and my face that’s also emotive. So no matter what you’re looking at or what catches your eye, you’re always getting the story.
How has your Kansas City background shaped your theater career?
I was super fortunate in having an amazing theater program at Olathe South High School. I have to shout out to my theater director, who still teaches there, Mr. David Hastings. He is absolutely fantastic and one of the reasons why I am where I am today.
After high school, I went to the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts, which at the time had no singing or musical theater training. It was a two-year acting conservatory where all you did was act. That’s really what I wanted to do — I started singing in church, but I always wanted to be an actor. I just happened to be able to sing, and now I do both.
Is there a certain big moment that audiences should look out for?
Don’t be late.
Right at the beginning of the show, our opening number, “Circle of Life,” is one that you cannot miss, and I’ve seen people miss it. I’ve seen the ushers have to close the doors — for your own good, don’t be one of those people. Please come and be in your seats early. You have to see that number, it is genuinely magical.
How do you approach playing Simba as a character?
With all the roles I play, I try to always be as honest as possible to the story. I look at the text, and whatever the text is telling me is what I’ll try my best to portray.
With Simba specifically, he’s somewhere around 16, but he’s not like today’s 16 or 17-year-old. His growth is stunted because he’s been in the jungle, away from his pride. He wasn’t getting the care and life lessons he needed to learn. So he’s more guarded; it’s harder for him to be vulnerable. He gets angry, he gets upset when he’s told he has to do something he doesn’t want to do. I try to bring a childlike innocence to him until he makes that big turn at the end of the show, when all his memories come flooding back and he grows up.
What’s it like bringing this production to your hometown?
I’m just super excited to be back in my hometown and being able to perform for people I haven’t seen in so long. With all the friends and family, it’s going to be a special homecoming for me. I don’t get a chance to go home that often, so when I do, I try to make the most of it,
What’s it like preparing to play Simba physically and vocally?
Just to play this role, there has to be a certain level of fitness. So it takes a lot of work.
I try to do a lot of calisthenics — pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups — and I run a lot. I try to do about 10 to 12 miles throughout the week. There’s various stretching, and it goes back to diet, just making sure you eat pretty clean.
Vocally, it’s also pretty demanding, especially for guys like me. I’m more of a tenor-baritone, not a super high singer, and some of Simba’s parts are kind of high, so my vocal health is super important. It also goes back to the things you put in your body — not putting so much fat and sugar into your body, but also doing a proper 15-minute warm-up before the show begins.
Does that mean you skip the BBQ when you come to KC?
Oh no, I’ll be sure to stop by Gates.
The Lion King
Music Hall Kansas City
301 W. 13th St., KCMO
Showtime 2 hours 30 minutes with intermission
May 22 – June 1 | 16 Showings Tickets start at $69, available at bit.ly/LionKingKC2025.
