These subway passengers were definitely in the right place at the right time.
On June 28th, riders of New York City’s “A” train were treated to a surprise performance from the Broadway cast of Disney’s “The Lion King.” During a break between a matinee and evening performance, the cast packed into an NYC subway car and broke out into an A capella rendition of “Circle of Life.” The vocals—and underground acoustics— did not disappoint.
Initially, the cast members keep their cover, pretending to be engrossed in favorite subway pastimes like book reading and texting. But then a covert cast member, with her eyes still on her book, belts out the opening line of “Circle of Life.” Immediately, the rest of the cast, which is interspersed throughout the train, joins in, filling the subway car with spirited song as it hurtles through NYC. Passengers do what anyone in their cushion-less subway seats would be expected to do—take out their phones and start filming.
Disney’s “The Lion King,” in its 17th year, is Broadway’s highest-grossing show. The cast delivered another special performance this summer for the junior-sized attendees of the White House’s Kids State Dinner.
Watch the surprise subway performance here, via BroadwayWorld:
