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Chicago-area natives headline return of 'The Lion King'

Aaron Nelson and Nia Holloway can both boast about what makes their respective performances as Simba and Nala in "The Lion King" stand out in the history of the 18-year-old smash hit musical. And since both performers have Chicago-area ties, the fourth return of "The Lion King" to the Cadillac Palace Theatre this week also serves as homecomings for them, too.

Chicago native Nelson has already experienced the Windy City's welcoming embrace when he performed at the free Broadway in Chicago concert at Millennium Park's Pritzker Pavilion on Aug. 17. Before a cheering crowd of about 10,000 people, Nelson and his Broadway "Lion King" co-star Chantel Riley sang "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." The Academy Award-winning song by composer Elton John and lyricist Tim Rice was in Disney's 1994 animated film that inspired director Julie Taymor's visually stunning stage adaptation.

"It's probably one of those moments of my life that I'll never forget," said Nelson, adding that the cheers at the Pritzker Pavilion seemed to double when concert host Janet Davies told the crowd that he once worked as a Cadillac Palace usher while going to school at Columbia College.

Nelson recently joined "The Lion King" national tour after starring on Broadway in the past two years as Simba, the lion prince who must take back leadership of the animal kingdom from his wicked uncle, Scar. Nelson has the distinction of being the first actor to be directly cast as Simba on Broadway since the late Jason Raize originated the role in 1997.

"Usually they have guys from different 'Lion King' companies or from the ensemble bumped up to Simba," said Nelson, who first started auditioning for the show in 2008.

Nelson switched to the tour so he could be in Chicago, where he previously performed in "columbinus 2.0" and "Rent" for American Theater Company.

"It's the first time I'll be playing a role of this magnitude in my hometown," Nelson said. "One of the things Disney brought up was that I'd be home for seven weeks around the holidays, so I was like, 'OK, sign me up!'"

Holloway is also hoping for a warm Chicago welcome playing Nala, the headstrong lioness who is Simba's love interest. The native of south suburban Harvey says she already has at least 130 relatives and friends coming to one performance.

"I hope to inspire some people while I'm there," Holloway said.

Holloway has the distinction of being the youngest actress to be cast as Nala - she was a 17-year-old high school student in Georgia when she joined the tour nearly three years ago (her family moved south when she was 8 years old). Holloway is also continuing a family tradition as a granddaughter of the late Chicago disco singer Loleatta Holloway ("Love Sensation," "Hit and Run").

"I went to my school online and Disney made it possible to go back home and to graduate with my class," said Holloway about her first years touring. "So I walked across the stage like everybody else and I also went to prom, but I just had to work really, really hard to do eight shows a week and to do my homework."

Nelson said the rest of the "Lion King" company is excited to be in a serious theater town like Chicago, with some performers planning to take classes at The Second City.

"We'll see what you guys think of us," Nelson said. "We're ready to come to Chicago to learn and to perform for you."

Harvey native Nia Holloway stars as Nala in the national tour of Disney's “The Lion King.” The 1997 Broadway musical smash returns to Chicago for a run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre from Wednesday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Jan. 17. Courtesy of Joan Marcus
Nala (Harvey native Nia Holloway) sings “Shadowland” in the national tour of Disney's “The Lion King.” The 1997 Broadway musical smash returns to Chicago for a run at the Cadillac Palace Theatre from Wednesday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Jan. 17. Courtesy of Joan Marcus

“The Lion King”

Location: Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago, (800) 775-2000 or

broadwayinchicago.com

Showtimes: Various times between Wednesday, Dec. 2, through Sunday, Jan. 17, though largely 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday and select Tuesdays, 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday; no shows Dec. 25 or Jan. 1.

Tickets: $32-$157

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