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[0:00] Robert Bannon: Are you ready? It's The Roundtable with me, Robert Bannon.

[0:10] Robert Bannon: Welcome everybody. My name is Robert Bannon. You're watching The Roundtable. I'm here on Broadway World over here on the Broadway Podcast Network, iHeart and Spotify. You know, two years ago when I moved from New York to Detroit, people always said to me like, how are you going to give up Broadway? What are you going to do? There'll be no theater, there'll be no art. And then I found ATG over here in Detroit at the legendary Fisher Theater and the Detroit Opera House, which just so happens to be hosting The Lion King. So when I heard they were coming, I said, I need Simba. Somebody send me Simba. And Gilbert is here. You're Simba, Gilbert.

[0:42] Gilbert Domally: Yes, it is me.

[0:48] Robert Bannon: You get to be, see, I'm not trying to be shady. I've only met you one minute ago. You got the best gig. Look, it's about to be intermission. Simba comes swinging on the stage. He worked 30 seconds, then he gets a 15 minute break.

[1:00] Gilbert Domally: It's great. It's so crazy because like, you like spend the first act like getting worked up, warm, ready, and it's like, okay, go time. And then it's like, okay, chill. And then you come and take us home for an epic second.

[1:13] Robert Bannon: Is the show scary to do? You know, the set is incredible. The story is epic. The rock is built in the middle and you and Scar are this epic moment. Is it exhilarating? Is it scary? What does it feel like every night?

[1:20] Gilbert Domally: It really is exhilarating to go on that journey every night, you know, like from grief to triumph. And like you said, with all of the elements that come in, the music is epic. The storytelling through the mask and the costumes is epic. So like, I feel like as soon as I put that corset on and put that mask on, it's like, oh my God, it's go time. You really do feel like a king, you know, it's incredible.

[2:00] Robert Bannon: So for you, the journey to The Lion King, you've gotten to do the show on Broadway. You're now leading the national tour around the country. Where did this journey start for you? Where did you grow up and when did you fall in love with theater?

[2:12] Gilbert Domally: Absolutely. I grew up originally in Miami, Florida, and I've done theater and singing and dancing like literally my whole life. Started singing at church as young as like five or six and then continued in school. And then I moved to Chicago where I went to college and studied music theater there at the Chicago College of Performing Arts. Got my bachelor's in music theater and then was doing theater in Chicago, which I love. I love Chicago. Chicago is amazing. Was there for a few years and then booked Lion King in New York. And that took me to New York, which always was a dream to do Lion King and also to be living in New York. Like that's like the actor's dream, you know, so that was incredible.

[2:58] Robert Bannon: Was the journey, was it a video? Was it a self-tape? Did you go to an audition? How did it happen?

[3:04] Gilbert Domally: I started, I did. First of all, I've auditioned for Lion King a couple of times and you know how it goes. You go and you go and you go. And then finally, this time my agent was like, oh, they want to see a video. I was like, okay, great. Send in a videotape and then got a call back. No, no. First got a casting session. So like me and Mark Branded, he worked with me, gave me some notes and then got called back to New York and did the call back there where I got to perform for the artistic team. And then, then I got, then I got the gig and then moved to New York in 10 days, in 10, in 10 days.

[3:52] Robert Bannon: So when you do, oh my God, it moves quick. It moves quick. When Broadway calls, you gotta be ready, you know, or if you're not ready, get ready real quick.

[3:59] Gilbert Domally: Real quick. You know, I was talking to someone, a friend of mine who's on tour and on a national tour for a show that's on Broadway. And he was like, you know, we try to, I try to stay up on it because you don't know what's going to happen. They can make a call and change your life, pack your bag, move to a new city and that's it.

[4:16] Gilbert Domally: Yeah. And what I love, what I loved about the process, although I think I hated it at the time, but now can appreciate it is the opportunity to be seen again and again and again, you know, and I think sometimes as actors, you think, oh my God, why are they bringing me in again and again? And I, I can be a true testament that like the casting team, they really are looking at you. They're watching your growth that, you know, they might say, oh my God, this, this, this kid is great, but not quite yet. Or, you know what I mean? And so I think that it, I'm glad now to have had, like to be in front of the team multiple times, you know, and seeing, having them see my growth and finally to be the one that they ultimately choose.

[4:56] Robert Bannon: And then you completed the run on Broadway and now you get to heed this national tour across the country, which if people are not accessible to New York, I remember seeing, I'm 42. I was, remember when the show started on Broadway, I remember getting tickets for Christmas, my family, you know, save their money. And we had tickets for months in advance to get tickets, to go see the spectacle that was The Lion King. And now so many people don't have the accessibility to go to New York and see the show. So now you get to bring one of the most iconic groundbreaking musicals of all time to their neck of the woods. It's got to be incredible.

[5:27] Gilbert Domally: Absolutely. And the audiences are so appreciative. They're, they're lively. They're in it with you from the beginning. And obviously how can you not be with this, with this story, with this music and with this, the, the, the level of storytelling, but it is incredible to go across the country and see how you affect people. And like, you hear different stories as you go to the stage door, you know, like you said, like people are saving for months or, and this is someone's first time, or this is someone's they're bringing their kids or they're bringing their mom or they're bringing whoever. And it's like the story that continues to keep giving. And it's so incredible to be a part of that, especially across the United States versus like being in one place. It really is. You get, you just get to meet so many different people from so many different walks of life. And it's, it's like, whoa, I can't believe that I get to be a part of it.

[6:27] Robert Bannon: Go to lionking.com, get the tour dates, go get your tickets. And then if you're going to be where I am, come hang out with me in Detroit here. And we're going to be at the opera house and it's going to be a special, special week because they're going to violin. And it's going to be a whole big atgtickets.com, get your tickets and go get your tickets to see the show.

[6:48] Robert Bannon: For a city like Detroit, I teach here in Detroit as well. My students all have seen the bus stops and seen the ads and, you know, go downtown and see the poster. The representation of the show through the decades has meant a lot because theater can, can not always be represented on stage, but this show has such a cultural heritage and homage to African culture, to different types of language, to different styles of dance. How important is that for young artists to be able to be exposed to this?

[7:13] Gilbert Domally: It's very important. I think it brought, I think especially with this show and with, with any other show, like it really does expand your mind. And so you're able to, to witness different dialects. You're able to witness different languages all in, in a two and a half hour spectacle. It's, it's an education that, what I love is that it's an education without being an education. You know what I mean? Like, it's not like you're not being beat over the head, but it's like, you're just being immersed in the culture and the sounds and the, and the, the, the, with the costuming, it's, it's just unmatched in that. It's special. I don't know. There's something so magical and special about the songs and the, the most epic opening on Broadway history. Do not be late to this show.

[8:08] Gilbert Domally: No, please, please be early.

[8:13] Robert Bannon: Do not, don't wait for a drink or a Swedish fish online and get to your seat. You do not want to miss the opening. When I look at your career and some of the credits you've done, you have such a wide range of theater that you, it could be things from The Color Purple and Hairspray to The Little Mermaid to Cabaret to Dreamgirls to, to, then you take something like Choir Boy, which is, you know, not, not like the others at all. How, how did, how have you, how has your career, how do you sum up what you've been able to do?

[8:42] Gilbert Domally: I think I'm just really, I'm really blessed. I, I really am blessed. Like I, I have obviously worked really, really hard and met a lot of great people who have also wanted to uplift me and, and, and further my career, further my education. But I think I'm just blessed. I can't, it's so funny, even just hearing you name the things, I'm like, oh wow, that is kind of crazy. But I also, I love what I do. And so anytime I get the opportunity to express that love on stage in front of people, it's just a gift to me.

[9:22] Robert Bannon: Yeah, it's, and we're, the gift is for us because we get to see the art and artistry up on stage and what that means to us and the night out, you know. Well, the world's crazy out here, everybody. The Lion King is going to make you feel better. So how do you find your, it's like the, the, the movie, the new movie, the, the prequels and sequels of the movie, the, the tours, the, the different versions of the songs. I mean, I hear the originals, I hear the Broadway original cast. I hear the movie in my head when you have to sing some of this iconic music. How did you find Gilbert's version of this, these songs?

[9:58] Robert Bannon: Welcome to The Roundtable! Today, we have a very special guest, Gilbert Domally, who is leading the national tour of The Lion King as Simba.

[10:28] Robert Bannon: Gilbert, it’s so great to have you here.

[10:58] Robert Bannon: I want to dive right into your journey. Can you tell us about how you got to this incredible role?

[11:28] Robert Bannon: It must be such an honor to carry on the legacy of Simba.

[11:58] Robert Bannon: What has been the most surprising part of this experience for you?

[12:08] Robert Bannon: I know the show has such a powerful message. How do you connect with the themes of family and destiny in your portrayal?

[12:18] Robert Bannon: And what does it mean to you to perform this show night after night?

[12:28] Robert Bannon: I can only imagine the energy you bring to the stage.

[12:38] Robert Bannon: What has been the audience's reaction in the different cities you’ve performed in?

[12:48] Robert Bannon: Detroit, for example, must have been an exciting stop!

[12:58] Robert Bannon: How do you prepare for each performance, especially with such an iconic role?

[13:08] Robert Bannon: I’d love to hear about your training and what it took to step into Simba’s shoes.

[13:18] Robert Bannon: The Lion King is such a beloved musical. What do you think makes it resonate with audiences of all ages?

[13:28] Robert Bannon: And how do you keep that magic alive for yourself as a performer?

[13:38] Robert Bannon: It’s clear that this role requires a lot of heart and discipline.

[13:48] Robert Bannon: Can you share a moment from the tour that has particularly touched you?

[13:58] Robert Bannon: I’m sure there are many, but is there one that stands out?

[14:08] Robert Bannon: The Circle of Life is such a powerful concept. How do you embody that in your performance?

[14:18] Robert Bannon: I think it’s amazing how the show brings people together.

[14:28] Robert Bannon: What do you hope audiences take away from the show after seeing you as Simba?

[14:38] Robert Bannon: It’s such an important story, and you’re at the forefront of sharing it.

[14:48] Robert Bannon: I can’t wait to see how you continue to grow in this role throughout the tour!

[14:58] Robert Bannon: Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Gilbert.

[15:08] Robert Bannon: I’m sure our listeners are excited to follow your adventures on the road.

[15:18] Robert Bannon: Let’s talk about what’s next for you after this tour.

[15:28] Robert Bannon: Are there any other projects or roles you’re looking forward to?

[15:38] Robert Bannon: It’s always inspiring to hear about artists who are passionate about their craft.

[15:48] Robert Bannon: Thank you again for joining me today, Gilbert.

[15:58] Robert Bannon: I wish you all the best as you continue to lead The Lion King tour!

[16:08] Robert Bannon: And to our listeners, make sure to catch Gilbert as Simba in The Lion King when it comes to your city!

[16:18] Robert Bannon: Until next time, keep celebrating the magic of theater!

[16:28] Robert Bannon: Goodbye!

[16:38] Robert Bannon: Thank you for tuning in!

[16:48] Robert Bannon: We’ll see you next week on The Roundtable!

[16:58] Robert Bannon: Take care!

[17:08] Robert Bannon: Bye!

[17:18] Robert Bannon: See you soon!

[17:28] Robert Bannon: Thanks for listening!

[17:38] Robert Bannon: Stay safe!

[17:48] Robert Bannon: Bye for now!

[17:58] Robert Bannon: Until next time!

[18:08] Robert Bannon: Thanks again!

[18:18] Robert Bannon: Bye!

[18:28] Robert Bannon: Take care!

[18:38] Robert Bannon: See you next week!

[18:48] Robert Bannon: Bye!

[18:58] Robert Bannon: Thanks for joining us!

[19:08] Robert Bannon: Until next time!

[19:18] Robert Bannon: Bye!

[19:28] Robert Bannon: Thanks for listening!

[19:38] Robert Bannon: See you soon!