Dionne Randolph originally wanted to work behind the scenes for Disney, creating rides for theme parks.

While studying engineering at Morehouse College, Randolph got a summer internship in business management at Disney World. But after he saw a show at the Orlando resort, he thought, "I wonder if I could do that."

Joan Marcus/Disney (ENLARGE)
Dionne Randolph, a former Gainesville resident and Morehouse College student, portrays Mufasa in 'The Lion King.'
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Randolph had done some acting at his high school in Gainesville. He auditioned for a role in Disney's "The Legend of the Lion King," a live show that opened the same day as the 1994 Disney movie.

Randolph won the part — and never went back to Morehouse. He has been a performer ever since, working at theme parks, on cruise ships and, for the past 41/2 years, one of several touring productions of Disney's award-winning Broadway musical, "The Lion King."

Randolph plays Mufasa in the return engagement of "The Lion King" at Atlanta's Civic Center from April 3 through May 4.

Q: When you're in a show for this long, how do you keep it fresh?

A: I was understudy for Mufasa and Scar the first 3 1/2 years. As Mufasa, every night is different because you have two different kids rotating the role of Simba. It's such a big show and a big cast, there's always something changing.

Q: Mufasa is the lion king. How do you portray his regal nature?

A: All of the Mufasas are baritones, and they all have a certain stage presence. There's a lot of focus on the movement. The thing is, Mufasa never says or does anything without thinking it through. Every word he says, he says with a purpose. Every move he makes is deliberate. Mufasa also is a father, and that's one aspect of the role I've worked hard to master. I make sure I connect with the kids who play Simba, both on and off stage. We have movie nights together, go to Chuck E. Cheese.

Q: What was it like working on a cruise ship?

A: I loved it. I went to Australia, China, all over the Caribbean, the Mediterranean. You'd do one show a week, then spend four or five days in port as a tourist.

Q: You have a tougher schedule now, with eight shows a week.

A: It's full time. I have to apply for a two-week vacation.

Q: Do you have a home base? A family?

A: I live in Orlando now. I built a house there a couple of years ago. I'm still a single guy. With the tour, there's no time to be anything but a single guy for now.

Q: Do you still have relatives in Gainesville?

A: My parents are there. My mother works in a doctor's office, and my father is an engineer. My two sisters live in Atlanta, and I have a niece and nephew now. Everyone's already gotten their tickets for the show.

Q: What are some other roles you'd like to play?

A: I've got my eye on "Little Mermaid," which just opened on Broadway. I'd like to play King Triton. I have experience as a king, after all. I'd like to take the tour out the first time. I've gotten used to the traveling, and I actually enjoy it.

Of course, if they offered anything in New York on Broadway, you couldn't turn that down. I'm also interested in a couple of shows that are being written. But Mufasa is the only role I want in the near future.