Yesterday Walt Disney World announced the return of the “Festival of the Lion King,” a live stage show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park. Disney said the fan-favorite show would return some time this summer.

In a statement released yesterday, Brandon Lorenz, a spokesman from Actors Equity Association said, “Equity is pleased that Walt Disney World continues to find safe ways to bring live entertainment back to the parks, in particular this Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King.

The Festival of the Lion King is a favorite for cast members and guests alike, and its return offers an important ray of hope while the vast majority of our members who work at Walt Disney World remain laid off because of the pandemic.”

Last October more than 700 members from Equity, who were working in some capacity at the Walt Disney World Resort were laid off. Layoffs included almost all Equity performers – actors, dancers and stunt persons – who are part of a live stage production. When the park began a phased reopening last July, live shows which involved Actors Equity Association union (AEA) members did not immediately come back. A number of factors affected this including the logistics of how to keep the cast, crew, and audience members safe, as well as a dispute between AEA and Walt Disney World.