Disney presents “The Lion King” July 8-Aug. 16 at Playhouse Square. (Courtesy of Matthew Murphy)

Northeast Ohio native Robb Sapp is looking forward to once again truly experiencing the full “Circle of Life.”

Playing the role of Ed the hyena in the national touring production of Disney’s “The Lion King,” which appears July 8 through Aug. 16 at the KeyBank State Theatre, the Solon native vividly remembers as a teenager attending shows at Playhouse Square.

“Always at the stage door when I tell people I play Ed, they light up saying they love the character,” Sapp said.

“I remember being 13 and 14 waiting at the Playhouse Square stage door to get autographs from the people in the shows. Just the full circle moment of it all, it's very apropos too for the show’s message.”

Originally a 1994 Academy Award-winning animated film, the Tony Award-winning “The Lion King” made its musical stage debut in 1997.