Angelina Jolie visits The Lion King cast ahead of premiere Roaring success: Angelina Jolie, centre, visits the cast of The Lion King. Photo: James Morgan Nothing like the seal of approval from a visiting Hollywood mega-star to put a spring in your step for opening night. The cast of the Australian production of The Lion King were buoyed ahead of their premiere on Thursday night with a surprise visit from Angelina Jolie and her brood of six children, who popped into the third preview matinee performance at The Capitol Theatre. The 38-year-old star and her children - Maddox, 12, Pax, 9, Shiloh, 7, Zahara, 8, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 5 - are fans of the much-loved Disney musical. Post show chat: Jolie greets the cast backstage. They were keen to get involved in a cast photo afterwards, with the twins seen grinning as they posed in the front row of the shot. Here directing the film Unbroken, Jolie was also snapped chatting post show to the performers, who she greeted on arrival backstage with her arms crossed over her chest in a sign of reverence. She also signed the cast's signature wall, writing: "Amazing Show! Much Love, Angelina Jolie" and was given a tour of the theatre. Guests including Tim Rice, who wrote the show's music and lyrics, Natarsha Belling, Bruce Beresford, Kamahl and Brooke Stachwell enjoyed the premiere on Thursday night and were among celebrities who were shuttled in Lion King yellow cabs and buses to the after party at Walsh Bay's Pier 2/3. Here, among the massive wooden Mufasa masks erected at the end of the wharf, the cast upheld the global tradition that marks every opening night of The Lion King around the world, by suddenly bursting into song at one point during the African themed party.