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Join the circle of life and experience the majesty of The Lion King on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre. Get The Lion King tickets now.
Broadway's The Lion King roared onto the scene in 1997, just three years after the release of the animated classic. The plot of the film remains the same on stage: Simba, a young lion cub, must defeat his evil uncle Scar and take his rightful place as King of the Pride Lands.
The Lion King opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre, the home base of Disney on Broadway, in November 1997, transferring to the Minskoff in 2006.
The successful reimagining of The Lion King on stage is largely thanks to the creative genius of director and costume designer Julie Taymor. In 1998, she was awarded two Tony Awards in those respective categories, and the production itself picked up a total of six Tonys, including Best Musical. Her costumes incorporate various theatrical traditions of puppetry, with headdresses that portray the animal character each actor represents while never hiding the actor's face. They are highly detailed, merging textiles and fabrics with elements of African traditions and customs. As much as the timeless story, the stagecraft is one of the main reasons The Lion King on Broadway is iconic on its own.
Elton John and Tim Rice wrote the music for The Lion King musical and movie. All the beloved songs from the animated classic remain in the musical, including "Circle of Life," "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," "Be Prepared," "Hakuna Matata," and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" Lebo M, Hans Zimmer, Mark Mancina, and Jay Rifkin also wrote additional songs for the musical, such as "They Live in You," "Shadowland," and "Endless Night."
The Lion King runs 2 hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission.
The Lion King is the perfect introduction for kids to the wonders of live theatre, and its themes and stylistic maturity are timelessly appropriate for theatregoers of all ages. So feel the love tonight and see why The Lion King in New York remains the pride of Broadway.
(Photos by Joan Marcus)
The Lion King follows the epic adventures of a young lion cub named Simba as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role as King of the Pridelands.
2hr 30min (incl. intermission)
October 15th, 1997
Musicals
October 1st, 2021
March 31st, 2023
October 15th, 1997
Minskoff Theatre
Guests under the age of 2 are not permitted in the theatre.
By: Music by Elton John, Lyrics by Tim Rice, and a Book by Roger Allers & Irene Mecchi, with Additional Music by Hans Zimmer, Lebo M, Mark Mancina, & Jay Rifkin
Director: Julie Taymor
Producer: Disney Theatrical Productions
Cast list: Brandon A. McCall (as Simba), L. Steven Taylor (as Mufasa), Pearl Khwezi (as Nala), Tshidi Manye (as Rafiki), Stephen Carlile (as Scar), Ben Jeffrey (as Pumbaa), Fred Berman (as Timon), Cameron Pow (as Zazu), James Brown-Orleans (as Banzai), Bonita J. Hamilton (as Shenzi), Robb Sapp (as Ed), Donovan Louis Bazemore and Jayden Theophile (alternating as Young Simba), Mariama Diop and Evie Winter Lee (alternating as Young Nala)
Design: Richard Hudson
Lighting: Donald Holder
Costume: Julie Taymor
Choreography: Garth Fagan
Sound: Steve Canyon Kennedy
NOTE: This review was written by The Lion King alum Kyle Wrentz in celebration of the show's 20th Anniversary on Broadway...A sunrise on a day. It could be a Saturday or a Wednesday, but regardless, 20 years later, The Lion King is still a timeless piece of artistry and magical allure. The moment you hear Rafiki's clarion call across the pridelands welcoming the new prince to the kingdom, you are lost in the story, as the iconic procession of animals begins. It is no wonder that sold out...
Can you feel the love tonight? On November 13, The Lion King played its 25th-anniversary performance on Broadway. The musical is the third-longest-running Broadway show in history, behind The Phantom of the Opera and Chicago, having played nearly 9,800 performances. Lyricist Tim Rice, director Julie Taymor, choreographer Garth Fagan, co-composer Lebo M, and bookwriters Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi were among the guests at the special performance at the Minskoff Theatre. Various actors who have...
Be prepared to check out The Lion King, Broadway's wildly popular and third-longest-running show. The Disney film captured the emotions of countless audiences upon its premiere in 1994, and the musical adaptation did the same just three years later. The Lion King musical faithfully retains all the hit songs from the film, like "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?," "Hakuna Matata," and "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," but the show also creates a wholly unique visual experience of its own, bringing the...
The circle of life is being filled in once more, as the full cast for The Lion King's Broadway reopening has been named. The Lion King is at the Minskoff Theatre from September 14, and The Lion King tickets are on sale now.Brandon A. McCAll will make his Broadway debut as Simba, reprising the role after starring in the tour. Many of the lead cast members will be returning to The Lion King, including L. Steven Taylor as Mufasa, Adrienne Walker as Nala, Tshidi Manye as Rafiki, Stephen Carlile as...
Looking for more ways to entertain and educate your children during the lockdown? Well, "Hakuna Matata," folks, because Disney Theatrical has got you covered!The company is now offering a virtually accessible version of its arts education program known as "The Lion King Experience" and it is completely free of charge. The program's aim is to provide students "an immersive introduction to theater making through the lens of the Broadway production of The Lion King."Originally designed as a...
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