Lion King Musical

Lion King, the movie, was a major hit when it first came out, and the new Lion King Musical is even more popular than ever around the world. From London, to San Francisco, to Chicago and Broadway, the musical is making a roar, both in reviews and in attendance.

The Daily Telegraph had this to say about the Lion King Musical, “Giraffes strut, birds swoop, gazelles leap! The entire savanna comes to life and, as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly rises out of the stage.  This is ‘The Lion King.’  Marvel at the breathtaking spectacle of animals miraculously brought to life ‘in a blaze of fabulous imagination’ by a cast of over 40 actors.  Wonder at the inspiration of award-winning director/designer Julie Taymor, as one of the most successful films in history is stunningly recreated live on stage.  Thrill to the pulsating rhythms of the African Pridelands and an unforgettable score including Elton John and Tim Rice's Oscar® -winning ‘Can You Feel the Love Tonight’ and songs by South African composer Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. Treat yourself and your friends and family to a memory that will last a lifetime at the musical Time Magazine calls ‘awe-inspiring! A gorgeous, gasp-inducing spectacle!’”

What is it about musicals, especially children’s musicals that captivate the viewer’s attention so strongly? There’s no doubt that the fantasy and magic come alive in the Lion King musical. That, combined with great costumes, wonderful singing, and a clever script, and you’ve got amazing entertainment that children and adult alike will remember for years to come.

WookeeHut, an online reviewer of live performances had this to say about the Lion King musical, “One of the fascinating things about The Lion King is how the stage production and the film have affected one another. Of course, the film initially inspired the Broadway production, but the stage production also changed the film: One of the new songs written for the Broadway production was Zazu's Morning Report. It proved to be so popular that when the tenth anniversary special edition of the animated film was due to be released, the Disney team was called together to animate the song for inclusion in the movie.

The review continues, “Julie Taymor (director/designer) has a lifetime in theatre arts, having traveled the world over before coming home to Broadway. She had the concept to create The Lion King as a combination of Indonesian puppet theatre, stylized African design motifs and dance movements, the award-winning soundtrack, distilled with all the joys of musical theatre. Michael Eisner, who is the favorite object of denigration by detractors, cannot be accused of not having guts — he okayed the project, and Ms. Taymor assembled a brilliant production team and cast. She had to remain true to the animated classic, but adapt it to the necessities of a stage production. She did it brilliantly!”

Although sooner or later, the Lion King musical will come to video, like all musicals go, they’re better scene live. Tickets are available at all Ticketmasters, as well as through Disney and other online entertainment sites.