The Lion King on Broadway Tickets
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About The Lion King
Join the circle of life at The Lion King on Broadway. This hit musical roared to life in 1997 and has ruled Broadway ever since at the Minskoff Theatre. Wondering how to get Lion King tickets? You're already in the right kingdom — get them on TodayTix now.
If you love the classic Disney movie, come see The Lion King live, which brings the story to life in a whole new way. All your favorite Elton John and Tim Rice songs from the film — including “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” “Hakuna Matata,” and the Oscar-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” — are there. But there's also breathtaking, award-winning puppetry that brings the wildlife of the African desert alive, and the colorful safari spectacle is sure to thrill children and adults alike. With its basis in a familiar story and 25-year track record of Broadway success, The Lion King is a perfect first show for children or anyone looking to experience a royal hit of a musical. A New York Theatre Guide review calls the show “a timeless piece of artistry and magical allure.”
In The Lion King musical, Simba has been named the heir to the throne of the Pride Lands, much to the chagrin of Scar, King Mufasa’s jealous younger brother. So Scar hatches a plan to manipulate the young prince and his playmate Nala so he can inherit the throne before Simba comes of age. Despite his caretaker Zazu’s protests, Simba ventures outside of his father’s realm, finding himself trapped in a wildebeest stampede of Scar’s making.
While Mufasa saves his son’s life, he can’t save his own, as Scar tosses him off the cliff into the mass of sprinting animals. Simba retreats, blaming himself for his father’s death, and meets the comedy kings of the jungle, Timon and Pumbaa. While he plans to stay with them and abandon his royal future, the soothsayer Rafiki knows the young prince’s destiny and is determined to bring him back where he belongs.
Get ready to feel the love tonight at The Lion King! Get tickets to The Lion King in New York on TodayTix now.
Run time
2hr 30min. Incl. 1 intermission.
Venue
Categories
Musicals, Classic, Holiday, Must-See, Family / Kid-friendly, Award winners, Broadway
Age
Ages 6+.
Start date
October 15th, 1997
The Lion King cast and creative team
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: Vincent Jamal Hooper (as Simba), L. Steven Taylor (as Mufasa), Pearl Khwezi (as Nala), Ntsepa Pitjeng-Molebatsi (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
Venue
Accessibility
Wheelchair access, elevators
More information about The Lion King
The story of The Lion King has become classic in its own right, but it’s actually based on an even older tale. Its plot is loosely based on Shakespeare’s tragic play Hamlet, in which a young prince’s uncle kills his father to take the throne for himself. This version is an uplifting, family-friendly musical, though, so it has a much happier ending than that play!
The Lion King first came onto the scene as a 1994 Disney film, which won two Academy Awards and a Best Picture Golden Globe Award. The voice cast featured lots of theatre actors, including Matthew Broderick as Simba, Nathan Lane as Timon, Whoopi Goldberg as Shenzi, and James Earl Jones as Mufasa in one of his most iconic voice roles.
When the stage adaptation premiered three years later, under visionary director Julie Taymor, it was unlike anything that had ever been on a Broadway stage before. The Lion King features hundreds of expertly handmade, life-size puppets and masks, designed by Taymor, which feature animal-like details while still showing the actors’ faces. The design was an innovation in stagecraft, and Taymor won both directing and costume design Tony Awards for her work. The show won an additional four Tonys in 1998, including Best Musical.
The stage show also builds on the original movie with additional music by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. So in addition to the fan-favorite tunes, you’ll hear new songs on stage that you won’t get from the movie.
More than anything, the The Lion King musical is a classic story of family that will speak to anyone who has ever been a parent or a child.
What to watch for
- Six indigenous African languages are sung and spoken in the show: Swahili, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana, and Congolese.
- The Lion King on Broadway uses 232 puppets, including full-sized, shadow, and rod puppets. Did you know that it took 37,000 hours to build all of the puppets, which encompass 25 species of animals?
- The opening lyrics of “The Circle of Life” in The Lion King in the African language Swahili translate in English to: “Here comes a lion, father / Oh yes, it’s a lion.” The Swahili lyrics are, "Nants ingonyama bagithi baba / Sithi uhm ingonyama."
- Most of the main characters’ names are Swahili in origin, too. “Simba,” for example, means “the lion” in Swahili, and “Mufasa” loosely translates to “king.”
- The puppets in The Lion King vary in size from five inches (the trick mouse at the end of Scar’s cane) to 18 feet tall (the giraffes in “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King").
Frequently asked questions
What is The Lion King about?
Join the circle of life at this stage adaptation of the beloved Disney film, on Broadway for 25 years and counting. Awe-inspiring puppetry and timeless songs like "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" bring alive the story of a lion cub growing up to take his rightful place as a leader.
Which theatre is The Lion King at?
The Lion King is at New York's Minskoff Theatre, which is located at 200 West 45th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenue), New York, 10036.
What is the running time of The Lion King?
The Lion King runs for 2hr 30min. Incl. 1 intermission.
What is the age recommendation for The Lion King?
Ages 6+.
How do you get tickets for The Lion King?
Check the top of this page for current availability and exclusive offers on The Lion King tickets on TodayTix.
How much are tickets for The Lion King?
The Lion King tickets start at $112.
Who wrote The Lion King?
The Lion King features a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, based on Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton's screenplay for the 1994 Disney film. Elton John wrote the music, and Tim Rice wrote the lyrics.
What songs are in The Lion King?
The Lion King features original songs alongside the famous songs from the movie, including "The Circle of Life," "Be Prepared," "I Just Can't Wait to Be King," and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight."
Is The Lion King appropriate for kids?
The Lion King is recommended for ages 6 and up. The content is appropriate for all ages, just like the Disney film, but very young children may have difficulty sitting through a long show.
When did The Lion King open on Broadway?
The Lion King opened on Broadway in October 1997. The musical is the third-longest-running show in Broadway history.
Who directed The Lion King on Broadway?
Julie Taymor is the director of The Lion King. She won the 1998 Tony Awards for Best Direction and Best Costume Design, as she also created the show's puppetry.
Is The Lion King on Broadway different from the movie?
The Lion King follows the same plot as the 1994 Disney movie. The main differences are that the musical includes more songs than the movie, and Rafiki is a female character in the stage version.
Is The Lion King good?
The Lion King is a great show for all ages, as the content is appropriate for everyone, and audiences old and young will enjoy the stagecraft and the timeless songs and story.
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