The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice along with the musical score created by Hans Zimmer with choral arrangements by Lebo M. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The show is produced by Disney Theatrical, and runs for about two hours and thrity minutes.
The musical debuted July 8, 1997, in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Orpheum Theatre, and was an instant success before premiering on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theater on October 15, 1997 in previews with the official opening on November 13, 1997. On June 13, 2006, the Broadway production moved to the Minskoff Theatre to make way for the musical version of Mary Poppins, where it is still running after more than 5,350 performances. It is now Broadway's sixth longest-running show in history. As of April 2012, it is the highest grossing Broadway show of all time, having grossed $853.8 million. The cast of the West End production were invited to perform at the Royal Variety Performance 2008 at the London Palladium on December 11, in the presence of senior members of the British Royal Family.
The Songs Of The Musiacal
Circle of Life
The Morning Report
The Lioness Hunt
I Just Can't Wait to be King
Chow Down
They Live in You
Be Prepared
Rafiki Mourns
Hakuna Matata
One by One
The Madness of King Scar
Shadowland
The Lion Sleeps Tonight
Endless Night
Can You Feel the Love Tonight
He Lives in You (Reprise)
King of Pride Rock/Circle of Life (Reprise)
Awards:
The Lion King won six 1998 Tony Awards®: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical, making Taymor the first woman in theatrical history bestowed with the honor. The Lion King has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.
Cast:
Patrick R. Brown – Scar
Alton Fitzgerald White - Mufasa
Tshidi Manye - Rafiki
Jeff Binder - Zazu
Ben Jeffrey - Pumbaa
Fred Berman – Timon
Adam Jacobs - Simba
Chaunteé Schuler - Nala
James Brown-Orleans - Banzai
Bonita J. Hamilton – Shenzi
Enrique Segura - Ed
Nia Ashleigh - Young Nala at certain performanceJudah Bellamy - Young Simba at certain performances
Niles Fitch - Young Simba at certain performances
Imani Dia Smith - Young Nala at certain performances
Sant'gria Bello – Ensemble
Camille M. Brown - Ensemble
Alvin Crawford - Ensemble
Gabriel Croom - Ensemble
Derrick Davis - Ensemble
Garland Days - Swing, Dance Captain
Charity De Loera - Ensemble
Lindiwe Dlamini - Ensemble
Trista Dollison - Ensemble
Bongi Duma - Ensemble
Angelica Edwards - Swing
Jim Ferris - Standby Zazu, Timon, Pumbaa
Christopher Freeman - Ensemble
Jean Michelle Grier - Sarabi/Ensemble
Kenny Ingram - Swing
Nicole Adell Johnson - Ensemble
Dennis Johnston - Swing
Joel Karie - Ensemble
Ron Kunene - Ensemble
Lisa Lewis - Ensemble
Sheryl McCallum – Ensemble
Jaysin McCollum – Ensemble
Willia-Noel Montague - Swing, Dance Captain
S'bu Ngema - Ensemble
Nteliseng Nkhela - Ensemble
Selloanea Nkhela - Ensemble
James A. Pierce III - Swing
Chondra La-Tease Profit - Ensemble
Vusi Sondiyazi - Ensemble
Natalie Turner - Swing
Phillip W. Turner - Ensemble
Donna Michelle Vaughn - Ensemble
Thom Christopher Warren - Standby Scar, Pumbaa, Zazu