The Lion King musical follows the epic journey of Simba, a young lion prince who must overcome tragedy and self-doubt to claim his rightful place as King of the Pride Lands.
The musical begins with the celebration of Simba’s birth and his presentation to the animals of the Pride Rock kingdom. As Simba grows, he learns about the Circle of Life from his father, King Mufasa, while his jealous uncle Scar plots to seize the throne.
Scar manipulates Simba into visiting the elephant graveyard with his friend Nala where they encounter dangerous hyenas. Later, Scar orchestrates a wildebeest stampede that kills Mufasa as he tries to save Simba. Consumed with guilt and believing he caused his father’s death, Simba flees into exile where he befriends Timon and Pumbaa who teach him their carefree “Hakuna Matata” philosophy.
Years pass, and the Pride Lands suffer under Scar’s tyrannical rule. Nala finds Simba and urges him to return and reclaim his throne. With guidance from the mystical mandrill Rafiki and a spiritual encounter with Mufasa’s spirit, Simba finds the courage to confront his past. He returns to challenge Scar, reveals the truth about Mufasa’s death, and defeats his uncle in battle.
The musical concludes with Simba taking his rightful place as king and the presentation of his own cub, continuing the Circle of Life.
Simba – male lion protagonist; son of Mufasa and Sarabi, nephew of Scar, childhood friend and later mate of Nala
Mufasa – male lion, King of Pride Rock, Simba’s father, Sarabi’s mate, Scar’s older brother
Sarabi – lioness; Queen of Pride Rock, Simba’s mother, Mufasa’s mate
Scar – male lion; principal antagonist; Mufasa’s younger brother
Nala – lioness; Simba’s childhood friend and eventual mate, daughter of Sarafina
Sarafina – lioness; Nala’s mother
Rafiki – female mandrill; shaman, spiritual advisor to the royal family
Zazu – male hornbill; Mufasa’s loyal majordomo, later advisor to Simba
Timon – male meerkat; Pimba’s best friend
Pumbaa – male warthog; Timon’s best friend
Shenzi – female hyena; works with Scar
Banzai – male hyena; part of Scar’s pack
Ed – male hyena; part of Scar’s pack
(from The Lion King Official Site)
Music: ELTON JOHN
Lyrics: TIM RICE
Book: ROGER ALLERS AND IRENE MECCHI
Director & Costume Designer: JULIE TAYMOR
Choreographer: GARTH FAGAN
Additional Music & Lyrics: LEBO M, MARK MANCINA, JAY RIFKIN, JULIE TAYMOR, HANS ZIMMER
Scenic Design: RICHARD HUDSON
Lighting Design: DONALD HOLDER
Mask & Puppet Design: JULIE TAYMOR ADN MICHAEL CURRY
Hair & Makeup Design: MICHAEL WARD
Associate Producer: ROBERT ELHAI
Orchestrator: ROBERT ELHAI, BRUCE FOWLER, DAVID METZGER
Musical Supervisor: CLEMENT ISHMAEL
Associate Director: ANTHONY LYN
Associate Choreographer: MAREY GRIFFITH
Sound Design: STEVE CANYON KENNEDY
Off-Broadway Debut: July 8, 1997 at the Orpheum Theatre (Minneapolis)
Broadway Preview: October 15, 1997 at the New Amsterdam Theatre (New York City)
Broadway Opening: November 13, 1997 at the New Amsterdam Theatre (New York City)
West End Opening: October 19, 1999 at the Lyceum Theatre (London)
Scar: John Vickery
Rafiki: Tsidii Le Loka
Mufasa: Samuel E. Wright
Zazu: Geoff Hoyle
Pumbaa: Tom Alan Robbins
Timon: Max Casella
Simba: Jason Raize
Nala: Heather Headley
Banzai: Stanley Wayne Mathis
Shenzi: Tracy Nicole Chapman
Ed: Kevin Cahoon
Sarabi: Gina Breedlove
Young Simba: Scott Irby-Ranniar
Young Nala: Kajuana Shuford
Scar: Rob Edwards
Rafiki: Josette Bushell-Mingo
Mufasa:
Zazu: Gregory Gudgeon
Pumbaa: Martyn Ellis
Timon: Simon Gregor
Simba: Roger Wright
Nala: Paulette Ivory
Banzai: Paul J. Medford
Shenzi: Stephanie Charles
Ed: Christopher Holt
Sarabi: Dawn Michael
Young Simba: Daniel Anthony / Ross Coates / Luke Youngblood
Young Nala: Pippa Bennett-Warner / Nathalie Emmanuel / Dominique Moore
Best Musical: The Lion King
Best Direction of a Musical: Julie Taymor (first woman to win this award)
Best Choreography: Garth Fagan
Best Costume Design: Julie Taymor
Best Lighting Design: Donald Holder
Best Scenic Design: Richard Hudson
Outstanding Musical: The Lion King
Outstanding Director of a Musical: Julie Taymor
Outstanding Choreography: Garth Fagan
Outstanding Costume Design: Julie Taymor
Outstanding Puppet Design: Julie Taymor and Michael Curry
Outstanding Lighting Design: Donald Holder
Outstanding Music in a Play: Hans Zimmer, Elton John, Tim Rice
Outstanding Set Design of a Musical: Richard Hudson
Outstanding Broadway Musical: The Lion King
Outstanding Director of a Musical: Julie Taymor
Outstanding Choreographer: Garth Fagan
Best Costume Design: Julie Taymor
Best Theatre Choreographer: Garth Fagan
You can find the next few performances of The Lion King below or check out the FULL MUSICAL THEATRE SHOW CALENDAR where you can filter results by country, city, and date.
ACT ONE
Circle of Life
Grassland Chant
The Morning Report
The Lioness Hunt
I Just Can’t Wait To Be King
Chow Down
They Live in You
Be Prepared
The Stampede
Rafiki Mourns
Hakuna Matata
ACT TWO
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
Simba Confronts Scar
King of Pride Rock / Circle of Life – Reprise
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