The Lion King (musical)

The Lion King is a musical play based on the 1994 Walt Disney Animation Studios' animated feature film of the same name with music by Elton John, and lyrics by Tim Rice along with additional music and lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. Directed by Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, puppets. The show is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.

Production history

The musical debuted on July 8, 1997, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the Orpheum Theatre and was successful before premiering on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on October 15, 1997, 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.* It is Broadway's third longest-running show in history, and has grossed more than $1 billion, making it the highest grossing Broadway production of all time. Over 100 million people worldwide have seen the musical and it has earned numerous awards and honors, including six Tony Awards, one for Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical.

The show opened in the West End's Lyceum Theatre on October 19, 1999, and is still running after more than 7,500 performances. The cast of the West End production were invited to perform at the Royal Variety Performance in 1999 and 2008, in the presence of senior members of the British Royal Family. The theatre flooded on May 11, 2020, while the theatre was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. *The Lion King* reopened at the Lyceum in July 2021.

As of March 12, 2020, the show suspended production on Broadway due to the COVID-19 pandemic. *The Lion King* resumed Broadway performances on September 14, 2021. During the week ending January 1, 2023, *The Lion King* achieved the highest weekly gross in Broadway history with $4.3 million.

Synopsis

Act 1

As the sun rises, Rafiki the Mandrill calls all the animals to Pride Rock. He greets King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi before presenting their cub to the gathered animals ("Circle of Life"). Elsewhere, Mufasa's brother, Scar, bemoans his lost chance at becoming King. Back at her baobab tree, Rafiki paints an image of the cub and asks the spirits to conjure the new prince's name: Simba.

Time passes and Simba grows into a young lion cub ("Grasslands Chant"). Mufasa shows Simba the Pride Lands from the top of Pride Rock and explains that everything exists in a delicate balance known as the Circle of Life. Mufasa warns Simba not to stray beyond the boundaries of the Pride Lands, pointing out a shadowy area in the distance. Zazu, a hornbill who acts as Mufasa's advisor, arrives and delivers his daily report on the state of affairs in the King's domain ("The Morning Report", now cut from the Broadway production).

Simba goes to see his Uncle Scar. The lion piques the cub's curiosity by mentioning the elephant graveyard, where Simba is forbidden to go. Meanwhile, the lionesses go hunting ("The Lioness Hunt"). Simba arrives and asks his best friend, a female cub named Nala, to come with him to the elephant graveyard. He lies to the lionesses about where they are going, and Sarafina (Nala's mother) and Sarabi allow the cubs to go, escorted by Zazu. Simba and Nala formulate a plan and manage to lose Zazu, while Simba brags about his future position ("I Just Can't Wait to Be King").

The cubs go to the graveyard and begin to explore. Zazu catches up, but they are confronted by three hyenas: Shenzi, Banzai and Ed. The hyenas intend to eat the trespassers ("Chow Down"). Mufasa rescues the cubs and fights off the hyenas.

Mufasa is angry at Simba's careless disobedience and explains the difference between bravery and bravado. Mufasa tells Simba about the great kings of the past and how they watch over everything from the stars ("They Live in You"). Mufasa says that he will always be there for his son.

Back at the elephant graveyard, Scar tells the hyenas to kill Mufasa and Simba so that he can become king. He raises an army of hyenas, promising that they will never go hungry again if they support him ("Be Prepared"). Later Mufasa discusses Simba's behavior with Zazu, who reminds Mufasa that he had the same tendency to get into trouble at Simba's age. Scar takes Simba to a gorge and tells him to wait there. On Scar's signal, the hyenas start a wildebeest stampede into the gorge ("The Stampede"). Scar tells Mufasa that Simba is trapped in the gorge. Mufasa leaps into the stampede and manages to save his son, but as he tries to escape, Scar throws him off the cliff back into the stampede, killing him. Scar convinces Simba that his father's death was his fault and tells him to run away, but as he leaves, Scar orders the hyenas to kill him. Simba escapes but the hyenas tell Scar that he is dead. Rafiki and the lionesses mourn the deaths ("Rafiki Mourns"). Scar claims the throne and allows the hyenas into the Pride Lands ("Be Prepared (Reprise)"). Rafiki returns to her tree and smears the drawing of Simba, while Sarabi and Nala quietly grieve.

Out in the desert, Simba collapses from the heat. Vultures begin to circle, but are scared away by Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the warthog. Simba feels guilty for Mufasa's death, but the duo take the cub to their jungle home and show him their laid-back way of life and bug diet ("Hakuna Matata"). Simba grows to adulthood in the jungle.

Act 2

The chorus, dressed in colorful clothes with bird puppets and kites, begin the Second Act ("One by One"). As the song ends, however, the beautiful birds are replaced by vultures and gazelle skeletons. Under Scar's rule, the Circle of Life is out of balance and a drought has hit the Pride Lands. Zazu, now a prisoner of Scar, listens to the king's complaints. The hyenas are unhappy about the lack of food, but Scar is only concerned with himself and why he is not loved. He is haunted by visions of Mufasa and rapidly switches between delusional confidence and paranoid despair ("The Madness of King Scar"). Nala arrives to confront Scar about the famine and Scar decides she will be his queen and give him cubs. Nala fiercely rejects him and resolves to leave the Pride Lands to find help. Rafiki and the lionesses bless her for her journey ("Shadowland").

Back in the jungle, Timon and Pumbaa want to sleep, but Simba is unable to relax. Bored, Simba leaves them, but Timon and Pumbaa follow him. Simba leaps across a fast-moving river and challenges Timon to do the same. Timon falls in and is swept downstream. He grabs a branch over a waterfall and calls for Simba's help, but Simba is plagued by a flashback of Mufasa's death. Timon falls from the branch and Simba snaps out of his trance, rescuing his friend. Simba is annoyed that Timon nearly died because of his immaturity.

The three friends settle and discuss the stars. Simba recalls Mufasa's words, but his friends laugh at the notion of dead kings watching them. Simba leaves, expressing his isolation and sorrowfully recalling Mufasa's promise to be there for him ("Endless Night"). Rafiki hears the song on the wind, joyfully realizes that Simba is alive, and draws a mane onto her painting of Simba.

In the jungle, Pumbaa is hunted and chased by a lioness. Simba confronts her and saves his friend, but recognizes the lioness is Nala. She is amazed to find Simba alive, knowing that he is the rightful king. Timon and Pumbaa are confused, but Simba asks them to leave him and Nala alone. Timon realizes what is happening and explains the end of Simba's Hakuna Matata lifestyle ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight"). Nala tells Simba about the Pride Lands, but Simba still feels responsible for Mufasa's death and refuses to return home.

On his own, Simba meets Rafiki, who explains that his father lives on ("He Lives in You"). Mufasa's spirit appears in the sky and tells Simba he is the one true king and must take his place in the Circle of Life. Inspired, Simba regains his confidence and heads for home. Meanwhile, Nala wakes Timon and Pumbaa to ask where Simba is, and Rafiki appears to tell them all the news. The three of them catch up with him in the Pride Lands, where he witnesses the ruin of his home. Timon and Pumbaa distract some hyenas by doing the Charleston, allowing Simba and Nala time to reach Pride Rock.

Scar calls for Sarabi and demands to know why the lionesses are not hunting. Sarabi confronts him about the lack of anything to hunt, bitterly comparing him to Mufasa, and Scar attacks his sister-in-law, saying he's ten times the king Mufasa was. Furious, Simba reveals himself. Scar forces a confession of murder from Simba and traps him. Believing that he has won, Scar mocks Simba by admitting that he killed Mufasa. Simba overpowers and forces Scar to reveal the truth to the lionesses ("Simba Confronts Scar"). Simba's friends fight the hyenas while Simba battles Scar to the top of Pride Rock. Scar begs for his life, blaming the hyenas for everything. Simba lets him leave out of pity, but Scar lunges at him. Simba blocks the attack and Scar falls from the cliff. The hyenas, who heard Scar's betrayal and are still starving, tear him to shreds.

With the battle won, Simba's friends come forward and acknowledge Simba as the rightful king. Simba ascends Pride Rock and roars out across the kingdom ("King of Pride Rock"). The Pride Lands recover and the animals gather in celebration as Rafiki presents Simba and Nala's newborn cub, continuing the Circle of Life ("Circle of Life (Reprise)").

Productions

United States

The musical is touring North America for the third time. This tour, named the *Rafiki Tour*, began on October 26, 2017. The tour version is very similar to the original Broadway production; however, certain elements which rise out of the stage floor (such as Pride Rock, the stampede, and the grasslands) were converted to less costly configurations for the touring productions. The sun during the opening is reduced in size for the shorter-lasting tours. Stage sizes are also smaller, and the size of the pit orchestra is decreased. The first national tour (*Gazelle Tour*) launched on April 17, 2002, and closed on July 23, 2017. The second tour (*Cheetah Tour*) began on April 23, 2003, and ended on March 2, 2008.

A Las Vegas production opened at Mandalay Bay on May 15, 2009, with previews beginning May 5, 2009. Led by Buyi Zama, the cast performed *Circle of Life*. When this production closed, on December 30, 2011, it turned into the second longest run the show had in a same American city (only coming after Broadway), running longer than the 2000–2003 Los Angeles Production.

Canada

A Canadian production was staged in Toronto and ran for nearly four years at the Princess of Wales Theatre. The show was directed by the original director Julie Taymor and premiered on April 25, 2000. The Lion King ran until January 2004 when it had its final performance. The show returned for a five-week engagement that began in April 2011, as part of the North American tour

Mexico

The musical had a Mexican limited run (in English) between January 3 and January 27, 2008, in Mexico City, as part of the U.S. national tour.

In May 2014, it was confirmed a new production of the musical, this time in Spanish. The production ran from May 7, 2015, to January 14, 2018, at the Teatro Telcel in Mexico City for 930 performances. Carlos Rivera returned to the role of Simba, which he also took in Spain four years earlier. The lyrics of the songs of this production differed from the European Spanish one. South-African actress Shirley Hlahatse was chosen as Rafiki, marking the first time in years a completely new actress was elected for that role.

South America

A Brazilian production was confirmed to debut in São Paulo on March 28, 2013. Auditions took place in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador. The cast contained mainly Brazilian actors and seven South African actors. The Portuguese lyrics were translated by Brazilian singer Gilberto Gil.

Europe

United Kingdom

After the success of the Broadway show, the show opened in the United Kingdom in on October 19, 1999. As of October 2019, it has been playing at the Lyceum Theatre in London for 20 years. The show also toured the UK from 2012 until March 2015.

The West End cast of the show performed twice at the traditional Royal Variety Performance: in 1999 (led by Josette Bushell-Mingo) and 2008 (led by Brown Lindiwe Mkhize). In both performances, the song *Circle of Life* was performed. The company also performed at the show *Strictly Come Dancing* special *Strictly African Dancing*, broadcast in 2005, led once again by Mkhize and performed the same song.

In March 2012, South African cast members were invited to perform at the Diamond Jubilee Pageant.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom mandating the closure of all theatres, the production was forced to take a hiatus and its return at the London Lyceum Theatre has been announced for July 29, 2021.

There have also been two English tours, visiting places all through the United Kingdom, going as far as Ireland. The first one, named "*The Zebra Tour*", ran from September 6, 2012, to February 22, 2015, with stops in Bristol, Manchester, Dublin, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Plymouth, Bradford, Liverpool, Southampton, Sunderland and Cardiff. The second, the "*Rhino Tour*", started on July 9, 2019, in Cardiff and later visited Bristol and Edinburgh. Due to the COVID-19 pandemics, two engagements have been rescheduled: Manchester (the planned run from October 2020 to January 2021 was postponed to October 2022) and Bradford (the original run would have taken place from April 30 to June 20, 2020, but was postponed to March 2022). Other rescheduled cities include Birmingham (starting July 2021), Cardiff (July 2022) and Southampton (September 2022).

Other Countries

The German production has been playing in Hamburg at the Theater in Hafen since December 2, 2001, and had its 5,000th performance on January 14, 2014. Access to the theater is by ferry, where the boats are decorated in the colors of the musical and are named after characters in the musical (such as *Nala* and its sister ship *Rafiki*).

A Dutch production was produced by Joop van den Ende Theaterproducties/Stage Entertainment and played at the Circustheater in Scheveningen, The Hague, running from April 4, 2004, until August 27, 2006, when it was replaced by another Disney musical, *Tarzan*.

A French production debuted in Paris on September 22, 2007, at the Théâtre Mogador. This production won several Molière Awards and closed on July 25, 2010, after being watched by over a million people. A French revival opened at the same Théâtre Mogador on November 11, 2021.

On October 20, 2011, the first Spanish production premiered at the Teatro Lope de Vega in Madrid.

In Basel, Switzerland, the musical was performed for the first time from March 12, 2015, until October 11, 2015.

Africa

Beginning in June 2007, *The Lion King* debuted its first-ever performance on the African continent in Johannesburg, South Africa at the Teatro at Montecasino. *The Lion King* was the first production to take place in the new theatre. The cast featured 53 artists, of whom all were South African. The opening night in Johannesburg was celebrated with key persons involving the creation of the musical and American talk show host Oprah Winfrey who had recently opened an educational academy for girls in Johannesburg. The show closed on February 17, 2008.

Asia

Japan

The show was translated into Japanese and staged by the Shiki Theatre Company. The Tokyo production began in 1998 and continues to the present day at the Shiki Theatre HARU. The production achieved its 10,000th performance on July 15, 2015.

It is the second longest-running musical production in Japan.

Other Counties

The musical had a Korean production from October 28, 2006, to October 28, 2007, at the Charlotte Theater in Seoul, where it ran for 330 performances.

In August 2008, a production opened in Taipei, Taiwan, closing on August 24, 2009.

The show had a limited run at Shanghai's Grand Theatre from July to September 2006. This production was led by Buyi Zama and was performed in English, though a couple of Chinese elements were added to the story. From June 14, 2016, until October 8, 2017, The Lion King returned to China, in a new production that was staged at the 1,200 capacity Walt Disney Grand Theatre, in the Shanghai Disney Resort, where it ran for 500 performances. This production was performed in Mandarin.

During the show's run in China, Chinese elements were included in the musical. One of the songs was adapted to a well-known Chinese pop song, "Laoshu ai dami" or "Mice Love Rice".

Australia

The show played at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, Australia, from October 16, 2003, until June 26, 2005. The production then ran at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne from July 28, 2005, until June 4, 2006. *The Lion King* returned to Sydney's Capitol Theatre on December 12, 2013.