‘Lion King’ Roars To Life On Broadway
It’s perhaps one of the most well-known and beloved Disney musicals of all time. Now, you can see The Lion King in a format even better than 3-D: live. The play, which contains human characters dressed in intricate costumes to portray their characters, is sure to impress even the most die-hard fans of the original film. News site WDRB wrote about the show, quoting the Lion King’s head of wardrobe, Keith Coultas.
“At any given time, there can be 24 actors and 8 dressers getting ready to go on stage and put on a performance. It’s a busy place.”
The amazing costumes donned by cast members of The Lion King include face paint, masks, and massive headdresses that will keep viewers captivated from the opening scene to the closing number.
If the story and costumes aren’t enough to pique your interests, the soundtrack certainly will be. Fans of the original movie will be happy to know that the Lion King ensemble wonderfully adapts classics such as “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” and “Circle of Life” made famous by Elton John in the movie. WDRB also mentioned that The Lion King has three new songs written by Elton John and Tim Rice, both of whom wrote the music for the original film.
In case that’s not enough, every moment of the play is beautifully choreographed to make things appear as realistic and stunning as possible. From the moment “Circle of Life” blares out across the stage for the opening number, fans see a decorative “sun” rising over the landscape and actors dressed in all kinds of garb, from tribal face paint to painstakingly-detailed giraffe costumes. See the video below to check it out for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pgZtzDj_7o
Though film and stage technology have certainly evolved since its big screen premiere, The Lion King — which just recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its original theatrical release — is just as much a hit on Broadway as the original movie was when it debuted in the 1990s. Perhaps even better news for those far from New York City, the show announced new tour dates for Richmond, Virginia, fans via its Twitter account.
Hey Richmond! THE LION KING just announced new tour dates for your city! Visit http://t.co/bzii6Axl3L for more information.
— The Lion King (@TheLionKing) March 14, 2015
The play, which PlayBillVault.com reports has grossed about $1.1 billion during its entire run, premiered on Broadway November 13, 1997, and has since been viewed by more than 77 million people worldwide and won six Tony Awards, WDRB added.
Arguably one of the most successful Disney movies and musicals, The Lion King tells an evocative story that combines romance, comedy, and just the right amount of suspense. And, of course, a fan-favorite duo consisting of a certain flatulent warthog and his meerkat friend are the comedic stars of the show, as Timon and Pumba tend to be everyone’s favorite characters for obvious reasons.
[Photo Credit: Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images]
