The Lion King at Minskoff Theatre

The story of Disney’s The Lion King is set in motion in a vast savanna territory in Africa; living in The Pride Lands, the little Prince Simba is fated to take over after his father, before tragedy strikes because of the deeds of his jealous uncle Scar and his intention to take the throne and become ruler himself. The first half's sequence of occurrences leads to Simba's banishment from his home and the account of his eventual journey back to bring peace to his lands and citizens.

The musical, since its inception, had to borrow several design elements and inspiration from real African society and history given the play's content. The plot itself is actually based on historical African heroes and real events – Simba being the animal counterpart of Sundiata Mansa, the Emperor of the Malian Empire who was justly referred to The Lion of Mali.

Julie Taymor, the first female director in Broadway history to win a Tony for Best Direction of a Musical, paid due homage to the original film as source material, specifically with costume design, which paved the way for a precise live adaptation of the show. The regalia in particular are respectful portrayals of some ethnic people in Africa, a portrayal of such is Simba’s outfit in the musical which is actually inspired by Kenyan Maasi fighters' attire. Just like the late 1994 movie, the fantastic musical compositions written by Elton John and Tim Rice stays respectful to its African heritage, with the musical even adding compositions with lyrics that are performed either partly or fully in African languages including Swahili and Zulu. Additionally, the African motif is also noticeable in choreography, with a lot of the numbers consistently featuring the grace of Bali-inspired movements.

The regalia, African influence, and superb acting all work in harmony to carry out an incredible musical. On Saturday 22nd March 2025 and at New York, the acclaimed Lion King performs in Minskoff Theatre - famous to locals and visitors for holding the top shows and plays due to the unrivaled facilities and topnotch lighting design that entertainment venues can offer. Seats to this musical on Saturday 22nd March 2025 are currently available and may be secured by clicking the links provided on the top of this page.