

The Lion King, in a lot of ways, is Simba’s coming of age story. In 2010, 9 minutes of the Broadway show were cut, including one of the musical numbers, “The Morning Report.” Tshidi Manye as Rafiki/ CREDIT: Joan Marcus Why The Lion King Broadway is a significant story There are also additional songs that aren’t the movie. There are additional scenes to build on characterization and add suspense. Rafiki is played by a woman because Julie Taymor wanted to include a female lead. While it obviously has ties to the Disney movie, there are some significant differences. If, by chance, you’re located around Georgia, the Center For Puppetry Arts does include a small segment on Broadway’s The Lion King. One of the highest praises the musical gets is in regards to the costumes and puppetry. Each production is slightly different in regards to direction and set pieces. The musical is beloved and has seen immense success across the world. Plus, it has made its way across the world including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom (two tours), the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, France, South Africa, Taiwan, China, and Australia.

It’s on its third tour across the United States and its earned six Tonys amongst other awards, including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical (which made director Julie Taymor the first woman to win). According to calculations, almost one hundred million people worldwide have seen it. It’s the highest grossing Broadway production of all time and has earned more than one billion.

It’s the third longest-running show on Broadway, and like the movie, is a massive success. While it moved to the Minskoff Theatre in June of 2006, it has made Broadway history. Its official opening was November 13, 1997. The musical made its Broadway debut on October 15, 1997, at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
