The Lion King

Lion King at the Minskoff Theater, 200 West 45th Street

Critics Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0

Wednesday - Saturday @8pm
Wednesday and Saturday @2pm
Sunday @1 and 6:30 pm

Julie Taymor's inventive retelling of Disney's animated hit took Broadway by storm in 1997, and is still running strong. Puppets and live actors weave a dreamscape of jungle characters as we follow the rise of young Simba to the throne.

After several years, this brightly plumed Disney musical comedy is still the Broadway destination of choice for most city visitors. Families from Omaha, Oahu, and Oman alike are treated to a production that has won almost universal critical praise for its powerful mixture of theatre traditions from around the world. The plot? A young lion learns to be a king.

It's an odd entertainment that can stir the dreams of both the father and the five year-old, but this strange mix of old-time Broadway showmanship and the Natural History Museum seems to do the trick. A consistent family favorite, it seems set for a very, very long run.

music:	Elton John
lyrics:	Tim Rice
book:	Irene Mecchi, Roger Allers
choreographer:	Garth Fagan
director:	Julie Taymor
awards:	Tony 1998: Best Musical; Best Director - Musical (Julie Taymor); Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson); Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor); Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder); Best Choreography (Garth Fagan)