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Theater Review: THE LION KING (National Tour)

by Tony Frankel on February 2, 2024

in Theater-International , Theater-Regional , Tours

IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER IT’S THE KING OF MUSICALS OR NOT; IT’S THE KING OF EXPERIENCES

Endearing heroes and villains. Shakespeare and ancient myth. Coherent storytelling. Anthropomorphic jungle animals. Gorgeous African chanting. Transfixing puppet pageantry on a pythonic, prodigious level. A celebration of theatrical ingenuity. Forty-nine cast members –six of whom are South African. Over 700 lighting instruments. Actresses with the grace of gazelles. Actors with pecs the size of boulders. There are reasons why Disney’s The Lion King — the tour of which opened last night at Segerstrom Hall — keeps packing them in.

And then there’s that opening: Giraffes appear as performers manipulate stilts on all fours. A life-size cheetah prowls as its puppeteer moves its limbs. A herd of gazelles glide across the stage as dancers twirl wooden replicas on their arms and heads. An elephant and a rhinoceros stroll up the theatre aisles. Birds soar over the heads of guests from long extended wires. All of this in front of a deep red/orange sky ( Donald Holder , lights) and the rising sun ( Richard Hudson , sets). Within the first fifteen minutes of this show, we are transported to a magical African savannah. In fact, it is the greatest opening in musical theater history, and the main reason we overlook the musical’s shortcomings.

Important themes of family devotion and the ecological balance in nature are forefront in Irene Mecchi and Roger Allers ‘ book. It speaks, of course, about the “Circle of Life”, the idea that we don’t die but merely take an eternal place among all creatures. The story is a tragedy about a lion cub losing his father and having to make a decision about growing up and taking on his responsibilities as the king. Simba (an enchanting Mason Lawson ) wants to become the king like his magisterial kind-hearted father Mufasa (a resonant Gerald Ramsey ), who is later murdered by his uncle Scar ( Peter Hargrave ) and Scar’s henchman hyenas. When Scar, who wants to be king himself, blames the cub for the death of his dad, Simba runs away, only to be raised by his new buddies, meerkat Timon ( Nick Cordileone ) and warthog Pumbaa ( John E. Brady ), who teach him to forget about the past. When the now-grown Simba ( Darian Sanders ) reunites with his betrothed, Nala ( Khalifa White ; Jaxyn Damasco is young Nala), the lioness can’t talk sense into him, even as they feel the love tonight. Simba meets the same crazy shaman baboon ( Mukelisiwe Goba as Rafiki) who hoisted him in the air when he was born, coaxing Simba to return home by manifesting his father’s ghost in the sky.

It’s Hamlet meets Bambi meets Kimba the White Lion .

At 26 years old, The Lion King has been seen by more than 110 million people and played every continent but Antarctica (give it time — it may be grassland soon). The musical has placed in the top five grossing Broadway shows nearly every week of its run — over 1,300 weeks and counting. Currently, 90,000 people see the show every week (it’s been touring for 20 years). There have been 29 productions seen by 115 million people. The worldwide gross of The Lion King  musical exceeds that of any film, Broadway show, or other entertainment title in box-office history. So it surprises that it has significantly less emotional weight than the 1994 film.

While the current tour, which fits the Segerstrom stage magnificently, is less lavish than earlier versions, it’s still the breathtaking designs that steal the show. It’s a triumph of presentation over the material. The thanks goes to director, costume designer, and mask co-designer (with Michael Curry ), Julie Taymor , the first woman to win a Tony for Best Director of a Musical, who to this day remains actively involved in the show, launching new productions and maintaining the flagship Broadway production. It’s nigh impossible to recreate the Broadway staging (the demise of Mufasa doesn’t really kill like it should), but it’s astounding for a tour.

Taymor’s   extensive and brilliant wardrobe changes seem to require each ensemble member to wear a dozen different outfits. The unique costumes include beautiful colorful tunics and pantaloons which adorn villagers. Grass is represented by turf headdresses and wicker skirts and later with single blades on nude leotards. Whether it’s that simulated wildebeest stampede or a pack of sassy hyenas, Taymor’s whimsical direction and vibrant designs suspend belief. With the aid of Michael Ward ‘s hair and makeup, Taymor blurs the lines between real and imagined, puppet and animal.

The score features Elton John and Tim Rice ’s songs from  The Lion King animated film, along with three new songs by the pair — although the best new song, “Morning Report”, was cut years ago, along with some other nips and tweaks to reduce the running time. More striking than the songs (iconic for a generation, only a few hold up) are the augmentations and original numbers by Lebo M , Mark Mancina ,  Jay Rifkin, Taymor, and Hans Zimmer, who wrote the film score. As usual with a touring production, the orchestra, diligently handled by Karl Shymanovitz , can overpower the actors — you will lose some lyrics. At one point, I couldn’t tell if performers were singing in English, Sotho, Zulu, Tswana, Xhosa, or Swahili (where the phrase “Hakuna Matata” comes from). I suppose that even though you may not understand the words, you sense them.

As with Phantom of the Opera , which closed this year on Broadway, brilliant staging overcomes all odds. With a fairly weak score, Lion King may not be the king of musicals, but given the fluid ensemble dancers executing Garth Fagan ‘s choreography, the dramatic heft of the performances, and the stunning visuals, it is the king of experiences.

photos by Matthew Murphy

The Lion King national tour reviewed at Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa on Feb 1, 2024 ends at SCFTA February 25, 2024; for tickets call 714.556.2787 or visit  SCFTA tour continues; for dates and cities, visit Lion King

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Thrilled to make his National Tour debut! Last seen at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts and Orlando Family Stage. Enjoys singing and martial arts with his sister Alejandra. Thanks to mom, dad, family, friends, Arc Casting, Disney, BAA, Yael Chanukov (voice) and The First Academy. Representation: Barry Kolker. IG: @julianvillela26

‘Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ tour, arriving in San Diego in a few weeks, sits atop the musical world

Broadway San Diego is hosting the epic show’s fourth visit to San Diego Civic Theatre later this month

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Disney’s “The Lion King” national tour rolls into San Diego this month for its fourth visit to Civic Theatre since 2005, and as in past visits, good tickets are going fast.

Now in its 26th year on Broadway and its 20th year on the road, “Lion King” is one of the most ambitious touring theater shows in musical history. How ambitious? Here’s a look at some numbers and interesting facts about Broadway’s all-time box office “King.”

Based on Disney’s animated coming-of-age 1994 film, the musical adaptation by director-designer Julie Taymor featured more than 200 innovative mask, puppetry and kite designs that required 17,000 hours of design work for the Broadway staging, which opened in 1998.

The musical’s script and score feature words from five Indigenous African languages: Zulu, Xhosa, Sesotho, Setswana and Swahili. The musical’s opening song, “Circle of Life,” begins with the character of the wise mandrill Rafiki calling out in Zulu: “ Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba Sithi uhm ingonyama. ” This translates as: “Here comes a lion, father, Oh yes it’s a lion.”

The character of Simba, who ages from newborn to adult king during the story, is represented in six ways during the musical, including three puppets, a child and adult actor and as a painting that Rafiki creates on a tree.

Although the actors playing lions in the musical wear lightweight silicone rubber masks on their forehead so their faces aren’t obscured, the puppet for Puumba the warthog weighs 45 pounds. Among the show’s most unique costume elements are the 20 grassland headdresses, which must be rebuilt with 3,000 stalks of grass each year.

The show’s animal menagerie includes 22 wildebeest, 39 hyenas, 15 gazelles, 12 bird kites and three zebras.

The Broadway production won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Direction for Taymor, who became the first woman in Tony history to receive the musical directing prize. Today, “Lion King” is the highest-grossing musical in Broadway history and it has beaten out all musicals and films worldwide for total box-office gross, according to Disney Theatrical Productions.

The show famously begins with the animal procession to celebrate the birth of the future lion king, Simba, at Africa’s Pride Rock. To create a center aisle for the parade at the Civic Theatre, dozens of seats must be removed from the center of each row from the orchestra pit to the dress circle seats.

The tallest animals in the procession — each operated by a stilt-walking actor-puppeteer fully visible to the audience, are the two 14-foot-tall giraffes. The largest animal is the elephant, which is 13 feet long, 12 feet high and nine feet wide, and requires four actors to operate.

In 2011, “Lion King” became the first Broadway musical to offer a sensory-friendly performance.

Since its launch in 2002, the North American touring production of “Lion King” has traveled 155,000 miles between stops, the equivalent of six trips around the globe, and played more than 9,000 performances.

The North American touring production uses 17 trucks to transport the puppets and set pieces from city to city. Sixteen of those trucks are 53-foot-long semi-trailers. The tour travels with a small army of 134 people, including 49 cast members, 19 wardrobe staffers, 15 carpenters, five makeup artists and 12 musicians.

The tour also travels with two child guardians, since 48 babies have been born to cast members while they were on the road over the past 20 years.

It takes five hours and 10 minutes per show to do all the makeup for the cast.

Disney Theatrical has produced 10 Broadway shows, beginning with “Beauty and the Beast” in 1993. They have been seen by 200 million theatergoers worldwide and every three seconds a ticket to a Disney Theatrical production is purchased somewhere on the planet.

Disney musicals have been credited with reviving the moribund Broadway industry in the 1990s by creating a new family audience that expanded theater tourism to New York. Between the launch of “Beauty and the Beast” in 1993 and the shutdown of Broadway due to the pandemic in early 2020, overall Broadway attendance rose 55 percent.

“The Lion King” tour’s local visit opens Aug. 24 and runs through Sept. 11. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays. 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets start at $30.50. The Civic Theatre is at 1100 Third Ave., San Diego. Visit broadwaysd.com .

Pam Kragen writes about theater for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Email her at [email protected].

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'Lion King' crowned Delaware actors starring in Broadway show & national tour

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that both the national tour and Broadway run have no slated end date.

Disney's "The Lion King" gets its paws on Delaware actors in both the Broadway and national touring version of the show. 

The national tour hits the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia from Wednesday, Aug. 16, through Sunday, Sept. 10.  

Nick LaMedica , 34, of Newark (now based in New York) is temporarily on Broadway as the blue bird Zazu. Meanwhile, Jackson Hayes , 11, of Middletown is on the national tour as Young Simba.  

LaMedica recently was on tour as Zazu with Jackson, until he was offered an opportunity to bring that role to Broadway after the main actor took a leave of absence. He'll return to the national tour in a few months, he said. 

The Cab Calloway alum said the national tour and Broadway versions are similar. The main difference is one is a traveling show that is more accessible for people who can't make it to New York. 

"I think they're both excellent. I think it'd be difficult to rank one above the other because they're just full of such great people telling a great story and doing it at such a high level," LaMedica said.  

300 'Lion King' shows under his belt 

Whether an actor is on Broadway or the national tour, performers average eight shows weekly in "The Lion King." Young kids like Jackson, however, perform four shows a week.  

Prior to joining "The Lion King," LaMedica did a few TV appearances on a pair of NBC shows including "Chicago Fire."  

"If you blink, you'll miss me in the final season of 'New Amsterdam,'" he continued.  

LaMedica joined the national tour in September and has 300 shows under his belt.  

He's also juggling a second job as an IT specialist for apparel company Lululemon, a job he does remotely. While it's a lot of work, he said it's no different than a non-theater person who works two jobs. 

The Zazu actor must properly rest his body like an athlete to have enough energy for each show.  

Child actor talks pressure 'to meet everyone's expectations' 

Jackson joined "The Lion King" in March and has done over 50 shows on the national tour. Lori, his mom, has been on the road with him since the beginning.  

The rising sixth grader at Cab Calloway said working for Mickey Mouse is serious business. 

For example, children are treated like adults. They're expected to arrive at work early and memorize their lines. Sometimes they have to know some of their peers' lines in case someone gets sick.  

Jackson splits his role with another actor. There are two actresses who share the role of Young Nala, a character whose lines Jackson also needs to memorize, his mom said.  

This group of four actors are called the "Cubs," and they've formed a strong bond, he said.  

Although Jackson is doing four shows a week, he must prepare like he's doing eight because his name can be called at a moment's notice to fill in for his peers.  

"Out on tour, normally you try to be a different person because you're trying to meet everyone's expectations. But all you have to do is be yourself, and you'll just ease right through it," he said.  

Young Simba actor got scared by hyenas  

As Young Simba, Jackson said his goal is express bravery and fear. Those are two emotions he felt when he joined the cast.  

"For our first table read, the hyenas jumped out of their chairs and started running to us. It was super scary," he said. "I used to get scared. After a while, it made me even more brave." 

Jackson's mom said she had to pull Jackson out of his elementary school in order for him to go on tour; otherwise, he'd miss too many school days. 

This resulted in her home-schooling Jackson.  

His mom said this is possible because she's self-employed as an education consultant. Also, she has a strong partnership with her husband, who is looking out for Jackson's two big brothers in Delaware. 

"I have to shout out my husband, who really holds it down while I'm not at home," said Lori, adding she met her husband at Delaware State University. "If we didn't have a strong partnership, it would be more of a hindrance or a burden."  

'Lion King' castmates don't know where Delaware is 

Jackson said one of his biggest challenges on the road is being away from his dad and brothers. 

His mom said her son negotiated his contract to fly home to see his eldest brother graduate from St. Georges in the spring.  

Recently, the tour hit Washington, D.C., which made it easier to see friends and family. And when the show arrives in Philly, it'll be even easier to see their loved ones.  

It also means Jackson gets to bring his castmates closer to Delaware, a mythical place that some of his peers aren't familiar with. 

"Oh, so you live on the West Coast?" Jackson said, explaining the reaction he sometimes gets when he tells his castmates he's from Delaware.  

LaMedica said he feels Jackson's pain when he tells folks he's from Delaware. 

"Usually, they don't have much to say other than 'Oh, Joe Biden,'" LaMedica explained.  

"If you're in the Mid-Atlantic area, some people are like, 'Oh, yeah, like Rohobo Beach.' 'It's ‘Rehoboth,' ... but yeah." 

"The Lion King" national tour is at the Kimmel Center (300 S. Broad St., Philadelphia) from Wednesday, Aug. 16, through Sunday, Sept. 10. Additionally, "The Lion King" Broadway show is at Minskoff Theatre (200 W. 45th St., New York) through Sunday, March 10, 2024. For tickets to either production, visit lionking.com .

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BroadwayWorld Des Moines – 4/3/2023 “I have to give a special shout-out to Jackson Hayes and Jaxyn Demasco, who played Young Simba and Young Nala at the performance I attended. Both did an excellent job bringing these youthful cubs to life on stage.”

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The Lion King Tickets

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About The Lion King on Broadway

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A lively stage adaptation of the Academy Award-winning 1994 Disney film, The Lion King is the story of a young lion prince living in the flourishing African Pride Lands. When an unthinkable tragedy, orchestrated by Simba’s wicked uncle, Scar, takes his father’s life, Simba flees the Pride Lands, leaving his loss and the life he knew behind. Eventually companioned by two hilarious and unlikely friends, Simba starts anew. But when weight of responsibility and a desperate plea from the now ravaged Pride Lands come to find the adult prince, Simba must take on a formidable enemy, and fulfill his destiny to be king.

Know Before You Go

Winner of six Tony Awards® including Best Musical, Disney's The Lion King showcases the talents of one of the most acclaimed creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor reimagines the popular story using some of the theater's most extraordinary stagecraft. The Lion King also features the exceptional work of Tony Award-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and a glorious score crafted by the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Elton John and Tim Rice.

"The breathtakingly staged Broadway adaptation of Disney's king of the cartoon jungle is an instant theater classic." Entertainment Weekly Chris Willman

"Awe-inspiring! Broadway theater is alive again. [Julie] Taymor's imaginative ideas seem limitless. it's a gorgeous, gasp-inducing spectacle. Most important - against all odds - it has innocence. The show appeals to our primal, childlike excitement in the power of theater to make us see things afresh." Time Magazine Richard Zoglin

"Seen purely as a visual tapestry, there is simply nothing else like it. Suddenly, you're 4 years old again, and you've been taken to the circus for the first time. You can only marvel at the exotic procession of animals before you: the giraffes and the elephants and the hippopotamuses and all those birds in balletic flight. Such is the transporting magic wrought by the opening 10 minutes of The Lion King, [director Julie] Taymor has introduced a whole new vocabulary of images to the Broadway blockbuster." The New York Times Ben Brantley

"A jaw-dropping magnificent spectacle. The show and the playhouse are enchanting. The unprecedented production is worth every penny. If this is Disney's idea of a theme park, we are delighted to report that the theme is quality." Newsday Linda Winer

"Julie Taymor's staging of Disney's The Lion King is a marvel, a theatrical achievement unrivaled in its beauty, brains and ingenuity. Leaping far beyond its celluloid inspiration, the stage version improves upon nearly every aspect of the hit 1994 animated film, from visual artistry and storytelling to Lebo M's score and the newly African-ized pop songs of Elton John and Tim Rice." Variety Greg Evans

Frequently Asked Questions

The Lion King is a full-length Broadway musical running 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission.

The Lion King is intended for guests 6 and up. All guests require a ticket, regardless of age.

There is no dress code at the theatre. For all performances, attire should be comfortable and appropriate for the occasion. The Minskoff theatre is air conditioned throughout the year, so a sweater or light jacket is recommended in the summer.

While there is no direct interaction with audience members, The Lion King opens with performers in the balcony and a procession of characters down the aisles of the orchestra. 

Cast & Creative

Broadway debut! Vincent has performed around the world in multiple companies of  Hamilton  (including in Puerto Rico alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda), playing the roles of Hamilton, Burr, Lafayette/Jefferson, George Washington and King George III. Off-Broadway:  White Girl in Danger . Regional:  Passing Strange,   In the Heights,   The Great Society ,  Hairspray . TV/film: Chicago Med (NBC), Shots Fired (FOX) and American Crime (ABC)

L. Steven Taylor is excited to rejoin the Broadway Company of The Lion King after traveling with the National Tour, during which time he had the honor of performing at The White House. NYC/Regional credits include  Ataria, Cutman, G word, Miss Saigon, Songs For A New World, Godspell and A Chorus Line.  He's been seen on film and television in  The Electric Company (Leo Watson), Last of The Ninth (HBO Pilot), Made For Each Other , Expiration Date and  Game Over .

Tshidi toured Europe and Japan with M. Bongeni Ngema in the hit musical Sarafina . Other stage credits: Rafiki in the Broadway and Toronto productions of The Lion King , Daughter of Nebo by Hillary Bletcher, Mfowethu by Gibson Kente, The Stick by Aubrey Sekhabi. Honored to have performed with legendary artists such as Paul Simon, David Byrne, Hugh Masekela, Jabu Khanyile, Vusi Mahlasela. Album: Sisters of Joy.

Stephen Carlile makes his Broadway debut as Scar in The Lion King . He has West End credits include Trimmingham in  The Go-Between; The  Producers  original London cast;  Phantom of the Opera; Snoopy!  UK Regional: Freddy Eynsford-Hill in  My Fair Lady  (NT/Cameron Mackintosh) , Twelfth Night, By Jeeves, Don Giovanni, Over My Shoulder .   Europe: Magaldi in  Evita .   US Tour: Captain Hook in  Peter  Pan 360 .   Film:  Brideshead  Revisited, Bright Young Things .

Ben is pumped to be making his Broadway debut! Ben holds an MFA (Acting) from Rutgers University, where credits included  Antigone ,  Romeo and Juliet ,  In the Sawtooths  and more. His BFA (Acting/Musical Theatre) is from Abilene Christian University, where credits included  Jane Eyre  and  Seussical . TV: The Good Wife, Louie . Endless thanks to God, his incomparable wife and the family.

Broadway debut. Off-Broadway:  Bury the Dead, Room Service, Shockheaded Peter, The Normal Heart, The Vocal Lords.  Nat’l tour:  The Buddy Holly Story. Regional: North Shore Music Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, O’Neill Theater, Geva Theatre, Huntington Theatre, New Repertory, Cleveland Play House. Film:  Twelve Thirty, A Very Special Episode, Goin’ Down, Redirecting Eddie.  TV: Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Daily Pops, All My Children .  Award-winning narrator of more than 50 audio books. All my love to Kate, Benjamin and Isabella! For Mom and Dad.

Broadway Tour:  The Lion King, War Horse.  Off Broadway:  The Mint . Regional: Denver Center, The Rep St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cleveland Playhouse, Syracuse Stage, TheaterWorks Hartford, City Theatre Company, Barrington Stage Company, Two River Theater. NY: American Globe Theatre. Television: “Chicago Fire.” BFA: Marymount Manhattan College. All my love to Kate and my parents.

Robb is overjoyed to return to  The Lion King , having   previously appeared in the 1st National, North American and Las Vegas companies. Broadway:  Wicked  (Boq),  Shrek  (Pinocchio). Off-Broadway:  Happiness  (Lincoln Center),  Enter Laughing (cast recording), Disaster!, Zanna, Don’t! (cast recording), Johnny   Guitar (cast recording).  Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed, The MUNY, Music Theatre Wichita, Syracuse Stage, Barrington Stage Company, Bristol Riverside, ACT of CT, Ogunquit Playhouse. Other:  Saturday Night Fever  (1st National Tour). Robb holds a BFA from Syracuse University.

James Brown-Orleans originated the role of Banzai on  The Lion King  Gazelle Tour and is thrilled to be part of the Broadway company. James can be seen as Doc Motors in Disney’s  The Princess Diaries . He is also the founder of Protected by Imagination Inc. “media to inspire.” 

A native of Montgomery, AL. Bonita is a proud graduate of Alabama State University and Brandeis University (MFA). She is overjoyed and grateful to be a part of this talented cast. Credits: NYC/ Regional:  Mandela  the Musical  (staged reading),  The Color Purple  (workshop),  Guys  and Dolls ,  The Piano Lesson ,  The Old Settler  and  In the  Blood . TV: The Knick  (HBO). Bonita is a voiceover artist and can be heard on film, podcasts, commercials and animated series. Many Thanks to God, my family, Dr. Tommie (Tonea) Stewart, My husband Neil Caesar and our lovely children Nia and Noah.

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The Lion King at Orpheum Theatre

Orpheum theatre, omaha, nebraska, the lion king, orpheum theatre, tickets from $133.

The multi-award-winning musical, The Lion King, is back, and it’s dominating North America! This musical stage adaption of the 1994 Disney animated film has been making history for over two decades and still entertaining theater lovers worldwide! This 2024, the touring production of The Lion King will embark on a national tour, making multiple stops across esteemed venues! This March, the musical makes its way to Omaha, Nebraska, for a extended run at the Orpheum Theatre! Witness the captivating performance on Friday 1st March 2024! Your Fridays will never be the same! The show has notably won six Tony Awards, including winning Best Musical! Over at the Drama Desk Awards, the musical bagged ten awards! With its remarkable music, groundbreaking puppetry and costumes, and a stellar cast and creative team, there is no mystery why the Lion King has won numerous accolades. And over two decades since its premiere, it’s still slated to be the hottest and most exciting musical of the spring season! So act quickly and grab those tickets now, and don’t miss out on the Lion King on Friday 1st March 2024!

The Lion King Tickets from $133

The Broadway version of the acclaimed musical just marked its 25th anniversary. Since its official debut at the New Amsterdam Theatre, the performance has undertaken 28 tours around the globe, with presentations that have been attended by over 110 million people.

All is familiar with the tale of the adorable lion cub Young Simba, who sets out on his exploration on the savannah. The animated Disney children's beloved is presented to life on stages around the world, telling the saga of the animals that indeed rule the land in Africa as they struggle to endure.

This staging will showcase life-size lions, leopards, elephants, and giraffes. The actors, a lot of whom are utilizing puppets, operate costumes that embody a broad variety of animals. Certain of the performers move beneath or alongside the puppets, while others fully embrace their characters.

The New York Times discloses that during the show's 2 hours and 40 minutes, there will be many occurrences of "stunning beauty and innovative set design that is realized by means of imaginative methods ranging from shadow puppetry to Bunraku." The critique goes on to assert that surely, nowhere before on Broadway has there been a authentic stampede of wildebeests or a vibrant herd of gazelles skimming the veldt that have been rendered with such eye-catching certainty.

Only the most exceptional live entertainment shows are presented at the Orpheum Theatre in Omaha. With superb acoustics and an immersive stage, the auditorium in Nebraska will provide the ideal setting for an unforgettable Lion King adventure. Join the Pride and be a part in the Circle of Life in all its grand glory!

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Orpheum Theatre - Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, 68102, US

DISNEY'S THE LION KING Submission - Broadway and National Tour Auditions

Disney's the lion king - broadway and national tour, disney's the lion king (broadway, nat'l tour #3) - equity video submissions (chorus), disney theatrical productions submission deadline wednesday, august 11, 2021 submission instructions: singers: please prepare either a brief, classic r&b, pop or rock and roll song of your choosing that showcases your voice and range or pick one of the songs provided at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qt5dqqqbulccqjw/aab_yqpyesjfzdpdwmtzsjgeadl=0 - “greatest love of all” (soprano or alto keys) or “overjoyed” (tenor or bass keys). when recording your video, please use the accompaniment-only track (without melody). if you chose to sing your own material, please sing along with an accompaniment-only track. please do not sing material from the lion king or any standard broadway theatre music. when taping, you must film horizontally with good lighting and clear sound. at the beginning of your video, please include a slate with your name and height. also, attach your picture and resumé to your submission. singers submit here: https://airtable.com/shrv4d9ydjexdu58u dancers: please learn the dance combination at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7rsbudbdazqj5lg/aadiyymzz4pcadpcn2dp-lisadl=0. there are two videos - one with counts and one with music. also provided is a track with the music: use this track when taping the combination. please dance in flat jazz shoes or bare feet. some male dancers require strong acrobatic abilities. if you have strong acro skills, please show your best pass in your video submission. when taping, you must film horizontally with good lighting and clear sound. at the beginning of your video, please include a slate with your name and height. also, attach your picture and resumé to your submission. dancers submit here: https://airtable.com/shraedjed62v1rzzn. contract production (disney) $2323 weekly minimum seeking required auditions for possible replacements. seeking: strong singers with great range who move very well. late teens – mid 40’s. any ethnicity. strong dancers with a modern/ballet dance background—late teens to early 30’s. any ethnicity. note: we will definitely be hiring replacements for all north american companies from these auditions. personnel director: julie taymor songs by: elton john/tim rice additional music: hans zimmer/lebo m/mark mancina/jay rifkin book: irene mecchi/roger allers choreographer: garth fagan casting director: mark brandon, csa/binder casting casting associate: amber snead, csa/binder casting other viewing auditions: mark brandon – casting director – binder casting amber snead – casting associate – binder casting karl jurman – music director – lk broadway – singers marey griffith – associate choreographer - dancers an equity monitor will not be provided. the producer will run all aspects of audition. equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination. equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. as such, equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition. always bring your equity membership card to auditions., related auditions.

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A behind the scenes look at Disney's "The Lion King" at the Orpheum Theatre

MINNEAPOLIS — An incredible blend of acting, artwork and engineering is bringing the stage to life at a Minneapolis theater.

Disney's "The Lion King" is amid a five-week stint at the Orpheum Theatre. The story is iconic, but the performance has become legendary. WCCO got an exclusive backstage look to see how the magic happens.

For more than 25 years, "The Lion King" has set a standard for pushing the limits of the audience's imagination as actors and their puppets turn into life-like characters made famous from the film.

It's a visual spectacle that Michael Reilly proudly helps orchestrate as the show's puppet supervisor for more than two decades.

In the basement of the Orpheum, he gave us a tour of his workspace. Several puppets, many of them masks and headpieces, were displayed. Simba's mask was done in a Roman style he said, with the jowl cut out where it meets the actor's head, and took 120 hours to make. Mufasa's mask is much larger and sits fully stop the actor's head in a Grecian style. It took 50 hours to make. Both have markings and designs inspired by the Maasai people of Africa.

"I put so much work and love and patience into the puppets, they feel like they're real," said Reilly.

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The captivated audience would agree. The actors must juggle lines and animal-like movements, then project them through their puppets.

"You don't want to treat the puppet-like it's a hat. So, even if it's just a mask you're wearing on your head, you really have to embody that," said Reilly. 

There's a team of six people that not only create the puppets but work with the actors on how to embody them. A dance supervisor helps teach the movements for each puppet, some of which completely drape the actors like a costume. Other directors ensure the actors know where to stand on stage and how to make their puppet properly interact with other puppets, like making eye contact. 

The movements of the puppet worn by Scar have kept fans guessing as to how it works. The mask starts above the actor's head, then lunges down in front of his face for dramatic effect, hiding the actor and allowing the villainous lion's face to steal the scene.

"I hear bungee system. I hear gravity. I hear some kind of lock that releases, but it's none of those things," said Reilly. The mask is controlled by a motor. A cable runs to a switch that the actor can hide in his hand. A quick flip of his thumb across the switch and the mask darts down to scowl at other characters on stage.

If you're thinking their necks must be sore, the masks and headpieces are made of carbon fiber. Scar's mask weighs only nine ounces.

While some puppets need a motor, others require good old-fashioned handiwork, like Mufasa's ornery sidekick Zazu, a red-billed hornbill. The actor must control the bird with both hands. One hand holds a trigger mechanism that controls Zazu's eyelids and beak, the other hand keeps the bird level and flaps the wings. 

There's 230 puppets in the show, all with intricate and highly detailed designs that take dozens of hours to create.

They also aren't immune from the occasional snap, break, and tear. That means Reilly and his crew must be repair-ready with glue, zip ties and tape. That's on top of drawers upon drawers on tools.

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"We're on radio, so anything that happens we run to where the puppet is and figure out what's wrong with it, do that triage and then fix it, all before that next scene. So, there's some pressure there," he said.

The payoff is worth the pressure to ensure the show must go on.

The puppets' organic look, made to appear like wood and marble, while honoring African cultures are one of a kind. Much like the experience on stage wowing audiences for years to come.

"I just hope that we stand the test of time. I hope that this show is as magnificent as it was (over) 25 years ago when it was here," he said.

The Lion King's run at the Orpheum goes until April 28.

There are shows Tuesday through Sunday with two performances on each weekend day.

Tickets start around $39 dollars. To buy tickets, click here .

How To Spend 3 Days In Masai Mara, The Safari Park From The Lion King

This Kenyan national park is one of the best places in the world to see lions, leopards, and cheetahs in the wild.

When it comes to planning an African safari , TikTok can agree on one thing: Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya needs to be on your itinerary.

“The Land of the Big Cats” has a reputation as one of the best places on the continent to see lions, leopards, and cheetahs in the wild; it was one of the main filming locations of the live-action Lion King movie .

Masai Mara’s location in the Great Rift Valley gives it a leg up on wildlife diversity compared to other reserves. Its 580 miles of lush savannah is home to almost 90 different mammal species, and safari-goers have a good chance of spotting all of the African “Big Five” — lions, leopards, elephants, African buffalo, and the elusive black rhinos — as well as members of the slightly lesser-known (but equally ‘Gram-worthy) so-called “Ugly Five,” hyenas and warthogs included. If you visit in late summer, you might even see the Great Migration of over 2 million wildebeests, zebras, and other herbivores crossing the Mara River from the neighboring Serengeti Desert.

This February, I spent 10 days visiting Kenya’s national parks and game reserves on an itinerary curated by EF Ultimate Trip , a Gen Z and millennial tour company. After a week of bush glamping in sparsely vegetated and dusty parks throughout Kenya, Masai Mara was comparatively lush, and my safari Jeep was constantly stumbling upon families of elephants, giraffes, and lions.

If you’re heading to Kenya on safari soon or scrolling TikTok for future inspiration , here’s what’s worth doing at Masai Mara and how to spend three days at the reserve.

What To Do At Masai Mara

Day 1: hang out with baby elephants & meet the maasai tribe.

After a 20-plus-hour journey from Chicago, I stretched my legs at one of Nairobi’s most popular attractions. The Sheldrick Wildlife Trust’s Orphans Project houses baby elephants and rhinos who are currently unable to survive in the wild for whatever reason, and it’s just as cute as you’d expect. There was a collective “aw” as the tiniest baby black rhino stumbled out to meet the crowd, and we got introduced to all the baby elephants as they clumsily ran to the keepers for their bottles of milk.

The experience was more crowded and touristy than I expected, but I enjoyed learning the story behind each baby animal, seeing their personalities, and petting them. You’re also able to sponsor one of the baby elephants or rhinos until they’re ready to go back into the wild.

After hanging out with the animals, get into your safari Jeep to drive the five hours to Masai Mara. I stayed at PrideInn Mara Camp, which had glamping tents and cottages just steps from the park and Lake Talek, but there are plenty of accommodations around Masai Mara’s perimeter (including regular hotels like a JW Marriott Masai Mara if sleeping in a tent without air conditioning isn’t your vibe).

The best part of the PrideInn Mara Camp (and others in the area) is the presence of the Maasai tribe , which welcomed us with a traditional song and dance. There were also a number of warriors who worked in the hotel and who would walk us to and from our rooms if it was late at night.

Day 2: Take A Hot Air Balloon & A Drive

The park is huge, so soaring over the savannah to see the landscape and animals from above is an efficient and bucket list-worthy way to start off your safari experience.

We had to wake up at 4 a.m. to head over to the hot air balloon launch site, but I quickly stopped complaining about the early call time when we were in the balloon and the sun was rising over Masai Mara.

We got to take in bird's eye views of the Mara River (including a rare sighting of an adorable baby hippo that was splashing through it), check out a family of grazing giraffes from above, and get eye-level with the vultures in the trees. Afterward, we enjoyed an English-style brunch with unlimited mimosas in the middle of the bush, then headed back to the camp to nap it all off.

In the early afternoon, we headed on our second safari and stayed until twilight. After spending almost two weeks in Kenya, I realized it’s 100% worth doing two safari drives a day — one in the morning as the sun rises and one at dusk right before the predators are about to start hunting — to get the fullest picture of how the animals act in their natural habitat.

Depending on the time of day, you’ll also see different personalities from the lions. When I went in the morning, the lions weren’t the apex predators I’d anticipated. Instead, the pride was almost playful, with a young male lion with a dandelion mane nuzzling his father and the female lions, and cuddling with them in the sun. The only hint of their agility and quick reflexes were shown in how they quickly flipped from side to side and how alert they seemed at all times, with their heads suddenly popping above the grass when they’d been lazily napping in the sun just moments earlier.

Another day, as the sun went down, I saw a group of lionesses who’d been napping and were barely camouflaged in the long grass start to oh-so-casually make their move. They inched toward a grazing herd of wildebeests, their eyes locked on their next meal. I wouldn’t have experienced these different personalities if I hadn’t seen both in action.

Day 3: Go On A Morning Game Drive & Visit The Maasai Tribe

After going on a sunrise game drive, take an afternoon tour of the Maasai tribe’s village. Dressed in signature bright red robes, the warriors greeted us at the entrance of their village. They taught us some of their chants and performed a 10-minute celebratory song and dance that we were encouraged to take part in, which included mimicking the roaring of lions, shaking our shoulders, and competing to see who could jump the highest.

Then, they sectioned us off into groups to tour the family huts and learn about their pastoral lifestyle. Many of the Maasai people have gone into tourism and are employed by hotels and other hospitality businesses in the area, but they’re one of the few tribes where many members still practice their traditional way of life.

After the tour, we got to shop the tribe’s gorgeous beadwork, carved wooden products, and other souvenirs. I picked up a blue bracelet, a beaded choker, and some wooden coasters painted with safari animals to bring back home with me.

Ultimately, I came back to Chicago feeling relaxed, inspired, and fully ready to take advantage of my apartment’s air conditioning. I gained a deep appreciation for my proximity to wildlife during my bush glamping adventure (yes, even for the crickets and lizards in my tent).

Going on safari was life-changing for so many reasons. I was awestruck by seeing a 3-day-old hippo hanging out with his mom, and a pack of elephants racing across the savannah. I was surprised that the lions and giraffes seemed to barely take notice of our Jeep.

The safari also taught me a lesson in patience. Unlike in a zoo, you’re not able to control when or where you’ll see cheetahs, hippos, or prides of lions — which ends up making it so much more fulfilling when you do.

It’s not a question of if, but when, I’ll go back to Masai Mara on safari. And who knows — maybe this time I’ll spend more than a few days exploring Kenya’s most famous game reserve.

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$343 The Lion King Tickets For 10/27/2024

See The Lion King at Southam Hall at National Arts Centre in Ottawa, ON on Oct 27, 2024. Buy $343 The Lion King tickets before they sell out! Interactive seat maps and ticket filtering options available to better identify the tickets you desire. Expedia event tickets are backed by a 150% money-back guarantee.

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Where to get your free solar eclipse glasses: Warby Parker, the public library and more

Some astronomy aficionados are paying top dollar to catch the upcoming total solar eclipse, but there are plenty of options to take in the rare astrological phenomenon for free.

If you find yourself in the path of totality, you'll want to make sure that you're using eye protection before turning your gaze upward. Experts warn against looking at the obscured sun for "even a split second," emphasizing that the solar radiation can burn the inside of your eyes and potentially cause irreversible damage.

The eclipse will take place the afternoon of Monday, April 8, with parts of states like Texas, Ohio and New York falling into the path of totality.

Normal sunglasses aren't strong enough to protect your eyes from harm. Instead, you'll need special protection designed specifically for observing an eclipse.

Luckily, both government organizations and private businesses are distributing eyewear that meets the requirements set by the American Astronomical Society.

Here's where to get your free glasses before Monday's eclipse.

Your local public library

Libraries across the nation are distributing glasses for free. To see which libraries near you have glasses available, check out this interactive map from Star Net.

Warby Parker

The eyewear brand has gone all out for the eclipse, creating an entire page on its website dedicated to the event. Warby Parker is distributing glasses free of charge at all of its retail locations. You can find the closest store to you at this link .

New York State

With a good chunk of the Empire State falling in the path of totality, New York is distributing free glasses at locations including New York State Welcome Centers and Thruway Rest Stops.

Sonic and Smoothie King

Chain restaurants Sonic and Smoothie King are offering free eclipse glasses with a purchase.

Make your own

If there's nowhere near you to get free glasses, it's simple enough to make your own. Follow these instructions from NASA to create your own viewing tool with materials that you can find around the house.

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Charging elephant kills an American woman on 'bucket list trip' in Zambia

An American woman who was on what she had called her "last big trip" was killed when a charging elephant flipped over the car she was traveling in at a national park in Zambia .

The “aggressive” creature buffeted the vehicle carrying six tourists and a guide, tour operator Wilderness said in a statement Tuesday. It said the 79-year-old victim died after Saturday's incident on a game drive at the Kafue National Park in western Zambia.

The company did not name the victim but Rona Wells, her daughter, identified her as Gail Mattson in a post on Facebook. She said her mother died in a “tragic accident while on her dream adventure.”

A video circulating on social media apparently showing the incident shows a large elephant running toward a car, which slows down as the animal approaches its left side. The elephant then flips the vehicle over and the passengers can be heard gasping as the car rolls over.

NBC News does not know the condition or identity of the person who filmed the video.

Photos shared online of the car, which is emblazoned with the logo of the tour operator, show it tipped onto its side after the incident, with a deep dent in two of its side doors.

Wilderness, which describes itself as a “leading conservation and hospitality company” operating in eight African countries, including Zambia, did not respond to NBC News when asked to confirm the authenticity of the video and the photos.

But the tour operator’s CEO, Keith Vincent, said in the statement that the company’s “guides are all extremely well trained and experienced.”

"Sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough,” he added.

Another woman was also injured in the incident and taken to a medical facility in South Africa, the Wilderness statement said, adding that four others were treated for minor injuries.

“It’s extremely rare to see an elephant that irate,” Marlon du Toit, a wildlife photographer and safari guide, told the “TODAY” show Thursday. “Across Africa, there are thousands and thousands of guests on safari on a daily basis with no negative consequences.”

The exact cause of Mattson’s death was unclear, but the company said her body would be repatriated to her family in the United States with the support of local Zambian authorities and the U.S. Embassy in the capital, Lusaka.

“This is a tragic event and we extend our deepest condolences to the family of the guest who died,” the statement added.

NBC News has reached out to Mattson's family for further comment.

Kafue National Park is Zambia’s largest and oldest national park, according to its website, and spans an area of more than 8,000 square miles. Vast regions of the park remain unexplored and the website says it is home to a variety of untamed wildlife.

A 'bucket list trip'

Mattson spent her winters in Sun City West, Arizona, playing bridge and cards, but during the rest of the year, she "travels all over the world," her friend Brenda Biggs told NBC News. Biggs and her husband, John Longabauth, became friends with Mattson when they moved to the area 6 ½ years ago.

Longabauth said Mattson spoke to the couple about her upcoming safari trip about two weeks ago, and called it "one of her bucket list trips." He said she was very excited for the adventure.

Before she left, she gave the couple concert tickets for a show that would happen while she was traveling, telling them to enjoy the concert and "I'll see you when I get back," Longabauth recalled of the conversation.

Biggs said Mattson, who was almost 80 years old, told her that the African safari was her "my last big trip." She said Mattson was "super excited because it was like the culmination of all the trips that she had gone on."

An avid traveler, Mattson took to trips to Europe and Asia, Longabauth recalled, noting that she might have been to South America, too.

Biggs called her friend "flamboyant," "friendly" and "fabulous" and said she loved bright colors. Mattson had taken over Biggs’ job as the event planner for their 200-member bridge club, she said.

"Gail was one of the more up people you'd ever want to meet," Longabauth said. "She was always up. She was always optimistic. She was always seeing the good side of everybody."

Yuliya Talmazan is a reporter for NBC News Digital, based in London.

Rebecca Cohen is a breaking news reporter for NBC News.