Skip to Content
Buy Tickets

History of Disney’s The Lion King

Celebrating 26 landmark years on Broadway, The Lion King continues ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world.  Since its premiere on November 13, 1997, 28 global productions have been seen by over 112 million people.  Produced by Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt, Anne Quart, and Thomas Schumacher, The Lion King has made theatrical history with three productions worldwide running 20 or more years and two others running 25 or more years.

Performed over its lifetime in nine different languages (English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese), there are currently eight productions of The Lion King around the world: Broadway, London, Paris, Hamburg, Madrid, Tokyo, Sao Paulo and on tour across North America. The Lion King has played over 100 cities in 28 countries on every continent except Antarctica; its worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.

The Lion King won six 1998 Tony Awards®:  Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical.  The Lion King has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.

Director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor, the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical, remains actively involved in the show, launching new productions and maintaining the flagship Broadway production.

The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs from the Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer; and music from "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer.  The resulting sound of The Lion King is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award®-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to Lebo M’s rich choral numbers.

Elton John, Lebo M, and Hans Zimmer all collaborated on the 2019 version of the film, executive produced by Julie Taymor and Thomas Schumacher, which has gone onto extraordinary worldwide success.

The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated The Lion King feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay.  Other members of the creative team include:  Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), Anthony Lyn (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor), Lisa Dawn Cave (production supervisor), Thomas Schlenk (general manager) and ARC/Mark Brandon, CSA (casting). Anne Quart serves as executive producer.

Test Alt.

Salvatore Antonio

Scar

Zama Magudulela

Zama Magudulela

Rafiki

David D’Lancy Wilson

David D’Lancy Wilson

Mufasa

Will Jeffs

Will Jeffs

Zazu

Trevor Patt

Trevor Patt

Pumbaa

Brian Sills

Brian Sills

Timon

Camille Eanga-Selenge

Camille Eanga-Selenge

Nala

Aphiwe Nyezi

Aphiwe Nyezi

Simba

Jewelle Blackman

Jewelle Blackman

Shenzi

Joema Frith

Joema Frith

Banzai

Simon Gallant

Simon Gallant

Ed

Zora Cameron

Zora Cameron

Young Nala

Ana Victoria Dinapo

Ana Victoria Dinapo

Young Nala

Lucien Duncan-Reid

Lucien Duncan-Reid

Young Simba

Nendia Lewars

Nendia Lewars

Young Nala

Ira Nabong

Ira Nabong

Young Simba

Oliver Woon

Oliver Woon

Young Simba

Caleb Ajao

Caleb Ajao

Male Singer Ensemble

Damien Broomes

Damien Broomes

Swing

Wade Buller

Wade Buller

Male Dancer Ensemble

Krystle Chance

Krystle Chance

Swing

Lisa Michelle Cornelius

Lisa Michelle Cornelius

Female Singer Ensemble/Sarabi

Isabel Dela Cruz

Isabel Dela Cruz

Female Dancer Ensemble

Vania DoDoo-Beals

Vania DoDoo-Beals

Female Dancer Ensemble

Jordan Faye

Jordan Faye

Male Dancer Ensemble

Felander Stevenson - Swing

Felander

Swing

Alex Furber - Standby

Alex Furber

Standby

Katherine Gayle Kewsa

Katherine Gayle-Keswa

Female Dancer Ensemble

Tristan Ghostkeeper - Swing

Tristan Ghostkeeper

Swing

Rose-Mary Harbans

Rose-Mary Harbans

Female Dancer Ensemble

Jasmine Huang - Swing

Jasmine Huang

Swing

Rebaone Kgosimore

Rebaone Kgosimore

Male Singer Ensemble

Lia Loewen

Lia Loewen

Swing

Lisakhanya Matrose

Lisakhanya Matrose

Female Singer Ensemble

Adrienne Metivier

Adrienne Metivier Taylor

Female Dancer Ensemble

Khayaloxolo Mniki

Khayaloxolo Mniki

Male Singer Ensemble

Iteboge Modipane

Iteboge Modipane

Male Singer Ensemble

Buhle Nkomo

Buhle Nkomo

Male Singer Ensemble

Martina Ortiz Luis

Martina Ortiz Luis

Female Singer Ensemble

Hugo Pimentel

Hugo Pimentel

Swing

Busisiwe Shezi

Busisiwe Shezi

Female Singer Ensemble

Elljay Timmangen

Elljay Timmangen

Male Dancer Ensemble

Luc Trottier

Luc Trottier

Standby

Trayvon Ward

Trayvon Ward

Male Dancer Ensemble

Ocean Williams

Ocean Williams

Female Singer Ensemble

Tenaj Williams

Tenaj Williams

Male Singer Ensemble

Zachary Williams

Zachary Williams

Male Dancer Ensemble

Oren Williamson

Oren Williamson

Male Singer Ensemble

Zinzi Xalisa

Zinzi Xalisa

Female Singer Ensemble

Marlee Young

Marlee Young

Female Dancer Ensemble

Angel Zuma

Angel Zuma

Swing

'Circle of Life' in 360º | THE LION KING on Broadway

Use your mouse or arrow keys to explore the show’s iconic opening number. View on tablet or mobile for a more immersive experience.

Awards

Tony® Awards, 1998

  • Best Musical
  • Best Director of a Musical - Julie Taymor
  • Best Choreography - Garth Fagan
  • Best Scenic Design - Richard Hudson
  • Best Costume Design - Julie Taymor
  • Best Lighting Design - Donald Holder

Drama Desk Awards, 1998

  • Best Director of a Musical - Julie Taymor
  • Best Choreography - Garth Fagan
  • Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Tsidii Le Loka
  • Best Scenic Design - Richard Hudson
  • Best Costume Design - Julie Taymor
  • Best Lighting Design - Donald Holder
  • Best Puppet Design - Julie Taymor & Michael Curry
  • Best Sound Design - Tony Meola

Outer Critics Circle Awards, 1998

  • Best Director of a Musical - Julie Taymor
  • Best Choreography - Garth Fagan
  • Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Tsidii Le Loka
  • Best Scenic Design - Richard Hudson
  • Best Costume Design - Julie Taymor
  • Best Lighting Design - Donald Holder

Drama League Awards, 1998

  • Best Director of a Musical - Julie Taymor
  • Best Choreography - Garth Fagan

New York Drama Critics Award, 1998

  • Best Musical

Theatre World Award, 1998

  • Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Max Casella

Astaire Award, 1998

  • Outstanding Choreography - Garth Fagan

Grammy® Award, 1998

  • Best Musical Show Album - Mark Mancina, Producer