She recruited South African musician Lebo M who was also at the Minskoff for the anniversary show, to supply new music and arrangements. But it’s easy to forget how innovatory and imaginative Taymor’s production was considered two decades ago, especially for a Disney family musical.Ĭentral to Taymor’s transformative vision was her look to Africa for musical inspiration as well as visual sensibility and production design. “The Lion’s King” lavish blend of puppetry and animal costumes has been much-imitated by subsequent shows, all of which have enjoyed shorter lifespans. Given the laws of supply and demand, it would make absolutely no sense for the show, which is about a young lion’s journey to avenge the death of his father, to contemplate closure in the near future. With an average ticket price of $150, the musical regularly exceeds 99% of the Minskoff Theater’s 1,621-seated capacity and 99% of its potential gross. The show grosses around $2 million a week on Broadway. (There have been productions in Africa, Asia, Mexico and Europe, notably in London’s West End where it has been continuously playing since 1999.) “The Lion King” is now the biggest musical of all time, grossing $1.4 billion in its 20 years on Broadway and $7 billion world-wide. Here are five reasons “The Lion King” continues to reign on Broadway: (The show transferred to the Minskoff in 2006 to make way for Disney’s “Mary Poppins,” one of the 733 to have come and gone on the Great White Way.)
Thomas Schumacher, producer and president of Disney Theatrical Productions, told the audience that 733 productions had opened and closed since “The Lion King” launched at the New Amsterdam Theater in November 1997. Sir Elton was joined onstage by director Julie Taymor and lyricist Tim Rice, as well as cast members past and present.
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