The Lion King at Minskoff Theatre

The tale of Disney’s The Lion King starts in a fictional land in Africa; based in The Pride Lands, the teenage lion Simba leads a free and easy life, before tragedy strikes because of the deeds of his evil uncle Scar and his intention to take the throne and become King himself. The first half's series of occurrences leads to the little lion's banishment from The Pride Lands and the story of his eventual journey back to overthrow his uncle Scar and save his people.

The 1997 Broadway play, since its formation, had to borrow several design elements and inspiration from real African society and history given its content. The narrative itself is actually taken from previously existing African leaders and real happenings – Simba as an example is the animal version of Sundiata Mansa, the founder of the Imperial Mali who was appropriately named The Lion of Mali.

Julie Taymor, the first female director in Broadway history to earn a Tony for Best Direction of a Musical, made sure to be respectful of East Asian and African cultural sources, specifically with costume design, which paved the way for a precise Broadway production of The Lion King. The regalia alone are perfect depictions of a few traditional tribes in Africa, an example of which is Simba’s outfit in the show which as it happens inspired by Kenyan Maasi soldiers' outfits. Just like the previous 1994 film, the iconic musical score written by Elton John and Tim Rice pays homage to its African roots, with the musical even putting in numbers with lyrics that are performed either in part or completely in African dialects including Swahili and Zulu. Additionally, the African motif is also evident in choreography, with a lot of the dances consistently featuring the seamlessness of Bali-inspired dance.

The costume design, song composition, and stellar performances all blend together so well to deliver an unsurpassed musical. On Thursday 4th September 2025 and at New York, the acclaimed Lion King is hosted in Minskoff Theatre - loved dearly by local fans and foreigners for hosting the premiere musicals and stage adaptations owed to the leading facilities and topnotch lighting design that theater venues can offer. Tickets to this show on Thursday 4th September 2025 are currently available and may be secured by clicking the links that can be found on the top of this page.