Now in its 15th year at London’s Lyceum Theatre, this week the West End’s production of Disney’s The Lion King welcomed its 12th millionth visitor into the auditorium
A record-breaking production at the Lyceum Theatre
The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film. Like the film, the stage production follows the adventures of a young lion cub named Simba who is to succeed his father as king.
A diverse blend of music
Much of the musical’s appeal can be pinned on its unique blend of music and sounds. The South African composer Lebo M brings the impassioned sounds of African rhythms to the production. These playful tunes blend seamlessly with Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs, who have added three new numbers to the five they originally wrote for the stage adaptation of The Lion King.
The distinct amalgam of African rhythms and popular Western music includes the eerie Shadowland and the Academy Award-winning Can You Feel The Love Tonight.
A 15-year anniversary
This October the award-winning production will celebrate its 15th anniversary at the Lyceum Theatre where the show will stay until 29 March 2015. This enthralling production wins the hearts of both young and old. Since it premiered on Broadway in 1997 Julie Taymor’s widely acclaimed stage adaption of The Lion King has been seen by more than 70 million people over six different continents.
One of the most successful titles in entertainment history
The captivating musical has also won more than 70 theatre awards worldwide. The Lion King the musical won six Tony Awards in 1998, including Best Musical ad Best Scenic Design. In the same year the show also won the New York Drama Critic Circle Award for Best Musical.
Fantastic scenic design and costumes
The American production designer Michael Curry works alongside Julie Taymor on the Lion King, co-creating hundreds of incredible masks and puppets for the show.
As well as its record-breaking productions in London and New York, The Lion King can also be seen in Madrid, Tokyo, Hamburg, Sydney, Tokyo and Sai Paulo. It is also currently touring in the UK, Japan and North America.
But it’s the West End that’s acquiring The Lion King fame with a phenomenal 12 million visitors now having walked through the doors of the Lyceum Theatre to experience the spellbinding and loveable show.
