The Lion King
Music & Lyrics by Elton John & Tim Rice
Book by Roger Allers & Irene Mecchi
Directed by Julie Taymor
Choreographed by Garth Fagan
At Cadillac Palace Theatre, Chicago
The Lion King still has its luster and heart after all these years.
Tighter, more polished and containing enough heart to please the most cynical audience member, The Lion King is a most dazzling theatre as spectacle musical of our generation.! From the impressive opening “Circle of Life,” audiences cheer and children go “wow” as the parade of more than 200 puppet animals enter the stage both from the wings and from each main aisle. With the haunting African chants and the roaring drums, we are enticed into the world of the lion complete with a jaw-dropping assortment of puppet animals, living grass and flowers. The Lion King’s opening number is the most impressive one you’ll ever see for a Broadway musical. It sets the tone and it creates the atmosphere of the grassy African plane where the lion is king.
Julie Taymor’s staging and her costumes still amaze and enthrall us. My third time seeing The Lion King and it was like revisiting paradise – the most imaginative kind. The show sure has legs as it still has productions playing in New York City, London, Hamburg, Tokyo, Las Vagas and this North American tour. Now in its 13th year, 17 productions have been seen by over 50 million people, grossing over $4 billion–it has been translated into Japanese, German, Korean, French and Dutch!
The Lion King National Tour landed in Chicago for a short run until November 27, 2010. It is a energetic, polished, well sung and flawlessly produced show. The lead character are fine performers true to the show. The quality control by the Disney folks is outstanding. The vibrancy and feel of the show is fresh.
The best way to get a feel for this show is to look at the photos and a video sampler. So, rediscover the power of live stage spectacles with a wonderful touring production of the Disney classic – The Lion King. Enjoy!
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
For show info, dates and times visit www.broadwayinchicago.com
