The Lion King stage musical is one of the most beloved and long-running Broadway shows of all time. Since first premiering on Broadway in 1997, The Lion King has wowed audiences with its imaginative costumes, iconic music, and creative staging. But is this Tony Award-winning show still running in New York City after over two decades?
Brief Background on The Lion King Stage Musical
The Lion King stage musical is based on Disney’s wildly popular 1994 animated film of the same name. The movie tells the coming-of-age story of a young lion prince named Simba who struggles to accept his destiny after his father, the Lion King Mufasa, is killed by his evil uncle Scar. The film featured unforgettable characters like the wise mandrill Rafiki, the comedic meerkat/warthog duo Timon and Pumbaa, and of course, the villainous Scar. With catchy musical numbers by Elton John and Tim Rice and a storyline built on universal themes, it’s no wonder The Lion King became an instant classic.
In 1997, Disney brought their beloved film to the stage. Director Julie Taymor pioneered a groundbreaking staging technique using puppetry, masks, and shadows to recreate the film’s iconic imagery live on stage. Taymor’s innovative approach resulted in a Broadway spectacle like no other, earning The Lion King widespread critical acclaim. The musical went on to win six Tony Awards in 1998, including Best Musical and Best Direction of a Musical for Taymor. Its soundtrack also earned two Grammy Awards.
The Lion King’s Epic Broadway Run
The Lion King opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway in October 1997. It was an instant smash hit, consistently playing to sold-out crowds and grossing over $50 million in its first year alone. The musical has remained a hot ticket ever since, consistently ranking among Broadway’s top-grossing shows year after year.
In 2006, The Lion King passed A Chorus Line to become Broadway’s fifth longest-running show in history. It celebrated its 10th anniversary on Broadway in 2007 and its 15th anniversary in 2012. By 2018, the show had amassed over 9,000 performances on Broadway.
As of October 2023, The Lion King has run on Broadway for over 25 years. It remains ensconced at the New Amsterdam Theatre, where it has played over 10,000 performances to date. Only Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera, and Cats have racked up more performances on the Great White Way.
By the Numbers: The Lion King on Broadway
Here are some key numbers that illustrate the incredible longevity and success of The Lion King on Broadway:
Opening date | October 15, 1997 |
Performances to date | Over 10,000 |
Years running | Over 25 years |
Gross revenue | Over $1 billion |
Attendance | Over 95 million |
Tony Awards won | 6 |
Grammy Awards won | 2 |
Indeed, with over 10,000 Broadway performances under its belt, The Lion King stage musical holds records as the fifth longest-running Broadway show of all time and the highest-grossing Broadway production in history, bringing in over $1 billion at the Broadway box office. More than 95 million people have seen the show worldwide since it premiered in 1997.
Adaptations Across North America
In addition to its continuous Broadway run, The Lion King has launched several North American tour productions over the past two decades. There are currently three separate Lion King tours crisscrossing the United States and Canada.
The longest-running tour, called the “Gazelle Company”, launched in 2002 and still continues touring today. A second tour, the “Cheetah Company”, began touring North America in 2003 before closing in 2015. It was relaunched in 2016 and is still on the road today. Finally, a third tour dubbed the “Lioness Company” kicked off in 2021 and is currently slated to run through 2023.
Between these three touring productions, The Lion King musical has visited over 90 cities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tours have allowed audiences from Los Angeles to Toronto to San Juan and beyond to experience the magic of Broadway’s most successful musical.
International Productions
In addition to non-stop Broadway and touring performances in North America, The Lion King stage musical has been adapted into productions across the globe. It has been performed in over 25 countries on 6 continents since premiering in 1997.
Some highlights include:
- West End, London – The show opened in the West End in 1999 and is still running today.
- France – The Lion King ran for over 1,000 performances in Paris from 2007 to 2010.
- Spain – The Madrid production opened in 2011 and ran for over 1,700 performances.
- China – The show had an English-language production in Shanghai from 2006 to 2011.
- South Africa – Local productions played in Johannesburg from 2007 to 2009.
- Singapore – The musical had a limited run at the Marina Bay Sands resort in 2013.
- Brazil – The Lion King opened in Sao Paolo in 2015 and recently celebrated its 2,000th performance.
Clearly, the global appeal of The Lion King has allowed the show to find success and longevity across many international markets.
Recent Broadway Developments
Over 25 years into its run, The Lion King continues evolving to keep the show fresh and exciting for new generations of theatergoers.
In 2014, the Broadway production introduced new, innovative costumes and puppets designed by Julie Taymor and Michael Curry. These costumes utilize new materials and techniques to further enhance the visual spectacle on stage. Rafiki’s iconic stick-puppet, for example, now has an extendable arm that allows for increased mobility and expression.
The Broadway cast has also seen some changes in recent years. Notable actors who have joined the show include Bradley Gibson as Simba, L. Steven Taylor as Mufasa, and Tshidi Manye as Rafiki. Performers from the North American touring productions also regularly transfer to the Broadway show.
In summer 2022, The Lion King celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special presentation at the Minskoff Theatre. Disney CEO Bob Iger and many cast alumni gathered to commemorate the legacy of the landmark musical.
With these continued efforts to enhance the production and spotlight its legacy, The Lion King remains as relevant and engaging as ever for today’s theater audiences.
Future Plans
Given its unprecedented success and longevity over the past 25 years, The Lion King stage musical appears poised to keep running for the foreseeable future. There have been no official announcements of closing dates for the Broadway, touring, or international productions.
In all likelihood, as long as interest and ticket sales remain strong, The Lion King will continue being performed regularly on Broadway and around the world. Several generations have now grown up with the musical, ensuring an ongoing audience eager to experience this theatrical phenomenon live on stage.
Disney has proven adept at keeping the show fresh through ongoing enhancements to the production and casting. Theatrical technology continues advancing in terms of costumes, puppets, lighting, and more, opening up new possibilities for innovation that the creative team behind The Lion King seems eager to explore. So even repeat viewers are likely to notice new touches whenever they revisit the show.
In short, The Lion King stage musical looks destined to reign on Broadway and beyond for years, if not decades, to come. This beloved theatrical adaptation seems poised to continue selling out theaters and captivating audiences indefinitely.
Conclusion
The Lion King stage musical has now been running on Broadway for over 25 record-breaking years. Since first premiering in 1997, the show has been performed over 10,000 times in New York and over 95 million people have seen it worldwide. The Lion King continues its residency at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway today, where it remains one of the toughest tickets in town.
Three concurrent North American tours are bringing Simba’s story to cities across the U.S. and Canada. International productions have also given audiences in over 25 countries a chance to experience the Tony Award-winning spectacle live on stage. Recent enhancements to the Broadway production along with new casting additions continue to delight audiences.
Given the show’s unprecedented popularity and longevity to date, The Lion King stage musical appears likely to continue its reign on Broadway and as a global theatrical phenomenon for many years to come. For future generations eager to be wowed by the sounds, sights, and spirit of this instant classic, they need only head to Broadway or one of its touring productions to experience the magic of Disney’s The Lion King. Just remember to act fast securing those tickets, because you can bet your bottom dollar this show will remain the king of Broadway for the foreseeable future.