The Lion King at Orpheum Theatre San Francisco

When The Lion King Musical premiered on Broadway in 1997, the audience was stunned by how the musical made the 1994 animated film into an unforgettable show fit for both young viewers and adults! The music, based on the compositions from the film, has exponentially evolved into something beyond its original form. The musical has transformed the tracks, giving them true African music influences.

After all, the Lion King’s story was set in the vast savannas of Africa. Besides the change of music structures, the costume and puppet designs were also breathtaking. Just how do you portray large wild animals on stage without making it cartoonish or almost childish? Apparently, Taymor has excellently realized this and won multiple awards for her innovativeness. The New York Times was quick to complement this achievement. “Ms. Taymor's vision, which is largely rooted in ritual forms of theater from Asia and Africa, collides with that of Disney, where visual spectacle is harnessed in the service of heartwarming storytelling. There will inevitably be longueurs for adults and children attending this show. But it offers a refreshing and more sophisticated alternative to the standard panoply of special effects that dominate most tourist-oriented shows today. Seen purely as a visual tapestry, there is simply nothing else like it.”

This 2023 at the Orpheum Theatre, you can look forward to the same level, sophistication, and brilliance as The Lion King’s 1997 Broadway production. As mentioned by a critic from Entertainment Weekly, “The Lion King can make you fall in love with theater, no matter what theater it's in.”

Indeed, no matter how long the production has been ongoing, The Lion King remains one of the most popular musicals of all time. It’s currently recorded as Broadway’s time-honored show, surpassing over 1 billion dollars in ticket sales. It has also been recorded that the musical has been enjoyed by over 112 million people worldwide. That number is growing daily due to musical enthusiasts streaming to the theaters to catch The Lion King!

So be sure not to miss out on The Lion King as it dominates the Orpheum Theatre on Friday 15th December 2023! If you’re keen on catching Friday’s performance, you better click on the Secure Your Seats link now!