Celebrating not just its silver jubilee but also its 10,000th Broadway performance, ‘The Lion King’ continues to reign supreme in the theatre world. This accomplishment comes hot on the heels of the show’s 25th-anniversary celebrations. 🎉
A Quarter Century of ‘The Lion King’
Opening its doors on November 13, 1997, ‘The Lion King’ has roared through four New York City Mayoral administrations, five presidential administrations, and 11 Olympics. Over the last 25 years, the musical has played nearly 60,000 performances worldwide, captivating audiences with its enchanting story and unforgettable score.
A Global Phenomenon
When you tally up all the tours and international productions, about 112 million people have seen ‘The Lion King’ worldwide. That’s more than the combined populations of Canada, Greece, Sweden, Holland, Denmark, and Australia!
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The Pride Behind ‘The Lion King’
Julie Taymor, the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical, remains at the helm of the show, launching new productions and maintaining the flagship Broadway production. Composer Lebo M and Tony-winning choreographer Garth Fagan have also made their mark, holding the record for the longest-running Black composer and choreographer in Broadway history with ‘The Lion King’.
The Heart of the Pride: The Original Team
Many of the artists and craftspeople who launched the show remain an integral part of it. Lindiwe Dlamini has been with the show since its first pre-Broadway preview in Minneapolis in the summer of 1997. Seven musicians have been in the orchestra pit since its Broadway opening, including Karl Jurman, who has been the musical director since 2005. All told, 16 original staff members continue their vital work onstage and off.
