Show guide
The Lion King
The Lion King brings the African savanna to the Broadway stage through breathtaking puppetry and a score that blends pop songwriting with rich, rhythmic African-inspired music.
- Broadway premiere
- 1997
- Music by
- Elton John
- Genre
- Rock/Pop
- Setting
- Timeless
The Lion King: quick answers
What is The Lion King about?
- Simba, a lion cub and heir to the Pride Lands, flees into exile after his uncle Scar kills his father, King Mufasa, and blames Simba for it. Years later, the grown Simba returns to overthrow Scar and take his place as king.
When did The Lion King open on Broadway?
- The Lion King opened on November 13, 1997, at the New Amsterdam Theatre, moved to the Minskoff Theatre in June 2006, and is still running after more than 11,000 performances. It won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
What kind of musical is The Lion King?
- It is a Disney book musical adapted from the 1994 animated film. It keeps Elton John and Tim Rice's film songs and adds new ones, mostly by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Tsidii Le Loka, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer, staged with masks and puppetry.
Where and when is The Lion King set?
- The Lion King is set in a timeless, mythic African savanna, in and around Pride Rock and the Pride Lands, with no specific historical period.
Has The Lion King played in London's West End?
- The Lion King opened in the West End at the Lyceum Theatre on October 19, 1999, and is still running there after more than 10,000 performances.
Is there a The Lion King movie?
- The musical is adapted from Disney's 1994 animated film, voiced by Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, and Nathan Lane. Jon Favreau directed a 2019 remake with Donald Glover, Beyoncé, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
The story of The Lion King
The musical follows Simba, a young lion prince who flees his kingdom after a tragedy he believes he caused, only to grow up in exile before returning to reclaim his rightful place as ruler of the Pride Lands. Along the way he is shaped by loss, friendship, and the guidance of those who remember who he really is.
Because the story unfolds in a mythic, timeless African wilderness rather than a specific historical period, the show has a fable-like quality, with themes of legacy, identity, and the natural cycle of life carrying as much weight as the plot itself. The stage production is especially famous for the way it brings animals to life, using masks, puppetry, and movement rather than realistic costuming.
The music and the makers
Elton John wrote the music, continuing his long career of crafting instantly memorable pop melodies, and the stage score expands on the film's songs with additional material that deepens the storytelling and leans further into African choral and percussive traditions. The result is a soundscape that feels both familiar and distinct from typical Broadway fare, rooted in rock and pop songwriting but colored by chant, drum, and ensemble voice.
The stage adaptation is as much a triumph of design and direction as of composition, with its visual imagination often cited as reinventing what a family musical could look like on Broadway.
The Lion King on Broadway
The Lion King opened on Broadway in 1997 and became a defining example of how a beloved animated film could be transformed into an entirely new theatrical experience rather than a simple retelling. Its innovative staging set a new bar for what audiences expected from big-budget musical spectacle.
It has remained one of the most popular and enduring shows in Broadway history, drawing families, first-time theatregoers, and seasoned fans alike with its combination of emotional storytelling, stunning visuals, and an infectious, danceable score.
The Lion King: frequently asked questions
When did The Lion King open on Broadway?
The Lion King opened on Broadway in 1997.
Who composed The Lion King?
Elton John composed the music for the stage musical, building on the songs from the original animated film.
What genre is The Lion King?
It is a rock and pop influenced musical that also draws heavily on African choral and percussive musical traditions.
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