She will tickle you when she comes on talking in African tribal language, her facial expressions are priceless. She is a pleasure to see on stage, the audience was wrapped around her finger as she bounds about the stage with comedic distinction. Gorell is amusing as the obliging sidekick.Īlso not to be missed is the aforementioned Tshidi Manye playing the charming mandril monkey Rafiki. By his side is the adorable Zazu (Andrew Gorell). His rendition of, “They Live in You” is stunning. He is regal perfection as the king of the Pridelands. Steven Taylor gives a standout performance as Mustafa. While the costuming and puppetry are exquisite, it is the actors within that truly bring this show to life. This display of artistry is theatrical brilliance at its best, thrusting the art form into the new millennia. From the jaw dropping giraffes with the actors thrust high in the air to the elegantly adorned lionesses. It may seem difficult to transform elegant actors and dancers into ferocious wild animals, but Taymor and Curry do so with ease. The costumes and puppetry were expertly designed by Director Julie Taymor, along with Michael Curry. I cannot imagine a person that will not be awed within the first few moments of this production the opening number is worth the ticket alone. Tears were brought to my eyes as I saw the beautifully decorated actors transformed to jungle animals proceed by.

This is an experience that no words can accurately depict. As the curtain opens we are greeted with the, now famed, musical number “Circle of Life.” Here we see Rafiki (Tshidi Manye) the mandril calling a procession of African animals to Pride Rock, the reputed throne of our lion king Mustafa (L. Photo by Joan Marcus.Ĭurrently billed as “The World’s #1 Musical,” the expectations are high, but from the opening to close this production leaves little doubt that this is a spectacle that cannot be seen anywhere else. Jelani Remy (Simba) and ‘The Lion King’ ensemble. Disney is well known for creating magical experiences for those young and old, The Lion King currently showing at The Kennedy Center for Preforming Arts is no different. The Lion King is an adaptation of the 1994 film of the same name, and is still roaring after all these years. Disney’s The Lion King musical has electrified audiences for almost 17 years.

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