Discount Broadway Tickets For The Lion King

The Lion King Summary

  • Show Status: Currently playing at the Minskoff Theatre
  • Genre: Musical
  • The Lion King is 2 hours and 40 minutes long, including an intermission of 15 minutes
  • 8 Shows per week
  • Previews Began: October 15, 1997
  • Show Opened : November 13, 1997
  • Show Closes: Open ended

Musical adaptation of the 1994 hit Disney animation, about a lion cub who learns about life in his animal kingdom after his monarch father’s untimely death

The Lion King on Broadway Background

The Lion King is a six-time Tony Award winning Broadway musical based on the original hit Walt Disney movie classic film of the same name.

The 1994 film was selected by Disney to be made into its own Broadway musical production in 1996, after the films initial box-office success that garnered Disney over $766 million in the first year of its release.

Broadway Production Opened in 1997

The Broadway production of Lion King began performing at the end of 1997 in the New Amsterdam Theatre and ran there until June 2006. The show relocated to the Minskoff Theatre to make way for Mary Poppins to move into the New Amsterdam.

After the production moved to the much larger, Minskoff Theatre, the show decided to make that theatre its permanent home.

Lion King Becomes International Phenomenon

The Lion King musical production has toured all around the world and has been translated into many languages including Chinese, German, Japanese and Spanish. The musical has now been performed in over 25 different countries on every single continent, except for Antarctica. In 2020 the show was set to perform on tour in Wuhan, China but this tour was cancelled due to the outbreak of the deadly Coronavirus.

Broadway Show Sets Multiple Records

In 2013 The Lion King beat both Wicked and Phantom of the Opera to become the highest grossing Broadway production of all time and in January 2014 the show became the first Broadway show to gross over the one billion dollar mark in total ticket sales revenue.

Show Written By The Original Movie Authors

The original movie’s writers, Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, who also wrote Disney films like The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Fantasia, were called back to write the book for this Broadway musical. The book writers were given a Tony Nomination for their work in 1998. The best selling singer-songwriter and recording artist from the UK, Sir Elton John, wrote the music for the show because he was also the one who wrote the songs for the original Disney movie in 1994.

Sir Elton John Awarded For Lion King Music

Sir Elton John was awarded an Academy Award for “Best Original Song” for his song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" in the movie version and was nominated for a Tony Award for “Best Original Musical Score” for his work on the Broadway production. John also worked along with Broadway legends Tim Rice, and Hans Zimmer on the music for the Broadway production, both of whom are also Grammy Award winning musical artists themselves.

Lion King Animated Film 2019

In 2019, The Lion King animated film was converted into a photo-realistic computer animation and followed the exact same storyline. This movie version was directed by Jon Favreau and used A-listers for the movie’s voice overs. Stars like Donald Glover, Beyoncé, Seth Rogen and John Oliver each had a voice role in this version of the film.

What’s The Lion King Like?

The musical tells the story of the main character Simba, who starts as a newborn lion-cub being introduced to his father's animal kingdom as the tribes new prince and future king of the land.

Simba grows up to be a young cub and is tricked by his own jealous uncle Scar, who convinces Simba that he has killed his own father and should run away and “never come back”. The audience follows Simba as he is raised by a comedic animal duo consisting of a meerkat named Timon and a warthog named Pumbaa.

Lion King Story Has Similarities to Classic Stories

Simba starts out as a boy who grows up to become a teenager and then a full grown lion with a large fluffy mane. As he grows up he learns lessons about what it means to be a man and to do what is right for his friends and family.

The story has connections to Biblical stories like Joseph and Moses and hints of Shakespeare's Hamlet too. This long-running Broadway musical incorporates exotic costumes with complex on-stage puppetry. The Lion King breaks new ground with the theatrical methods used to portray large animals from the animal kingdom on stage.

Orchestra Aisle Seats Are The Best Bet

Human sized animal puppets walk up and down the aisles of the theatre throughout the entirety of the show. Catchy favorites from the animated film were adopted for the Broadway production that include “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King,” “Circle of Life,” “Can You Feel The Love Tonight?,” “Be Prepared” and “Hakuna Matata.” The show is a fascinating way to relive the story of the animated film while experiencing an entirely new and original musical score.

Is The Lion King Good for Kids?

Children of all ages adore this show. Disney recommends only bringing children ages 6 and up to the show due to the large size of the puppets and the loud noises that may upset younger audiences.

Anyone entering the theatre, regardless of age, must have a ticket, even if they sit on an adults lap.

The Lion King Ticket Lottery and Rush Schedule

Every day there are discounted Broadway show tickets sold as part of the Broadway ticket lotteries or as Rush Tickets Tonight. Tickets are only valid on-the-same-day of the drawing. Click here to get the latest. The following is the daily schedule of the ticket lottery and RUSH ticket pricing.

Online Lottery

Monday, 9:00am

Tuesday, 9:00am

Wednesday, 9:00am

Thursday, 9:00am

Friday, 9:00am

Saturday, 9:00am

Purchase the Broadway Discounts Guide to get details on how to get Lottery and Rush Tickets Tonight (if available) for The Lion King.

Theatre Information

Minskoff Theatre

200 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10019
Seats: 1,621
Entrance: 45th Street, between 7th and 8th Ave
Theatre Information

Minskoff Theatre Seating Chart

The Lion King Marquee

The Lion King Marquee

Cast Members

Simba
Vincent Jamal Hooper
Scar
Stephen Carlile
Mufasa
L Steven Taylor
Rafiki
Tshidi Manye
Nala
Pearl Khwezi
Young Simba
Haven Alexander
Zazu
Cameron Pow
Timon
Fred Berman
Pumbaa
Ben Jeffrey
Young Nala
Suri Marrero
Shenzi
Bonita J. Hamilton

Past Cast Members

Simba
Bradley Gibson
Simba
Brandon A. McCall
Young Simba
Jesus Del Orden
Pumbaa
Ben Jeffrey
Simba
Jelani Remy
Nala
Adrienne Walker
Nala
Syndee Winters
Pumbaa
Ben Lipitz
Young Simba
Kenneth Aikens
Young Simba
Ramon Reed
Young Nala
Mikee Castillo
Young Nala
Demi Singleton
Young Nala
Aliya "Jo" Ramey
Zazu
Thom Christopher Warren

Producers

Disney Theatrical Productions

Production Credits

General Manager
Anne Quart
Company Manager
Christopher A Recker
Casting Director
Jay Binder
Advertising Representative
Serino Coyne
Senior Publicist
Dennis Crowley
Associate Publicist
Michael Strassheim
Production Stage Manager
Ron Vodicka

Creative Team

Book Writer
Irene Mecchi
Book Writer
Roger Allers
Music
Elton John
Lyricist
Tim Rice
Director
Julie Taymor
Choreographer
Garth Fagan
Settings
Richard Hudson
Costumes
Julie Taymor
Lighting
Donald Holder
Sound
Tony Meola
Orchestrations
Bruce Fowler
Orchestrations
Robert Elhai
Orchestrations
David Metzger
Musical Director
Joseph Church
Additional Songs
Hans Zimmer
Additional Songs
Lebo M
Additional Songs
Mark Mancina
Additional Songs
Julie Taymor