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Seattle Theatre Group and Broadway at The Paramount present “Disney’s The Lion King,” winner of six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history. On stage now through the new year, the family-friendly production is based on the beloved Disney animated film, told with a unique storytelling approach that underscores this wondrous tale of childhood folly, heartbreak, and redemption. If you haven’t experienced the marvel of the musical’s opening number, “Circle of Life”, then don’t let this chance stampede by.
(Image: Matthew Murphy)
Synopsis
Life at Pride Rock is bustling and beautiful, a microcosm of beasts living in synergistic harmony. Mufasa is the king of this land, and his reign oversees a multitude of creatures: leaping gazelles, swooping birds, stomping elephants, towering giraffes, and, of course, his own pride of lions. The Serengeti surrounds the theater, drawing viewers into the story of Mufasa’s son Simba, a rambunctious cub looking to explore the world around him. Zazu, an African red-billed hornbill and his father’s right-hand wingman, is his glorified babysitter, though even Zazu can’t contain Simba and his best friend Nala, who like to venture to elephant graveyards and tango with hyenas.
Mufasa’s brother, Scar, is salty about his brother’s power and position. He uses Simba’s naivety to set up the “accidental” death of the king. Heartbroken and guilty, Simba flees the kingdom he should be overseeing, meeting new friends Timon, a meerkat, and Pumbaa, a warthog, who teach him their motto for a stress-free life: “Hakuna Matata.”
Time passes. Scar’s reign proves fruitless. Water runs dry, and food is scarce. Nala leaves Pride Rock to seek help, only to find Simba, a grown lion, eating grub with animals who should be prey. With the help of soothsayer and mystic baboon Rafiki, Simba realizes that the right thing to do is to confront Scar, uncover the truth about his past, and take his place as the rightful king of the jungle.
(Image: Matthew Murphy)
The Cat’s Meow
This is not just a faithful rendering of the Disney film. Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor co-designed the masks and puppets, which are the stars of this show. It would be a different experience if the lions were merely actors in furry, yellow cat suits. Instead, the performers and the costumes operate together in symbiotic harmony, highlighting the humanity of the story, without losing the wild beauty of the animal kingdom.
The production features songs from the original film by Elton John and Tim Rice – bops like “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” “Be Prepared,” “Hakuna Matata,” and “Can You Feel theLove Tonight” – as well as a few iconic additions, namely the soulful number, “They Live in You.”
The dazzling set design and artful choreography will keep viewers young and old entertained from start to finish.
There are some difficult or troubling concepts that may upset younger or sensitive viewers. Mufasa’s death, while tastefully portrayed, may be emotionally triggering for those easily upset by the loss of a parent. Scar, as a villain, provides plenty of levity, though many of his jokes are geared towards adult viewers. His heartless intentions – to kill both Mufasa and Simba, as well as to manufacture an uprising amongst the hyenas – has the potential to frighten delicate spectators.
(Image: Matthew Murphy)
Meta Meaningful
The morning after opening night, I was given a backstage tour of the Paramount Theatre. Winding through tight hallways strung with bits of costumes and disassembled set pieces, the tour led us to possibly the most exciting and important room in the building: the puppet shop, where puppet master Michael Reilly keeps his menagerie of lions, warthogs, and hornbills.
Zazu is the fowl of the hour and one of three puppets in the production. Mufasa’s majordomo is an intricate build. His neck is comprised of a slinky in a sock. Hundreds of individually painted feathers are then individually applied to his body. Reilly says Zazu needs a complete overhaul every 6 months to keep him fresh, and is the only puppet with a backup they have lovingly christened Clyde.
The masks worn by the lions – Mufasa, Scar, Simba – are also wonders of artistic prowess. They aren’t heavy because they are not made from the wood they are meant to emulate, and the hydraulics used to move the masks from the top of the actor’s heads to their faces require finesse to make their operation appear organic.
(Image: Matthew Murphy)
But the most interesting thing Reilly said, a throwaway comment that got me thinking, was about the set-up of the musical at large, the macro element I’d never processed, despite seeing “The Lion King” on stage a handful of times in my life: the production’s aesthetic is meant to look hand-made, and we are meant to view the animals as people pretending to be animals. This is a story told by humans, using the resources (wood, grass, feathers, etc.) available to them. They aren’t meant to be transformed into the creatures. The intention is not for the performers to look like real animals. They are humans who know they are acting, which contributes to the overarching allegorical themes of self-discovery and the duality of the human and animal worlds.
Like I said, I’ve seen “The Lion King” on stage at least 5 times prior to this run, but it felt completely fresh with this newly discovered objective in mind. There is so much to take in; it would require dozens of viewings to fully appreciate the artistry, timing, and technical wizardry that goes into the show, both on and off stage. My companions to the performance had never seen this musical, and their excitement by the opening number felt like watching my children on Christmas morning: there is an undeniable spark of joy and incredulity that this production inspires, and there is no better time than the holidays to experience anew.
(Image: Matthew Murphy)
Know Before You Go
- Dates: The show runs through January 4, with a variety of times spanning the morning and
evening. - Location: The Paramount Theatre is located at 911 Pine Street, Seattle, 98101
- Runtime: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with one 15-minute intermission.
- Recommended age is 6+.
- Special Performances
- The ASL Interpreted Performances are Sunday, December 14 at 1 p.m., Saturda,y December
20 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 27 at 2 p.m. - The Sensory-Friendly Performance is Saturday, December 13, at 2 p.m.
- The Audio Described Performances are Sunday, December 7 at 1 p.m., Saturda,y December
13 at 2 p.m., Sunday, December 14 at 1 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. - The Open Caption Performances are Sunda,y December 7, at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, December
20 at 2 p.m. and Saturda,y December 27 at 7:30 p.m.
- The ASL Interpreted Performances are Sunday, December 14 at 1 p.m., Saturda,y December
More Stage Magic
- Holiday Performances Around Seattle. A roundup of festive concerts, ballets, plays, and musical events happening throughout the region all season long.
- Parent Review: “Elf the Musical.” A joy-filled, candy-colored production at The 5th Avenue Theatre that brings Buddy the Elf’s cheer to life onstage.
- Parent Review: “The Pigeon Gets a Big Time Holiday Extravaganza!” A silly, high-energy holiday adventure starring everyone’s favorite Mo Willems character — perfect for younger theatergoers.
Some of the products, services, or experiences mentioned in this article may have been provided at no cost or at a discount. However, all opinions expressed are solely those of the author and/or the Seattle’s Child editorial team. Our coverage remains independent, and we only feature things we genuinely believe will be of interest to our readers.
