If anyone hears the phrase “Hakuna Matata”, they don’t need to know Swahili to understand what it means. It’s the theme and motto of the lead character of The Lion King. The Lion King is one of the most well-loved Disney animated films ever and no one forgets its colorful characters and captivating story, both young and old alike. No one can forget any of the beautiful songs like “I just can’t wait to be king”, or “He lives in you” or the beautifully written and sung “Circle of life”.

The 1994 animated film The Lion King has now made it to Broadway. The musical show The Lion King was first staged in Minnesota at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis on 8th July 1997. The show was a huge success and tickets to The Lion King Musical show sold out immediately. The Lion King Musical show premiered on Broadway in 1997 and Broadway tickets to The Lion King Musical show started selling in November with its official opening on 13th November 1997.

The Lion King Broadway Musical has won the Tony Award for Best Musical as well as Best Costume Design and Best Choreography. It’s no wonder how that is, given that the show is produced by Disney Theatrical and features music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. It is directed by Julie Taymor and features the actors in hollow puppets as well as animal costumes. The Lion King Musical is staged in two acts. However it has many changes and additions to the original storyline of The Lion King movie. For example, Rafiki is now a female because Taymor believed that there was no lead female role, along with other changes in scenes and various unique conversations between characters. A notable change is the addition of many new songs to the Lion King collection.

The Lion King Musical finally reached the birthplace of its setting, Africa in 2007. Its debut performance on the African continent took place in Johannesburg, which took place with many well-known faces and distinguished personalities, for example Operah Winfrey. Currently two Lion King Musical tours are going round the U.S. and the Lion King tour is quite similar to the Lion King Broadway production. There was also a production in Taipei in Taiwan in 2008. The latest productions of The Lion King will be in Spain and in Las Vegas. The first will take place sometime in autumn 2009 which will in fact be the first Spanish production and will take place in Madrid. The other will be in Las Vegas in around May of 2009