The Lion King (Broadway)
Open run 2h 30m
The Lion King (Broadway)
92

The Lion King (Broadway) NYC Reviews and Tickets

92%
(13422 Ratings)
Positive
97%
Mixed
2%
Negative
1%
Members say
Entertaining, Enchanting, Great staging, Delightful, Must see

Puppets and live actors create a magical world to tell the story of Simba's rise to the throne.

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Show-Score Member Reviews (12,646)

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80 Reviews | 7 Followers
100
Masterful, Great staging, Exquisite, Absorbing

See it if you want to see an amazing spectacle of costuming and puppetry

Don't see it if you want a new story

77 Reviews | 8 Followers
100
Magic, Entertaining, Enchanting, Delightful, Absorbing

See it if You loved the movie; if you are ready to be pleasantly surprised by the way actors become one with their animals creating pure poetry

Don't see it if You don't like a theater full of children and adults in awe with the magic displaying before their eyes

60 Reviews | 10 Followers
100
Clean, Beautiful, Entertaining, Enchanting

See it if You enjoyed the movie and willing to give one of the staple shows a chance. It is truly incredible.

Don't see it if Don’t enjoy puppetry Read more

50 Reviews | 5 Followers
100
Ambitious, Great staging, Exquisite, Enchanting, Absorbing

See it if you want to see something EPIC

Don't see it if you're not about the magic of the theater.

50 Reviews | 10 Followers
100
Entertaining, Enchanting, Delightful, Clever, Absorbing

See it if Unbelievable costumes!

Don't see it if Lots of kids in the audience, of course.

88 Reviews | 14 Followers
100
Exquisite, Entertaining, Enchanting, Delightful, Absorbing

See it if you want to be taken back to childhood. Certainly a must see on Broadway, no matter what age!

Don't see it if you can't be squeezed in in tiny seats for a while...;-)

62 Reviews | 18 Followers
100
Entertaining, Enchanting, Delightful, Clever, Absorbing

See it if You want to experience a spectacle.

Don't see it if Everyone should see The Lion King. Read more

63 Reviews | 17 Followers
100
Masterful, Enchanting, Delightful, Clever, Absorbing

See it if You love the classical Disney story and beautiful dancing and singing

Don't see it if You would like to see something new on braodway

Critic Reviews (26)

The New York Times
November 14th, 1997

"You can only marvel at the exotic procession of animals before you: the giraffes and the elephants and the hippopotamuses and all those birds in balletic flight. These are creatures of air and light and even a touch of divinity. Where are you, really, anyway? Somehow you have fallen into what appears to be a primal paradise. Such is the transporting magic wrought by the opening 10 minutes of ''The Lion King.''"
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Time Out New York
March 29th, 2012

"Taymor populates the stage with an amazing menagerie of beasts; her audacious staging expands a simple cub into the pride of Broadway, not merely a fable of heredity but a celebration of heritage."
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New York Magazine / Vulture
August 11th, 2007

"You will be bombarded by some of the most beautiful and spectacular sights theater can offer from before and behind, so eyes in the back of the head will come in handy.
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New York Stage Review
September 17th, 2018

"'The Lion King' was astonishing, in the jaw-dropping manner of speaking. And today, 21 years later, it still is...Taymor, the avant-garde director to whom Disney entrusted the piece, outdid herself...Everything still looks wonderful, and looks practically brand new, too. One of the stunning elements for me, this time through, was the realization of how brilliantly this show moves...The hard-working ensemble is well-drilled and exceptional."
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New York Stage Review
September 17th, 2018

"It’s Julie Taymor’s puppetry that continues to astound...The problem is that the rest of the musical is not as good as Taymor’s vision for the animals and their gorgeous ensemble numbers...Now, the beauty is there, but the show feels a bit worn...The few big numbers aside, much of the John-Rice score is middling ’90s pop rock...That said, the performances, even now, are rather lovely...But you’re not here for the performances. You’re here for the puppets. And they’re worth it."
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S
November 21st, 1997

"The Lion King is a spectacular rendition of the animated film, a brilliant theatrical adaptation that stands on its own...Taymor has risen to the challenge, translating the physically complex tale to the stage with an endlessly clever, visually stunning use of masks, puppetry, costumes and scenic effects; the stage show has the delighted audience firmly in its grip."
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NJ.com
November 14th, 1997

"A stunning stage event. Combining a graceful horde of actors, singers and dancers with a stylized world of fantastic puppets and theatrical wonderment."
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Newsday
November 14th, 1997

"The opening scene unfolds with moment after giddy moment of astonishment. South African choral harmonies, with their calming and yet exuberant rhythms of attack and release, seem to come from everywhere in the darkness. A magical rich jungle parade."
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