Test your knowledge of the groundbreaking Broadway musical, The Lion King. How well do you know the behind-the-scenes details of this global phenomenon? From its award-winning music by Elton John and Tim Rice to its iconic costumes and puppetry, this musical has captivated over 112 million people worldwide. See if you can uncover new facts and expand your musical trivia knowledge!
- On June 20, 2022, it was announced that the show would be staged in the Middle East for the first time, with performances scheduled from November 16 to December 10 at Abu Dhabi's Etihad Arena.
- Carlos Rivera reprised his role as Simba in the Spanish production of the musical in Mexico City, having previously played the role in Spain.
- Shirley Hlahatse, a South-African actress, was cast as Rafiki in the Spanish production, marking the first time in years a new actress played the role.
- A Canadian production of 'The Lion King' ran for nearly four years in Toronto and was seen by approximately 2.9 million people.
- The Brazilian production of the musical featured translations by famous Brazilian singer Gilberto Gil and included a mix of Brazilian and South African actors.
- The musical's German production in Hamburg provides access to the theater by ferry, with boats themed after the musical.
- The Lion King's first performance in Africa was in Johannesburg, South Africa, with an all-South African cast of 53 artists, celebrated by the presence of Oprah Winfrey.
- The Tokyo production of The Lion King by the Shiki Theatre Company is the second longest-running musical in Japan.
- The character Rafiki was portrayed by Tsidii Le Loka in the original Broadway cast and by Josette Bushell-Mingo in the original London production.
- During its run in China, The Lion King included a song adapted to the Chinese pop song 'Laoshu ai dami' or 'Mice Love Rice'.
- The musical's West End production opened at the Lyceum Theatre on October 19, 1999, and has run for over 9,500 performances.
- The Lion King has been seen by more than 112 million people worldwide and has won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
- Zama Magudulela is distinguished as the only actress to have been involved in five different company productions, performing lead roles in French and Spanish.
- All show productions are required to have at least 6 South African performers, with the South African production featuring an entirely native cast.
- Nosipho Nkonqa has performed in more productions than any other cast member, with roles in seven different countries.
- "Shadowland" and "Endless Night" are among the songs written specifically for The Lion King musical.
- Simba and Nala, main characters of the show, are portrayed as a lion and lioness with voice types of tenor and alto respectively, showcasing their roles at different stages from youth to adulthood.
- Original Broadway Rafiki, Tsidi LeLoka, was responsible for adding Rafiki's chants and writing her mourning song in the show.
- The Lion King musical features music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, with additional contributions by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer.
- Songs like 'Shadowland' and 'Endless Night' from the CD 'Rhythm of the Pride Lands' were adapted into the musical with new lyrics.
- The musical adaptation of 'The Lion King' includes additional scenes and songs not present in the original film.
- The Las Vegas production of 'The Lion King' at Mandalay Bay was the second longest run of the show in a single U.S. city, outlasted only by the Broadway production.
- The West End cast performed at the Royal Variety Performance twice and also participated in a special Strictly Come Dancing event in 2005.
- The U.S. has hosted multiple tours of 'The Lion King' musical, including the Rafiki Tour which started on October 26, 2017.
- The Mexican limited run of the musical in 2008 was part of the U.S. national tour and performed entirely in English.
- The first international tour of The Lion King opened in 2018 in Manila and included stops in multiple Asian cities, all performed in English with subtitles in local languages.
- Ntomb'Khona Dlamini served as an understudy and ensemble member for over 15 years in the original Broadway company and subsequent American tours.
- Agustin Arguello holds the record for performing as Simba the longest worldwide, with roles in Mexico and Spain totaling over 1500 performances.
- Directed by Julie Taymor, The Lion King is known for its elaborate animal costumes and giant, hollow puppets.
- The Lion King premiered on Broadway on October 15, 1997, and has since become the highest grossing Broadway production ever, with earnings over $1.9 billion.
- Julie Taymor, the director of The Lion King, was the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical.
- The show moved to the Minskoff Theatre on June 13, 2006, to make room for the musical Mary Poppins.
- The longest-running performers of Mufasa are Alton Fitzgerald White, Nathaniel Stampley, and David Comrie.
- As of 2021, The Lion King has been performed over 10,000 times on Broadway and remains one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history.
- Rafiki, originally a male character in the film, is portrayed as a female mandrill in the show, serving as the story's narrator with a mezzo-soprano voice.
- Scar, the antagonist of the show, is depicted as a male lion with a baritone voice, who usurps the throne by murdering his brother Mufasa.
- The Lion King achieved the highest weekly gross in Broadway history, earning $4.3 million in the week ending January 1, 2023.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Lion King Broadway production was suspended on March 12, 2020, and resumed on September 14, 2021.
- The Broadway version of 'The Lion King' experienced cuts totaling nine minutes on June 27, 2010, including removing the song 'Morning Report'.
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