Broadway in Milwaukee: The Lion King

A decade later, Disney still brings the magic

"The Lion King" premiered on Broadway in 1997 but didn't make it to the Midwest until several years later. I first saw it in Chicago in 2005. I remember being blown away, crying during "Circle of Life" in total awe that someone could not only dream up such a spectacle but also bring it to life on stage. After all these years and despite (and because of) some tweaks to the production, "The Lion King" roars with all of its original magic and then some. 

To start with the tweaks: "The Morning Report" has been cut completely from the show (no complaints here). They also eliminated the Cirque du Soleil -style acrobatics in "Can You Feel the Love Tonight." A pity —  I always enjoyed that part. But they made up for it with some noticeable additions: African dancers in gorgeous costumes during the crowd-favorite reprise of "He Lives in You."

Other songs I can't get enough of include "The Grasslands Chant," "The Lioness Hunt," "Rafiki Mourns," "One by One," and "Endless Night." Overall, upon this Milwaukee viewing, I decided the lionesses are my favorite by far. The way they dance and how their costumes transform is mesmerizing — every movement a perfect blend of power and grace. 

While "Endless Night" is a winning ballad in my book (and is superbly performed by Jelani Remy in this touring production) "Rafiki Mourns" wins for being the most moving. This is the tribute Mufasa didn't get after his death in the animated movie — a sorrowful and beautiful song elevated with expert staging and exquisite costume design (cue the tearful lionesses).

In sharp contrast, "One by One" is an absolutely joyful way to start the second act of the show. According to composer Lebo M, it's a "freedom song" — an uplifting hymn calling Africans to "hold tight, don't get weary, don't lose your strength." 

It's amazing to me that, though this was the fourth time I've seen "The Lion King," there's always something new to discover — details like the gently swaying grasslands, the mechanics of the cheetah costume, and the way the fireflies flit across the savannah. It didn't hurt that L. Steven Taylor's Mufasa delivered a "They Live in You" that had me gaping like an awestruck schoolgirl. All of these elements combined for a show that's one part "Hakuna Matata," one part inspiration to take our place in the circle of life. In other words: Disney's classic formula for magic.