The Lion King at William H. Mortensen Hall

The saga of Disney’s The Lion King begins in a vast savanna territory in Africa; based in The Pride Lands, the young heir Simba is destined to succeed as King, before betrayal occurs because of the work of his jealous uncle Scar and his desire to overthrow Simba's father, Mufasa, and become the ruling monarch himself. The first half's sequence of incidents leads to the little lion's banishment from his home and the account of his ultimate journey back to retake his throne and his place as King.

The 1997 Broadway play, since its creation, had to develop extensive research on real African culture and historical basis given the show's context. The plot itself is actually based on real African heroes and factual events – Simba as an example is the animal counterpart of Sundiata Mansa, the leader of the Malian Empire who was justly called The Lion of Mali.

Julie Taymor, the first female director in the history of Broadway to gain a Tony for Best Direction of a Musical, completed in-depth research on African and East Asian history, particularly outfits used, which resulted in a precise staging of the show. The costumes in particular are respectful representations of some traditional people in Africa, an example of such is Simba’s garb in the musical which as it happens inspired by Kenyan Maasi soldiers' armor. Just like the late 1994 movie, the remarkable musical score created by Elton John and Tim Rice stays respectful to its African heritage, with the live adaptation even including compositions with lyrics that are performed either in part or completely in African dialects like Swahili and Zulu. Also, the African theme is also clearly seen in choreography, with many of the performances consistently featuring the fluidity of Bali-inspired dance.

The regalia, African influence, and lifelike stage design all blend together so well to deliver an unbelievable musical. On Saturday 23rd November 2024 and at Hartford, Disney's The Lion King is hosted in Mortensen Hall at Bushnell Theatre - visited frequently by residents and foreigners for holding the premiere musicals and plays owed to the favorite facilities and topnotch sound system that entertainment venues can muster. Seats to this show on Saturday 23rd November 2024 are now available and may be bought by clicking the links that can be found above this page.