The Lion King on Broadway

The Lion King is undoubtedly one of Walt Disney's greatest classics. The animated film was released in 1994 and was adapted into a musical on Broadway 3 years later. For more than two decades now, "The Lion King" has been one of the most popular and well-known musicals, and probably even one of the most famous productions on Broadway.

If you're still wondering what to do in New York City, why not take the time to attend one of the best Broadway shows? 😀 In this article, you will find everything you need to know to book your seat at the best price and enjoy The Lion King on Broadway!

The history of the musical The Lion King

A classic in the Disney universe, the story of The Lion Kingis largely based on the animated film that was released in cinemas in 1994. This is good news for people who don't speak English very well, as they will still be able to enjoy the show and appreciate its numerous songs 😊

The Lion King tells the story of Simba, a young lion who is destined to succeed his father Mufasa, the King of the Pride Lands. However, Mufasa's terrible brother Scar plots to seize the throne. He succeeds in getting rid of the king while making Simba believe that he is responsible for his father's death.

Overcome with remorse, Simba flees his kingdom and embarks on a great adventure of initiation during which he meets Timon and Pumbaa, a meerkat and a warthog who become his closest friends.

Ticket prices for The Lion King on Broadway

As “The Lion King” is still one of the most popular Broadway musicals today, the show is often sold out and ticket prices are quite high:

• Classic mezzanine tickets cost about $180,
• Orchestra Right or Left tickets cost approximately $235,
• Orchestra Center tickets cost approximately $255.

HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKETS?

If you really want to be able to see “The Lion King” while in New York City, I suggest that you go ahead and book your ticket before you even leave for New York. As a general rule, you can buy your ticket up to 5 months before the show date, so as to be sure to have a seat on the date of your choice.

Good deals for cheaper tickets

Booking your tickets in advance will ensure that you don't have to pay more for your ticket than you expect (because the closer you get to the performance date, the higher the price), and that you get the best seats. But if you want to pay much less, you can try your luck with the ticket lottery! 🍀

The principle is simple: the day before each performance, a small number of tickets are raffled off. By registering for the lottery free of charge, you can be entered into a draw, which may win you a ticket for only $30! Be careful though, the probability of winning is very low, so still I recommend booking your tickets for “The Lion King” on Broadway in advance 😀

On Broadway and in some other places in New York, you can also find TKTS booths. These stands will allow you to find less expensive tickets, thanks to unsold tickets. However, if you ask me, it is unlikely that tickets for "The Lion King" will be available at these booths, as the show is almost always sold out! On the other hand, you might still get a nice surprise, especially during the low tourist season 😄

The best seats to see The Lion King on Broadway

“The Lion King” musical is playing at the Minskoff Theatre. In this theatre, you will have the choice between 3 main areas for your placement: the mezzanine, the centre of the orchestra or the sides of the orchestra (right and left).

No matter what you choose, you will always be well seated in this beautiful theatre. But if you really want to have the best seats, I recommend avoiding the seats on the sides of the orchestra 🙂 It is from these places (especially if you are very far from the stage) that you will have the most difficulty to enjoy the whole play.

Seats are offered at different prices depending on the area you select. The best seats are probably the ones on the mezzanine, as they offer a very good view and are cheaper than seats in other areas.

If you want the best seat and don't care about the price, I recommend you choose a ticket for the centre of the orchestra, which will give you the best experience 🤩

The Lion King: a show for the whole family!

The Lion King, written by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, played for the first time at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis for a few months before making its Broadway premiere at the New Amsterdam Theatre on November 13, 1997.

The musical, with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice, was a huge success from the very start. In 1997, it received 11 Tony Award nominations, including nominations for Best Director and Best Musical.

Since then, The Lion King has changed theatres several times and has even been adapted in several cities around the world such as Shanghai, Toronto, Tokyo, London and Paris. However, it is on Broadway, at the Minskoff Theatre, that one can attend the most beautiful performances of this musical that has become a legend.

The absolutely unique staging of this huge show will give you an experience you won't soon forget. All the animals of the savannah are represented as life-size puppets and come to life in splendid settings.

The costumes of the dancers and singers are each even more beautiful than the last. During the show, you will hear all the iconic songs from the cartoon, such as Hakuna Matata, Can you Feel The Love Tonight and Circle of Life.

If you ask me, The Lion King is one of the best musicals you can see on Broadway, especially if you're planning on attending the show with kids! 😊

Useful information

The Lion King musical is 2 hours 45 minutes long, and the minimum age to attend the play is 4 years old 🙂 The show is performed at the Minskoff Theatre, located on Broadway. The exact address is:

Minskoff Theatre
200 West 45th Street
Corner of 45th Street and Broadway

To get there, you can take line 7 of the New York Subway System or the Q32 bus.

You can see the musical every day of the week except on Mondays, and it is performed twice a day on weekends. The times are as follows:

That's it for this article about The Lion King musical on Broadway. I hope you now have all the info you need to discover this fabulous show on your next trip to New York City 😀 If you want to discover other Broadway productions, you can also check out my article on Aladdin on Broadway – another great classic to enjoy with your family! 😉

And if you are planning your trip to New York City, do read my articles on when to go to New York and where to sleep in New York! 👍