The award-winning and internationally beloved Lion King musical comes to UAE and we cannot wait! Ipshita Sharma tells us all about this show that is simply unlike an else you have watched before!
Tony Award® winning director Julie Taymor, alongside a line-up of internationally renowned performers, have made their way to Abu Dhabi for the final engagement of the production’s first International Tour and to celebrate 25 years since it premiered on Broadway. Ahead of the opening night, director Julie Taymor shared details on how she brilliantly reimagined Disney’s beloved film – showcasing the costumes, masks and puppets now signature to the production.
Over the four weeks ahead, UAE audiences will have the opportunity to witness the world-wide phenomenon right here in the capital, acclaimed by New York Daily News as “the perfect marriage of entertainment and art”.
Lion King the musical was first launched in 1997 and it has taken over the world ever since. Winning numerous awards for set design, costumes, direction, choreography, acting etc etc; this is a musical like no other. It has played in countries and continents around the world and now this famed production has come to the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
While we could go on and on about the various amazing features of this play, let us take a minute to talk about some fascination facts that often get overlooked as explained by Julie Taymor, the award winning Broadway Director who masterminded it all!.
Over 150 people have to come together to create each show! From the actors to the puppets to the stagehands to the orchestra, this show is truly a labour of love that needs a village to make it happen.
There are 200 puppets in the show! From leaping gazelle (both starving and healthy) elephants, birds (including the hand-held Zazu), and even smaller versions of the main characters to showcase bigger chase sequences etc.
The most complicated set piece is Pride Rock! It is actually a battery-powered set which expands out like an accordion to 18’ wide and compresses to 8’ when not needed. But most people are so amazed by this piece of stagecraft that it might as well be magic.
Rafiki was changed into a female mandrill! Director Julie Taymor really felt that there was a need for a strong female presence in the play and so Rafiki got a much bigger part and a gender change. The role was originated on Broadway by Tsidii Le Loka, who was nominated for a Tony Award in 1998 for her performance.
There are influences from all around the world in the show, not just Africa! There is shadow puppetry from South East Asia, Scar’s outfit is based on Samurai culture and there are Native American influences in the masks and puppets.
Julie Taymor is so much more than just a director! She has created the costumes, the puppets, the masks and written some of the extended lyrics as well!! No wonder she was the first woman to win a Tony in 1988 for directing this musical.
If none of this gives you an idea of how spectacular this show is, let us leave you with this. More than 80 million people around the world have seen it and loved it. There is nothing out there quite like it and it is a story that has something for the entire family. So go check it out and let us know how it was!
Tickets are available to purchase from Etihad Arena, Platinum List and Virgin Megastores.
Images courtesy: Disney, Shutterstock and PR.