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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?

jm10112

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#1
Posted: 10/22/14 at 6:45pm

I know Lion King is a sold put show but I mostly hear about Wicked and Les Mis etc and I am wondering if people dismiss it as a kids show.

TheGingerBreadMan

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#2
Posted: 10/22/14 at 6:50pm

Based on how well it is doing, no.
It has made more money than any other show in Broadway history. I seriously doubt that this can be achieved by the majority of the audience being parents taking their kids to see the show.

ShakinBaconGirl

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#2
Posted: 10/22/14 at 7:14pm

I think people are too busy falling asleep after the opening number to underestimate it.

jm10112

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#3
Posted: 10/22/14 at 7:23pm

That's not how I saw it and most people agree. The staging is amazing the sets and choreography are amazing. The grass is even portrayed by people. It's a lot of very rich creativity. Maybe some of us just aren't intellectual enough to appreciate innovation.

haterobics

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#4
Posted: 10/22/14 at 7:28pm

Les Miz is a new revival, and Wicked keeps circulating new cast members in all the time, so they get more ink. Lion King has just been playing for 17 years, so there isn't much to say about it at this point.

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#5
Posted: 10/22/14 at 7:28pm

"I think people are too busy falling asleep after the opening number to underestimate it."

I love you. I don't know you, but I love you.

Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)

Mr. Nowack

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#6
Posted: 10/22/14 at 8:29pm

If anything it's usually underestimated as overrated spectacle.

I know many a middle-aged or elderly couple who have gone to see it just because "they heard it was amazing." Not at all because they had kids.

Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated

jm10112

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#7
Posted: 10/22/14 at 8:33pm

Mr Roxy

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#8
Posted: 10/22/14 at 8:36pm

Great opening number and staging. Ragtime was a true musical ans should have won. Lion was a spectacle- Ragtime was a great show

Poster Emeritus

ShakinBaconGirl

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#9
Posted: 10/22/14 at 8:46pm

"You guys are idiots. They did a good job with the Lion King and if you only knew the work thats put into it you wouldnt say that. So shut the hell up. You're just jealous because it's the highest gtossing show and your stupid show isnt. Whatever it is."

Okay, Ms.Taymor.

icecreambenjamin

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#10
Posted: 10/22/14 at 8:50pm

Dear jm10112,
Are you 12?!?
Please calm yourself and accept that other people have different opinions from you.
Lion King does have beautiful visuals and creative staging. I think the music is much better then that of Wicked, but it can't even begin to touch Les Miserables. Les Miz is being spoken about a lot because it is a new production and Wicked is being spoken about a lot due to hype.
I don't think that people underestimate Lion King they just don't find it incredibly stunning or interesting.

dramamama611

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#11
Posted: 10/22/14 at 9:29pm

I loved it. Thought it was beautiful and it sent chills down my spine.

And it's ok that others found it boring ....doesn't lessen my enjoyment of it. At all.

I don't know how anything running for 17 years can be considered under ANYTHING.

How hard they worked has nothing to do with quality. People work hard on EVERY show....and sometimes they suck and sometimes they don't. No show will make everyone happy.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

devonian.t

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#12
Posted: 10/23/14 at 7:53am

The design is sumptuous, but the drama does sag at times.

I have yet to see a Scar firing on all cyclinders- every one I've seen has turned languid into lazy.

themysteriousgrowl

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#13
Posted: 10/23/14 at 7:57am

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES

Kad

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#14
Posted: 10/23/14 at 8:28am

What, the animals and grass are portrayed by people? Well, I never! What ever is this show? Does anyone else know about it?

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

themysteriousgrowl

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#15
Posted: 10/23/14 at 8:35am

Klinghoffer? I hardly knew 'er!

CHURCH DOOR TOUCAN GAY MARKETING PUPPIES MUSICAL THEATER STAPLES PERIOD OIL BITCHY SNARK HOLES

Back Row

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#16
Posted: 10/23/14 at 10:38am

The Lion King, as I recall, is a visually spectacular production of a Disney cartoon. It's been awhile since I saw it, but that's what I remember about it. I don't remember a single cast member, and the songs I remember are those I recall from watching my kids watch the videos. It is what it is. For a lot of people, even most people, that is enough, but it relies on things other then compelling story, sharp dialogue, and standout performances in order to be "enough". No different than a lot of shows in that way.

Mister Matt

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#17
Posted: 10/23/14 at 12:30pm

You guys are idiots. They did a good job with the Lion King and if you only knew the work thats put into it you wouldnt say that. So shut the hell up. You're just jealous because it's the highest gtossing show and your stupid show isnt. Whatever it is.

WTF? "You're just jealous"? Seriously? I loved the show, but that is one of the most randomly hostile and juvenile reactions I've seen in a LONG time.

"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

Fantod

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#18
Posted: 10/23/14 at 12:44pm

Well I think that it really is two different shows wrapped into one: you have that African show with all of the Lebo M music and the great choreography and the signature Taymor costumes, and then you also have a completely different show with Zazu and once Timon and Pumba are involved. You can even see a change in costumes, when they go from metaphorical puppets to exact replicas of the film put onto the stage. Even the set changes, with blow up cactuses instead of metaphorical rocks. Personally, I prefer the Disney show to Julie Taymor's "art" and I don't think that the two mesh well together or very gracefully, but Julie Taymor's vision is the reason why people think of it as more than just a fun Disney musical.

Updated On: 10/23/14 at 12:44 PM

jm10112

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#19
Posted: 10/23/14 at 3:46pm

I apologize for acting immature. You're right. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion! :) I was wrong!

dramamama611

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#20
Posted: 10/23/14 at 3:53pm

Fantod -- I must ask....what the heck to you mean by "Lebo M" music? La Boheme, the opera?

Fantod

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#21
Posted: 10/23/14 at 4:00pm

Lebo M was the composer that wrote all of the African music for the Lion King and wrote a whole bunch more songs for the Broadway version, including the opening line to the Circle of Life song and also performed in the ensemble for the original Broadway cast of the show.

Updated On: 10/23/14 at 04:00 PM

henrikegerman

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#22
Posted: 10/23/14 at 4:04pm

"If anything it's usually underestimated as overrated spectacle."

Sorry, what?

PalJoey

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do a lot of people underestimate the Lion King by thinking it's a kids show?#23
Posted: 10/23/14 at 5:02pm

"Underestimated and overrated" is my new favorite phrase.

This might have been an interesting conversation if the original poster hadn't been so childishly spoiling for a fight.

Julie Taymor did a production of Mozart's The Magic Flute for the Metropolitan Opera that used many of the same techniques as the Lion King.

The following year the Met took the production and used an English translation rather than the German original, with a simplified production and used it as their family-friendly holiday-season opera, the way many ballet companies use the Nutcracker.

Here are a few photos from the production. You'll notice the similarity to the Lion King: