I recently saw The Lion King in New York and absolutely loved it. The tour is coming to my area in a couple of months, and I was wondering how the tour compares to the Broadway production. Anyone who's seen both have any thoughts?
I havn't seen both productions, but I know that Pride Rock doesn't come out of the stage in the national tour. It comes out from the wings instead.
"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D
Pride Rock looks like a big ole' caterpillar, to be honest.
I haven't seen the NYC production, but I recommed the tour. The first time I saw it, I hated it, but the second time it was great. If you don't mind me asking, where are you? If its Buffalo, the tour has some really great talent (Gazelle company, which is leaving Boston on 2/20 - I'm sure the other tour is great, too, but I can only speak for this one)
i saw lion king this january in boston, and i personally didnt like it. since i havent seen it in nyc, i cant tell if it was the show its self i didnt like or just the performance that the tour put on.
and if i remember correctly, pride rock did come out of the stage. haha it was my favorite part of the show.
Some times, national tours will have different effects at different locations depending on the capabilities of the theatre. Many theatres dont have the understage space which is needed for it to rise from below. Since each space is different, they build the set to be flexable. When i saw it in LA (is that considered the tour?) it came up from below the stage because the Pantageous had that capability.
Updated On: 2/16/05 at 10:28 PM
I always thought it was weird that Pride Rock never came from under the stage in Chicago, even though the theatre it played in was restored with "The Lion King" in mind.
"Chicago is it's own incredible theater town right there smack down in the middle of the heartland. What a great city! I can see why Oprah likes to live there!" - Dee Hoty :-D
I've seen it twice, and spent the first time I saw it looking for flaws. It looked like a big caterpillar coming from the wings. The stage rises up and tilts, but Pride Rock doesnt come up from the stage. Its actually quite humorous because it is big and clunky.
saw the show a few weeks ago in Chicago. If the costumes and puppets weren't as amazing as they were, I would have walked out. Too much of a kid show for me.
(Martha Graham from a letter to Agnes de Mille) "There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening That is translated through you into action, And because there is only one of you in all time, This expression is unique. If you block it, It will never exist through any other medium And be lost. The world will never have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, Nor how valuable it is, Nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours, clearly and directly, To keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware Directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, A blessed unrest that keeps us marching And makes us more alive than others."
so how do the animals make their entrances for CIRCLE OF LIFE on tour... i know at the Pantages they came through the audience... but some theaters I know that are hosting the show have continental seating... what happens then? do the animals/actors just walk in from the wings as well?
I saw the tour in Orange County a few months back. Absolutely amazing. Rafiki had an amazing voice. I got chills on the first few notes of Circle of Life. Was really great. Shadowland was wodnerful, as was Endless Night.
i thought broadway was famous for its musicals...not its circus???
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-