Skip to main content Skip to footer site map
Review: Disney's THE LION KING Wows at the Hollywood Pantages

Review: Disney's THE LION KING Wows at the Hollywood Pantages

Even as long as it’s been around, Disney's THE LION KING is still a wonder to behold. Playing The Pantages through March 26, 2023.

Ok. So, here's the deal. I'm pre-empting this review with a warning...

Intermission is only 15 minutes. But the line to the ladies' room is 20-25. So, plan ahead. Because you absolutely won't be let back into the theater until after the first, second-act number, if you're late. That was the only un-fun thing about the opening night of Disney's, THE LION KING, at the Hollywood Pantages. It would have been nicer to have had a slightly longer break. As it stood, the theater was wall-to-wall with enthusiast ticket holders. And not an empty seat to be found.

That being said...

Disney's, THE LION KING, is more than 25 years past its groundbreaking debut on Broadway. The show officially opened on November 13, 1997, at the Minskoff Theater after its October preview run, and has since "found its way into the hearts of millions of people around the world." But believe it or not, I myself had never seen it. So, sitting in the orchestra was a definitive treat especially when a colossal elephant paraded down the aisle past me in dramatic style. The crowd went wild!

From the moment Rafiki (Gugwana Dlamini) Shaman of the Pride Lands, heralded her recognizably famous opening note, the audience was uproarious. And there was nothing that could have prepared me for my slightly teary-eyed response to the splendor of it all. Even as long as it's been around, THE LION KING is still a wonder to behold.

The show is a kaleidoscopic spectacle of habiliment, music, choreography, and puppetry. A prodigal son-ish tale of hope and adventure, the narrative simplicity is almost dwarfed by its phenomenal embellishments: animalistic body language, vibrant mammalian & human costuming, vocal profundity, drum rhythm, and radiant stage light. But this remarkable, artistic work nevertheless is as crystal clear to the heart as it is moving to the senses. Everything about it resonates with the youngest to the oldest person in the room.

If THE LION KING had not had such prestige and I were just reviewing a show that's been touring for a long time, with fresh eyes, I could honestly say that choreographically it still holds up. Other elements will come and go in most musicals, and in fact for this production they occasionally did. There were moments when the vocals lost some steam and the story itself has always been a bit "thin". But what did not go unnoticed were some particularly stand-out performances by Peter Hargrave as Scar, Scarlett London Diviney as Young Nala, Gerald Ramsey as Mufasa, Khalifa White as (elder) Nala, and undeniably Martina Sykes, Forest Van Dyke and Robbie Swift as the Hyenas, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed. But it is still Tony Award-winning director, Julie Taymor's highly experimental (then) original visual spin that is the most fantastical draw for this show. Its power has not diminished one bit. Nor has the spirited music. *The program credits Elton John & Tim Rice with music & lyrics with additional music & lyrics by Lebo M., Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer.

Taymor's enhancements not only heralded the astounding handicraft of seamless human-to-animal mask and puppet design (by Taymor and Michael Curry), she also increased the presence and potency of the female roles in the stage adaptation along with incorporating six African languages into the show. Since that time, THE LION KING has been translated into eight languages, seen by more than 90 million people in 19 countries, and is still one of Broadway's hottest tickets.

Taymor herself in a 2017 interview said, "THE LION KING has lasted so long because it's socially minded, and it has a sense of spirituality that connects with people all over. Everywhere I've been, there's always something in the show that becomes distinctly political there." Not a single notation of that statement has failed. Certainly not in this iteration. The politics of joy certainly rocked the house by the energy and stagecraft of the exceptional Los Angeles tour ensemble.

THE LION KING'S inspiration and intimacy remain intact, and the production is as evergreen as any creative marvel could ever hope to be.

Music & Lyrics by Elton John & Tim Rice

Additional music & lyrics by Lebo M. Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, Hans Zimmer

Book by Roger Allers & Irene Mecchi

Starring: Peter Hargrave, Gerald Ramsey, Gugwana Dlamini, Mukelisiwe Goba, Nick Cordileone, Nick LaMedica, John E. Grady, Darian Sanders, Khalifa White, Forest Van Dyke, Martina Sykes, Robbie Swift, Scarlett London Diviney, Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, Jordan Pendleton, Farrah Wilson, Allison Danielle Semmes, William John Austin

Ensemble: Derek Adams, Kayla Rose Aimable, William John Austin, Iman Ayana, Isaiah Bailey, Samantha Lauren Barriento, Eric Bean, Jr., Layla Brent, Christin Byrdsong, Sasha Caicedo, Thembelihle Cele, Leroy Church, Daniela Cobb, Lyric Danae, Camille Eanga-Selenge, Marquis Floyd, Tony Freeman, Samaree Lawson, Gabisile Manana, Amber Mayberry, Christoper L. McKenzie, Jr., Justin Mensah, Nhlandhla Ndlovu, Aaron Nelson, Jeremy Noel, Sicelo Ntshangase, Sayiga Eugene Peabody, Jennifer Theriot, Courtney Thomas, Jordan Nicole Willis, Sherman Wood, Joel Karie, Maia Schechter, Yael Pineda-Hall, Christopher Sams, Allison Danielle Semmes, T. Shyvonne Stewart

Photo courtesy of the production.



Joe Spano & More to Star in Rolling Southern California Premiere of THE REALISTIC JONE Photo
Laguna Playhouse announced, in association with Gare St. Lazare, Ireland and the Rubicon Theatre Company, Faline England, Sorcha Fox, Conor Lovett and Joe Spano starring in the rolling Southern California premiere of THE REALISTIC JONESES, written by Will Eno and directed by Judy Hegarty-Lovett.

Banksys Brace Yourself! Grim Reaper Painting Given To A British Band Sold at Juliens Aucti Photo
Julien's Auctions held on Wednesday, March 29th its headline making auction event “BRACE YOURSELF FOR BANKSY: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART,” featuring over seventy original artworks from the likes of Banksy, Bob Ross, Colette Miller, Invader, Dave Navarro and Billy Morrison, Jim Carrey, David Yarrow, and more in front of a live audience at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills.

Sierra Madre Playhouse Prepares For Centennial In 2024 With Extensive Renovations Photo
Congresswoman Judy Chu, Assemblyman Chris Holden and former Sierra Madre Mayor Gene Goss all expressed enthusiastic support for plans to refurbish the Sierra Madre Playhouse in celebration of its centenary in 2024. They did so at a party for the Playhouse's major supporters at the home of board president David Gordon and his wife Sandy Brooke Gordon on Saturday March 25th.

Photos: First Look At World Premiere Workshop Musical DARK OF THE MOON At Rubicon Theatre Photo
First look photos! Rubicon Theatre of Ventura continues the company’s commitment to the creation of new works with the organization’s 46th mainstage world premiere - a developmental musical production based on Dark of the Moon, the 1945 Broadway play by Howard Richardson and William Berney.


From This Author - Tracey Paleo

Tracey Paleo is a voting member of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle.  

... (read more about this author)

Review: TWELFTH NIGHT At The Broadwater Studio TheaterReview: TWELFTH NIGHT At The Broadwater Studio Theater
March 22, 2023

Notwithstanding that this production falls into many classic Shakespeare traps, Foolish Production Company's 1-hour, high-camp, rendition of TWELFTH NIGHT is very well done.

Review: COME GET MAGGIE at Rogue Machine Theatre At The MatrixReview: COME GET MAGGIE at Rogue Machine Theatre At The Matrix
March 6, 2023

Love may be real and not science fiction.  But Rogue Machine’s attempt at a first musical is so bubble gum, pop-retro, Flash Gordon-y, it’s almost guaranteed to be a runaway hit.

Review: KRISTINA WONG, SWEATSHOP OVERLORD at Kirk Douglas TheatreReview: KRISTINA WONG, SWEATSHOP OVERLORD at Kirk Douglas Theatre
February 20, 2023

'Like any of the heroines I could possibly reference, Kristina Wong embodies all of them in her own fierce amalgamation.  The result is considerably hysterical in the most unpredictable ways.'

Review: Disney's THE LION KING Wows at the Hollywood PantagesReview: Disney's THE LION KING Wows at the Hollywood Pantages
February 7, 2023

From the moment Rafiki (Gugwana Dlamini) Shaman of the Pride Lands, heralded her recognizably famous opening note, the audience was uproarious.  Even as long as it’s been around, THE LION KING is still a wonder to behold. 

Review: CLYDE'S at Mark Taper ForumReview: CLYDE'S at Mark Taper Forum
November 26, 2022

Quite possibly, a perfect production.  Two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage’s Tony Award-nominated CLYDE’S at the Mark Taper Forum is heartfelt, funny, and seriously delicious.