Julie Taymor
Lilli Cooper, Mandy Gonzalez, Nikki M. James and Betsy Wolfe Join New 42 Artist Council (Mar 3, 2026)
THE OUTSIDERS, THE NOTEBOOK, and More Set For Wharton Center's 26-27 Broadway Season (Mar 3, 2026)
MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, WICKED, THE GREAT GATSBY & More Set For Tanger Center Broadway 2026–27 Season (Mar 3, 2026)
BIO
Taymor is an American director and writer of theater, opera and film. Her stage adaptation of The Lion King debuted in 1997, and received eleven Tony Award nominations, with Taymor receiving Tony Awards for Best Director and Costume Designer. Her film Frida, about Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, was nominated for five Academy Awards, including a Best Original Song nomination for Taymor's composition "Burn It Blue". She also directed the jukebox musical Across the Universe.
Photos
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Productions
Writing
Lyricist
Awards and Nominations
Julie Taymor, A Midsummer Night's Dream
Julie Taymor, A Midsummer Night's Dream
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
winner
Julie Taymor
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
Julie TaymorJuan Darient: A Carnival Mass
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
winner
Julie Taymor, The Lion King
Julie TaymorJuan Darient: A Carnival Mass
Julie Taymor, Juan Darien
Julie Taymor, Juan Darien
Julie Taymor, The Tempest
Scott Wentworth, Welcome to the Club
winner
Julie TaymorJuan Darien
winner
Julie Taymor, Juan Darien
winner
Julie Taymor
winner
Julie Taymor, The Haggadah
Videos
Video: New Look At Mozart’s THE MAGIC FLUTE At the Metropolitan Opera
by A.A. Cristi - 2025-12-12 22:51:12
Video: THE LION KING's Tshidi Manye Takes Her Historic Final Bow as 'Rafiki'
by Michael Major - 2025-09-03 13:17:12
Video: Watch Gavin Lee Join THE LION KING on Broadway as 'Scar'
by Michael Major - 2025-07-23 11:54:23
Video: Disney on Broadway Medley at D23, Featuring ALADDIN, HERCULES, FROZEN, and More
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-08-10 16:55:59
Video: The Cast of THE LION KING in Brazil Performs 'Endless Night'
by Blair Ingenthron - 2024-04-21 15:34:27
Video: Watch a Disney on Broadway Mashup on GMA With HERCULES, ALADDIN, FROZEN & More
by Michael Major - 2023-10-16 09:41:03
VIDEO: Watch THE LION KING's Broadway Makeup Team Transform Stephen Carlile into Scar
by Blair Ingenthron - 2023-10-08 10:43:04
Video: The Cast of THE LION KING in Brazil Performs 'Circle of Life' and More
by Stephi Wild - 2023-07-19 08:41:05
Video: Full Cast and Creative Team Announced for NEW YORK, NEW YORK; Plus Watch a New Trailer!
by Nicole Rosky - 2023-02-01 12:00:20
VIDEO: THE LION KING Celebrates 21 Years in Hamburg With Special Performance of 'Endless Night'
by Alan Henry - 2023-01-17 11:53:17
VIDEO: THE LION KING Cast Performs Tiny Desk Concert For 25th Anniversary
by Michael Major - 2022-11-11 12:28:21
Watch: THE LION KING on Broadway Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Short Film Highlighting 'The Circle of Life'
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2022-11-10 17:44:06
VIDEO: Elton John Sings 'Can You Feel The Love Tonight' From THE LION KING on GOOD MORNING AMERICA
by Michael Major - 2022-11-10 09:24:31
VIDEO: THE LION KING Performs 'The Circle of Life' on THE LATE SHOW
by Stephi Wild - 2022-11-08 07:32:47
Video: Julie Taymor Talks THE LION KING 25th Anniversary and More!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - 2022-10-24 05:33:48
News
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 3, 2026
New 42, the performing arts nonprofit behind New 42 Studios and New Victory Theater, has added Lilli Cooper, Mandy Gonzalez, Nikki M. James and Betsy Wolfe to the New 42 Artist Council.
by Stephi Wild - Mar 3, 2026
Wharton Center has announced a lineup of shows that will entertain and inspire audiences for its 45th season. Learn more about the upcoming lineup here!
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 3, 2026
The Steven Tanger Center for the Performing Arts, in collaboration with Nederlander and PFM, will present its 2026-27 Broadway season in Greensboro, NC, including shows like WICKED and THE GREAT GATSBY.
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 2, 2026
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club will present Krymov Lab NYC's UNCLE VANYA, scenes from country life, from March 28 to April 12, 2026, at The Ellen Stewart Theatre in New York.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 24, 2026
OBIE and NYIT Award-winning Peculiar Works Project returns to La MaMa ETC's Downstairs Theatre for the world premiere of Antigone in Analysis, written by Barbara Barclay and directed by Ralph Lewis, running March 20 - April 5, 2026.
by Adela González Pérez - Feb 23, 2026
Analizamos los vídeos más icónicos de nuestro canal de YouTube, donde los grandes clásicos internacionales y los fenómenos nacionales demuestran su impacto innegable.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 19, 2026
PNC Broadway in Louisville has announced its 2026-2027 Season which welcomes five Louisville premieres including the 2025 Tony Award-winning Best Musical MAYBE HAPPY ENDING.
by Stephi Wild - Feb 13, 2026
The Lion King has announced that longtime cast member Mduduzi Madela will assume the role of Simba beginning Tuesday, February 24. Learn more about him here!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 6, 2026
Tickets for the return engagement of Disney’s The Lion King in Cleveland will go on sale to the public. Cleveland’s most eagerly awaited return will once again leap onto the KeyBank State Theatre stage at Playhouse Square.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 6, 2026
La MaMa will present Jane Comfort and Company with a new world premiere and two landmark works, marking their first return in over eight years. The event, set for March 19-22, 2026, will feature a blend of dance and theater addressing America's cultural and political issues.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 3, 2026
La MaMa will present the world premiere of FOOTNOTES, a multi-media puppetry show exploring the profound aspects of walking, from February 27 to March 15, 2026.
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 3, 2026
The 1/52 Project has opened applications for its 2026 grant cycle supporting early-career theatre designers from historically excluded groups. Founded by Beowulf Boritt, the OBIE Award-winning program provides financial grants of up to $17,500.
by Stephi Wild - Jan 28, 2026
The date has been set for the 70th Drama Desk Awards! The 2026 Drama Desk Awards will be held at The Town Hall on May 17, 2026. Learn more about the event here!
by Courtney Symes - Jan 15, 2026
Broadway Sacramento is starting off the new year with a legend. The Lion King, winner of six Tony Awards, is back in town after seventeen years. The familiar score by Elton John and Tim Rice has been a favorite since the animated version debuted in 1994. Songs like “Hakuna Matata,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” and “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” have helped to catapult The Lion King to the status of highest-grossing Broadway production of all time. This was my first time experiencing the magic, and you shouldn’t wait as many years as I have.
by Stephi Wild - Jan 14, 2026
Disney’s The Lion King will be presented as a live musical production in Boise at Morrison Center beginning Feb. 18, with performances continuing through early March.
by Stephi Wild - Jan 7, 2026
The North American tour of Disney’s The Lion King will welcome Zama Magudulela as Rafiki. Magudulela will begin performances on Tuesday, January 13 in Sacramento at the Safe Credit Union Performing Arts Center.
by Stephi Wild - Dec 22, 2025
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club will present the workshop production of The Thousand and One Nights, a reimagining of the epic from Lebanese-American director and playwright Ghina Fawaz and Turkish dramaturg and artist Begüm 'Begsy' Inal.
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 18, 2025
The Metropolitan Opera has released a rehearsal video from its upcoming revival of THE MAGIC FLUTE, offering an early look at Julie Taymor’s production ahead of the opera’s holiday performances.
by A.A. Cristi - Dec 16, 2025
La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club will present the workshop production of ألف ليلة وليلة (The Thousand and One Nights), a bold reimagining of the legendary epic from Lebanese-American director and playwright Ghina Fawaz and Turkish dramaturg and artist Begüm 'Begsy' Inal.
by Joshua Wright - Dec 16, 2025
Get a first look at The Metropolitan Opera's revival of THE MAGIC FLUTE, with all new-clips of Julie Taymor’s production. The Met welcome soprano Rainelle Krause for her company debut as the Queen of the Night. Krause, who has earned international recognition for her interpretation of the role, will appear in six performances of the production during the run.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Julie Taymor has written 6 shows including The Transposed Heads (Bookwriter), The Transposed Heads (Bookwriter), Juan Darien (Bookwriter), Juan Darién (Bookwriter), The Lion King (Composer), Spider-Man (Bookwriter).
Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Outstanding Director of a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for A Midsummer Night's Dream, Best Costume Designer (Olivier Awards) for The Lion King, Best Director (Olivier Awards) for The Lion King, Outstanding Costume Design (Drama Desk Awards) for The Lion King, Outstanding Director - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Lion King, Outstanding Puppet Design (Drama Desk Awards) for The Lion King, Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre (Drama League Awards), Best Costume Design (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Lion King , Best Director - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Lion King , Costume Design (The Hewes Awards) for The Lion King, Noteworthy/Unusual Effects Design (The Hewes Awards) for The Lion King, Best Costume Design (Tony Awards) for The Lion King, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Lion King, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Tony Awards) for The Lion King, Outstanding Costume Design (Drama Desk Awards) for The Lion King , Outstanding Costume Design (Drama Desk Awards) for Juan Darient: A Carnival Mass, Outstanding Director - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Lion King, Outstanding Puppet Design (Drama Desk Awards) for The Lion King, Outstanding Set Design - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Juan Darient: A Carnival Mass, Best Direction of a Musical (Tony Awards) for Juan Darien, Best Scenic Design (Tony Awards) for Juan Darien, Outstanding Costume Design (Drama Desk Awards) for The Tempest, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Welcome to the Club, Direction (Obie Awards) for Juan Darien, Concept Pupperty and Masks (The Hewes Awards) for Juan Darien, Special Citations (Obie Awards) and Scenic, Costume and Puppet Design (The Hewes Awards) for The Haggadah.
Julie Taymor has received numerous awards for her work, particularly for The Lion King. She won Best Costume Designer at the Olivier Awards and Outstanding Costume Design, Outstanding Director - Musical, and Outstanding Puppet Design at the Drama Desk Awards for The Lion King. Additionally, she earned Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre from the Drama League Awards. Taymor received Best Costume Design and Best Director - Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for The Lion King, along with Costume Design and Noteworthy/Unusual Effects Design at The Hewes Awards. She also won Best Costume Design and Best Direction of a Musical at the Tony Awards for The Lion King. For Juan Darien, she was honored with Direction at the Obie Awards and Concept Puppetry and Masks at The Hewes Awards. Furthermore, she received Special Citations at the Obie Awards and recognition for Scenic, Costume, and Puppet Design at The Hewes Awards for The Haggadah.
Videos