Winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, this landmark musical features some of Broadway's most recognizable music crafted by Tony-winning artists . King, contributed the gloriously rich African rhythms and melodies. I watch the way he makes his son a priority and spending time with himeven if its virtual to speak with him, even if he has correct his child, Ramsey said. The show runs most evenings and even a few afternoons from now until July 29th at the Kennedy Center Opera House. 29. Low 72F. Subscribe to our mailing list to receives daily updates direct to your inbox! Copyright 2023 DC Theater Arts. Its a timeless classic that still hits all the right notes with its story of family, love, loyalty, and so much more. The Broadway version of Disney's "The Lion King " roars into the Kennedy Center from June 22 to July 29. 'The Lion King' is one of them. For those curious, there is a helpful Specialties section in the program which identifies the specific ensemble member and their respective feature in the show. Libby Smigel, dance curator in the Library of Congresss music division, calls Garth Fagan Dance a national treasure with its own special take and connection to music, as well as to rhythm and expression and cultural issues. Making the Fagan archives as accessible as possible selected materials will eventually be put online, for example is part of the librarys effort to make the case that performing arts are a part of American history, Smigel said. Chance of rain 60%.. Thunderstorms likely this evening. The Lion King has music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice. cast of THE LION KING at
Based on the 1994 the smash animated film produced by Disney Studios, the stage version of "The Lion King" opened in 1997 on Broadway with the wonderful music by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice and book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi. To his relief, he recalls, she hugged me and said, Baby, this is beautiful. Tickets ($39$195) are available at the box office, online, or by calling (202) 467-4600 or (800) 444-1324. Hailed by The Washington Post for his savantlike ability to name every Best Picture winner in history," Jason Fraley began at WTOP as Morning Drive Writer in 2008, film critic in 2011 and Entertainment Editor in 2014, providing daily arts coverage on-air and online. I have a 5-year-old boy, and its a beautiful thing to watch him be engulfed in the story.. Though the energy is perhaps mismatched between Sanders and White, theres enough happening between the beautiful scenery, costumes, and jaw-dropping ensemble dance breaks that much is forgiven. The Lion King has upcoming tour dates in New York, Detroit, Austin, Phoenix and more. His dances created principally for his 50-plus-year Rochester, N.Y.-based company, Garth Fagan Dance are celebrated for their distinctive and technically demanding style, which draws on Afro-Caribbean and modern dance influences and combines ballet-caliber precision with virtuosic flourishes such as abrupt leaps and daring tilts. Taymor, who studiedBunraku, the Japanese style of puppetry in which manipulators appear openly, andwayan kulit, the art of shadow puppetry, has magnificently incorporated these concepts into this spectacular production. in Theater from the State University of New York in Binghamton with a concentration in Directing. Being able to bring Africa onto that stage, how she was able to make people into animals, Brady said. Are you spending your Juneteenth holiday looking for a late Father's Day gift for your own Mufasa? Taymor, who studied, , the Japanese style of puppetry in which manipulators appear openly, and. It is expected that by now (the animated film version premiered in 1994 and in 1998 the stage version garnered six Tony Awards) that you are familiar with the story of the adorable lion cub Simbaplayed by the equally adorablePeter Hargrave(or Jackson Hayes); King Mufasa his wise and loving father played by Darian Sanders whose superlative voice cradles the emotions in They Live in You when he explains to Simba how his ancestors reside in the stars; Scar (Peter Hargrave), the evil uncle plotting to steal the throne from Simba; Rafiki the shaman (Gugwana Dlamini)and Zazu (Nick LaMedica)the Red-billed Hornbill. The wow factor is jaw-dropping. They all inhabit Simbas life on the plains of Africa, along with the strong-willed Nala (Aniya SimoneorJaxyn Damasco), Simbas childhood friend, Pumbaa (John E. Brady), the gassy warthog, and Timon (Nick Cordileone) the wise-cracking meerkat. Photo by Joan Marcus, THE LION KING. Gugwana Dlamini is both powerful and funny as Rafiki, opening the show with her buzzing vocals. The entire savanna comes to life and, as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly rises out of the stage. His energy is infectious but perhaps not appropriate for softer moments like Can You Feel the Love Tonight, where his scene partner Khalifa White (as Adult Nala) is nothing short of outstanding. The dark cloud is lifted from the pride as Simba reunites with his family and becomes king with Nala alongside as his queen. Nothing compares with the thrill of seeing Julie Taymors life-size elephant and giraffes and cheetahs coming down the aisle and bowing gracefully to each other and the King, and her vivid flowers, plants, and even grass cavorting around the stage, becoming living scenery. The Lion King has been through many incarnations, including a beloved animated film and a photorealistic CGI reboot. I went to see this production with great anticipation. Copyright by MD Theatre Guide, LLC. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. Moral dilemmas, relationships, parenting and more, At 83, Lion King choreographer Garth Fagan is still inventing moves. By using this site, you agree to ourPrivacy PolicyandTerms & Conditionswhich describe our use of cookies. 22 - Jul. Set in the African savannah at the kingdom of Pride Rock, the head lion Mufasa is betrayed and murdered by his evil brother Scar (Hamlet style), who convinces Mufasas son Simba that he is to blame for his fathers death. For information and tickets, go online. The entire savanna comes to life and, as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly rises out of the stage. DC JazzFest Adds Jazzmeia Horn, Sy Smith, Brass-A-Holics, Next Gen And International Artists To 2023 Lineup! Sign up for announcements, and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows! It is not possible to display the map. As many are well aware, the show begins with a bang - in this production, its the spectacular vocals of Gugwana Dlamini (Rafiki) who sets the tone with the famous Nants Ingonyama introduction to the song, Circle of Life. From here, its a parade of dazzling puppetry complete with elephants, gazelles, rhinos, and countless birds as the massive company floods the stage. The Love Tonight. Please provide a meal choice when making your reservations. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Over the past [mumble] decades, Jennifer has acted, directed, costumed, designed sets, posters, and programs, and generally theatrically meddled on several continents. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms overnight. meal choice when making your
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The show runs most evenings and even a few afternoons from now until July 29th at the Kennedy Center Opera House. The Lion King Washington, DC - Kennedy Center Opera House Pick Dates Thu Jun 22 7:30 PM The Lion King Kennedy Center Opera House - Washington, DC Shop Tickets Fri Jun 23 7:30 PM The Lion King Kennedy Center Opera House - Washington, DC Shop Tickets Sat Jun 24 1:30 PM The Lion King Kennedy Center Opera House - Washington, DC Shop Tickets Sat Jun 24 He gets lost a bit after his fathers death, but within the circle of life, Simbas journey leads him back to his identity, eventually carrying on his fathers legacy. Get cheap The Lion King tickets on SeatGeek for as low as $54.00. Other members of the creative team include Garth Fagan (Choreography), Richard Hudson (Scenic Design), Donald Holder (Lighting Design), Steve Canyon Kennedy (Sound Design), Karl Shymanovitz (Music Director), Anthony Lyn (Associate Director), and Marey Griffith (Associate Choreographer). You have entered an incorrect email address! Ms. Brall also lectures on theatre at a senior center. My companion thought Scar could have been a little more melodramatic, but I rather liked his somewhat lower-key portrayal. The transmission of the trove to the library has begun, as has accessioning (sorting through and processing items on the librarys end). African Pride Lands and an unforgettable score including Elton
that is degrading to another person. offering fine dining since 1770. A world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. won an Oscar, two Grammys and a Golden Globe for the original film score and Soweto migr. In that capacity she edited several house newsletters. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Thrill to the pulsating rhythms of the
All rights reserved. Taymors costumes, using the vivid colors of tribal. Be Nice. The movement in that show remained true to Fagans athletically-charged aesthetic, according to William J. Ferguson II, a former Fagan dancer and the companys former executive director. Its well known what happens next, but Ill hold back spoilers for the three of you whove yet to experience the show (or the source material, Hamlet, for that matter). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. He is no longer the company's executive director. Nominated for 11 Tony awards, it won six including Best Musical and Best Director and Costume Design for Julie Taymor. The two lovers, along with Timon and Pumbaa, sing the crowd-pleaser, Can You Feel the Love Tonight.. Threats of harming another I was a big jumper, he says. His brilliance and father figure towards us as a company is something everyone looks up to. What I did not expect was that, after so many years, I would still be captivated by the exquisite puppetry, beautiful costumes, and towering scenery that are still arguably director Julie Taymors, and so many others, finest work. Photo by Joan Marcus. Choreographer Garth Fagan has seen roaring success: The Jamaican-born dancemaker won a Tony Award in 1998 for choreographing The Lion King, a musical that has been viewed by so many theatergoers on Broadway and across the nation and the world as to make him one of the most visible Black choreographers in history. Explore! Photo by Joan Marcus, THE LION KING. 29, 2023 More than 100 million people around the world have experienced the phenomenon of Disney's The Lion King, and now you can, too, when Washington, D.C.'s best-loved musical returns to the Kennedy Center! The VIP Ticket Package includes the best seats in the theater, a Souvenir Program, and an exclusive cinch bag. I never get bored of singing that song Can You Feel the Love Tonight? is a beautiful visual feast for your ears and eyes.. The performers here are well up to the job, as they should be. Nick LaMedic expertly provides the comic relief as the hornbill Zazu. Before Fagan joined forces with director Julie Taymor on The Lion King, he engaged in another major piece of cross-disciplinary teamwork: Griot New York, created with trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis and sculptor Martin Puryear. This is "THE LION KING". Special kudos to the performers and the wardrobe crew for pulling off hundreds of costume changes without a hitch. If your event gets canceled, we'll make it right. Lion King Kennedy Center Tickets | Live in Washington DC! Were introduced to a young cub, known as Simba, and his beaming parents, Mufasa (, Fast forwarding through time, we see the young cub, Simba (a role shared by Jackson Hayes and Mason Lawson), barreling recklessly through his adolescence alongside his friend and playmate, Nala (played by Jaxyn Damasco and, Simbas eagerness to become king, and more importantly make his own rules, is sung through the bouncy hit I Just Cant Wait to Be King. This adventurous, but sometimes reckless, nature gets Simba into trouble often, and his power hungry Uncle Scar (, Not to be deterred by a setback, Scar regroups and hatches another even more nefarious plan. Audiences will surely not be disappointed with this most recent production of Disneys. Two elements make it stand out from all that came before: Julie Taymors Tony-winning direction, puppetry, costumes, and staging, and Lebo Ms African additions to the score. Purchase early to lock in prices and the best seats! The program for The Lion Kingis onlinehere. The Lion King the musical has all of your favorite characters like Simba, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa in the most breathtaking costumes that Broadway has to offer. And it makes the energy very different., Fagan says the title Prelude: Discipline Is Freedom is a pointed heads-up to viewers. A show to thrill the soul: The Lion King on tour at Dystopian future of corporate AI in the new musical comedy In Corpo at NYCs Theatre Row, GALA to present Little Central America, 1984 about Sanctuary Movement, All folks are created equal in 1776 without white men at Kennedy Center, Julianne Brienza, prime mover of Capital Fringe, on making lemonade, Within a Deaf Black family, a quietly explosive Raisin in the Sun, Calendar: Play Readings, Workshops, and Theater Events in the DMV. Welcome toMoulin Rouge!