The Lion King at Saenger Theatre

The story of The Lion King starts in a vast savanna territory in Africa; living in The Pride Lands, the young Prince Simba is fated to take over after his father, before disloyalty is revealed because of the actions of his dishonorable uncle Scar and his intention to take the throne and become ruler himself. The first part's series of occurrences leads to the little lion's escape from The Pride Lands and the tale of his eventual return to overthrow his uncle Scar and save his people.

The Lion King, since its inception, had to develop extensive research on real African society and history given the play's context. The story itself is actually based on previously existing African leaders and factual events – Simba being the animal equivalent of Sundiata Mansa, the leader of the Malian Empire who was aptly named The Lion of Mali.

Julie Taymor, the first woman in Broadway history to gain a Tony for Best Direction of a Musical, made sure to be respectful of East Asian and African cultural sources, especially costume design, which resulted in an accurate live adaptation of the musical. The outfits alone are respectful portrayals of some ethnic groups in Africa, an exemplification of such is Simba’s garb in the show which in fact copied from Kenyan Maasi warriors' attire. Just like the previous 1994 film, the fantastic musical score created by Elton John and Tim Rice pays homage to its African heritage, with the stage adaptation even putting in compositions with lyrics that are performed either in part or fully in African tongue like Swahili and Zulu. Additionally, the African theme is also clearly seen in choreography, with several of the dances consistently featuring the fluidity of Bali-inspired choreography.

The costume design, song composition, and stellar performances all work in harmony to carry out an unforgettable musical. On Saturday 24th October 2026 and at New Orleans, The Lion King from Broadway is hosted in Saenger Theatre - visited frequently by locals and tourists for hosting the best musicals and plays because of the favorite facilities and topnotch equipment that entertainment venues can offer. Seats to this musical on Saturday 24th October 2026 are now available and may be secured by clicking the links provided on the top of this page.