The Lion King at Providence Performing Arts Center

The saga of The Lion King is set in motion in a vast savanna territory in Africa; based in The Pride Lands, the little heir Simba leads a free and easy life, before disloyalty is revealed because of the deeds of his evil uncle Scar and his impulse to take the throne and become the ruling monarch himself. The first act's series of incidents leads to Simba's escape from his home and the account of his eventual return to retake his throne and his place as King.

The 1997 Broadway play, since its creation, had to borrow several design elements and inspiration from real African society and history given its content. The narrative itself is actually founded on historical African leaders and factual happenings – Simba being the animal version of Sundiata Mansa, the Emperor of the Malian Empire who was appropriately referred to The Lion of Mali.

Julie Taymor, the first female in the history of Broadway to earn a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, made sure to be respectful of East Asian and African cultural sources, specifically with outfits used, which resulted in a faultless Broadway production of the show. The regalia alone are respectful depictions of a few traditional groups in Africa, an exemplification of such is Simba’s costume in the play which in fact based on Kenyan Maasi fighters' armor. Just like the previous 1994 film, the fantastic musical compositions created by Elton John and Tim Rice stays true to its African inspiration, with the live adaptation even adding compositions with lyrics that are performed either in part or fully in African tongue including Swahili and Zulu. Also, the African inspiration is also clearly seen in dance numbers, with several of the performances presenting the fluidity of Bali-inspired choreography.

The costume design, African influence, and stellar performances all merge effortlessly to make up an magnificent musical. On Wednesday 20th May 2026 and at Providence, The Lion King from Broadway performs in Providence Performing Arts Center - famous to locals and tourists for holding the best shows and plays because of the favorite facilities and topnotch lighting design that entertainment venues can offer. Seats to The Lion King on Wednesday 20th May 2026 are currently available and may be purchased by clicking the links that can be seen on the top of this page.