The Lion King at Providence Performing Arts Center

“Make no mistake – The Lion King is a rare theatre experience.” – Show Score

When the sun rises over the Serengeti and those first iconic notes delivered in a breathtaking voice fills the air, hairs stand on end. When the threatening thunder of the stampede is heard for the first time, the edge becomes the primary part of the seat. When the majestic final notes fall, lumps appear in throats. 

Nearly three decades after its instantly successful debut, The Lion King is still roaring loud and proud, still captivating audience after audience, still making jaws drop at every song, still making eyes pop with its spectacular, unparalleled visuals, still producing the goosebumps, the tears, the laughter, and sending chills down the spine. It’s a theatrical masterpiece, an artistic triumph, a force to be reckoned with – and everybody must absolutely see it two or three times during their lives. 

This season the Pride Lands are coming to Rhode Island in all its glory, and nothing can prepare you for the magnificence you’re about to experience! From the exquisite puppetry to the stunning costumes, from the breathtaking visuals to the jaw-dropping choreography, from the mind-blowing vocal prowess to the off-the-charts production value – the Tony Award-winning The Lion King transcends all other productions, and you’ll have no other option but to simply adore it! That’s right, Providence, the North American tour of The Lion King is coming to the Providence Performing Arts Centre this season! 

Lion King Tickets

Tickets are available for purchase now from the Providence Performing Arts Centre’s box office, and with this one-of-a-kind production’s reputation of packing venues to the rafters, they are bound to sell out soon. So head on down there and secure the best seats in the house for you and yours while they’re still available! Alternatively, if you don’t want to risk missing out on the highest grossing Broadway production of all time, just click on the ‘Buy Tickets’ link now to be redirected to  complete your purchase within a few minutes and download your buyer-guaranteed tickets directly to your phone –  no mess or fuss!  

“Music of 90s nostalgia mixed with rich African colours and sounds make for an impressive show you’ll fall in love with.” – Official Theatre

SYNOPSIS

In 1994, writers Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts, and Linda Woolverton had their story come to life in the critically acclaimed Walt Disney animation musical drama film, The Lion King. In 1997, Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi’s book for the stage adaptation grew into something much larger than life – a coming-of-age tale about the prince of the jungle Simba and his journey. 

In the tradition of the Great Kings of the Past, the king of Pride Rock’s son Simba is named heir to the throne. The lively young cub learns about the balance between all things living and being a king from his father, Mufasa. After being tempted to explore the kingdom beyond the boundaries Mufasa put in place, Simba and his friend Nala are lured to an elephant graveyard by Mufasa’s jealous brother Scar. Following an altercation that almost had a catastrophic result, Mufasa takes the opportunity to teach his son about the difference between bravery and bravado. 

However, Scar’s plan to overthrow the ruling king of the Pride Lands so that he can become king escalates, resulting in Mufasa’s death and Simba’s exile. While in exile, Simba leads a carefree life with his friends Timon and Pumbaa, but after they are attacked by a lioness from the Pride Lands, Simba is faced with a choice – bravado or bravery. 

“Seen purely as a visual tapestry, there is simply nothing else like it.” – The New York Times

CREATIVE TEAM

The Lion King has truly become one of the world’s biggest must-see productions. With iconic music by Elton John, Tim Rice, and Hans Zimmer, along with contributions by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Tsidii Le Loka, and director Julie Taymor, and a masterfully written book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, The Lion King is one of those productions that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. 

A large part of the design, including costume design, mask and puppet co-design, and additional music and lyrics of The Lion King, along with direction, has been handled by world-renowned and award-winning director Julie Taymor (Frida, Across the Universe, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Green Bird).

The visionary creative team also include choreographer Garth Fagan, scenic designer Richard Hudson, lighting designer Donald Holder, mask and puppet co-designer Michael Curry, orchestrators Robert Elhai, David Metzger, and Bruce Fowler, musical supervisors David Kreppel and Sean Mayes, and sound designer Steve Canyon Kennedy.  

“Simply said, Julie Taymor’s staging of Disney’s The Lion King is a marvel, a theatrical achievement unrivalled in its beauty, brains, and ingenuity.” – Variety

CAST

The star-studded North American touring cast for this season’s run of The Lion King features the talents of Peter Hargrave as Scar, David D’Lancy Wilson as Mufasa, Zama Magudulela as Rafiki, Nick Cordileone as Timon, Nick LaMedica as Zazu, Danny Grumich as Pumbaa, Gilbert Domally as Simba, Thembelihle Cele as Nala, Forest VanDyke as Banzai, Martina Sykes as Shenzi, and Sam Linda as Ed.

Audiences can also look forward to experiencing Aaron Chao and Josiah Watson as young Simba, and Journey Compas and Marley Gomes as young Nala at certain performances. 

“The musical is an intelligent spectacle, extravagance with a purpose – and heart.” – Show Score

HISTORY & LEGACY

The stage adaptation of The Lion King had its debut in mid-1997 at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, and was an almost overnight success. The Broadway production premiered in late 1997 at the New Amsterdam Theatre before moving to the Minskoff Theatre, where, after over 11,000 performances, it is still being performed today. 

The Lion King is currently Broadway’s third longest-running and highest grossing production, overtaking Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical The Phantom Of The Opera. To date, The Lion King has received no less than six Tony Awards, eight Drama Desk Awards, a Theatre World Award, and a New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, along with two Laurence Olivier Awards.   

“The Lion King is still a timeless piece of artistry and magical allure.” – New York Theatre Guide

THE PROVIDENCE PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE

If you live in or around Rhode Island, you’ll know the Providence Performing Arts Centre. You would have seen some of the most magnificent productions there, and are carrying cherished memories with you. The popularity of the Providence Performing Arts Centre doesn’t stop there – it is known around the world as the nearly century-old iconic theatre situated on 220 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. With its opulent chandeliers, gorgeous marble columns, and wonderfully detailed moldings on the walls, the Providence Performing Arts Centre didn’t only crawl deep into the hearts of theatregoers around the world, but is a regular go-to for all things world-renowned entertainment – from touring Broadway productions to comedy shows, from music concerts to straight plays. 

The Providence Performing Arts Centre can provide over 3,000 patrons with luxurious, reupholstered seating across an orchestra floor, loge, and first and second dress circle, ensuring those much sought-after impeccable sight-lines. The venue boasts to-the-minute sound and lighting, elevating your experience to the next level, fantastic amenities that cater for every want and need, great acoustics, friendly and helpful staff, and ample safe parking.