Lion King at Minskoff theater

[justafan2]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 8:48pm

I just saw Lion King and haven't seen it since it moved from the Amsterdam theater. I also never saw it in mezzanine before (always orchestra). Today I had 1st row, mezz. (very good seats, btw). Has the staging changed since it moved to the Minskoff or did I miss seeing alot in prior performances? It seemed richer---with fuller sound than I remember. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would---very well done with very good movement and singing.

[vlegra]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 10:21pm

well the show is a very rich show no matter what. Such a spectacular piece of theater it is. Disney does use vocal tracks on all their shows. I have had friends in all their productions and they have all told me that there are vocal tracks playing.
That doesn't mean the show is bad but the vocals are just not 100% real.

Amazing is the only thing that i can say to explain this show. I really hope this lasts longer than phantom does to be honest.

[Justin D]

Posted: 11/28/10 at 10:22pm

Nothing has changed in terms of staging. But a few months ago they cut a song or 2 and removed a few small bits.

Also the stage opening for the Minskoff is different from the New Amsterdam, it is now wider and lower and with out all the beautiful,but distracting details around the theatre so I find your attention is more focused on what's happening on stage.

[caitlinette]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 3:12am

Huh...why do they use vocal tracks? For ensemble numbers, or for principles too?

[Justin D]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 8:22am

Probably just to juice up the choral numbers, it's hard to dance those moves and chant at the same time. But it's my first time hearing about this because the ensemble is broked down into 2 groups: Dancers and Singers.

[Overkill]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 8:59am

^I was about to say, I've never heard of them using vocal tracks. Wouldn't the chorus get a bit lazy relying on them? lol

[alexw77]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:12pm

I saw Lion King in London last year and the sound was so good I asked the engineer if everything was live. He said all music and vocals were live, although the live vocals were supplemented by a vocal track for about 3 minutes in total. I think it was during the scene where Mufasa dies and again right at the end of the show. He said the track helped to maintain the edge on the vocals at these times when there was vigorous dancing.

Really amazing show, I loved everything about it. I enjoyed it more than I was expecting. We'll get round to seeing it here in New York really soon.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:30pm

Mufasa dies!?

[justafan2]

Posted: 11/29/10 at 12:39pm

Uh, he's just sleeping.....