Lion King on Broadway vs. Tour

[actor465]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 5:26pm

I recently saw The Lion King in New York and absolutely loved it. The tour is coming to my area in a couple of months, and I was wondering how the tour compares to the Broadway production. Anyone who's seen both have any thoughts?

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 5:30pm

I havn't seen both productions, but I know that Pride Rock doesn't come out of the stage in the national tour. It comes out from the wings instead.

[timote316]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 5:38pm

Pride Rock looks like a big ole' caterpillar, to be honest.

I haven't seen the NYC production, but I recommed the tour. The first time I saw it, I hated it, but the second time it was great. If you don't mind me asking, where are you? If its Buffalo, the tour has some really great talent (Gazelle company, which is leaving Boston on 2/20 - I'm sure the other tour is great, too, but I can only speak for this one)

[shaun3000]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 5:39pm

I've seen both. Saw the tour in Dallas in 2003 and on Broadway in 2004.

They are nearly identical, including the actual performances. Pride rock comes out of the wings but still spirals around once on stage.

[rent1988]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 5:53pm

i saw lion king this january in boston, and i personally didnt like it. since i havent seen it in nyc, i cant tell if it was the show its self i didnt like or just the performance that the tour put on.

and if i remember correctly, pride rock did come out of the stage. haha it was my favorite part of the show.

[ShuQ]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 6:21pm

That's odd...when I saw it in Memphis, Pride Rock came up from the floor.

[timote316]

Posted: 2/7/05 at 6:28pm

rent1988, it came from the wings.

[rent1988]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 10:17pm

nope, it did come from the stage

[IMsooHyprToday]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 10:28pm

Some times, national tours will have different effects at different locations depending on the capabilities of the theatre. Many theatres dont have the understage space which is needed for it to rise from below. Since each space is different, they build the set to be flexable. When i saw it in LA (is that considered the tour?) it came up from below the stage because the Pantageous had that capability. Updated On: 2/16/05 at 10:28 PM

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 10:35pm

I always thought it was weird that Pride Rock never came from under the stage in Chicago, even though the theatre it played in was restored with "The Lion King" in mind.

[rent1988]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 10:39pm

yeahh the opera house in boston (where the lion king is showing) was just restored so i guess they put it in. it was an awesome effect though.

[timote316]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 10:46pm

I've seen it twice, and spent the first time I saw it looking for flaws. It looked like a big caterpillar coming from the wings. The stage rises up and tilts, but Pride Rock doesnt come up from the stage. Its actually quite humorous because it is big and clunky.

[bronxboundexpress]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 11:18pm

when did the lion king start in boston?

[timote316]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 11:30pm

According to the national tour listing, last July 16th. It leaves on Sunday.

[STLBOY81]

Posted: 8/2/05 at 4:21pm

I saw Lion King on tour in St. Louis and thought it was great. I haven't seen the one on Broadway tho. :-

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 1:03am

Saw it in San Francisco. Hated it. (oh look, those dancers look like animals. oh look, it's 8:06, only two and a half more hours of this tedium)

[theatreboi11]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 2:19am

saw the show a few weeks ago in Chicago. If the costumes and puppets weren't as amazing as they were, I would have walked out. Too much of a kid show for me.

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 2:44am

In the original LA show, it came up form the stage, cuz they bascially rebuilt the Pantages to fit the show in.

Last time I saw the tour, the rock zoomed in from SL, and then twisted around itself to form the right shape.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 2:48am

so how do the animals make their entrances for CIRCLE OF LIFE on tour... i know at the Pantages they came through the audience... but some theaters I know that are hosting the show have continental seating... what happens then? do the animals/actors just walk in from the wings as well?

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 2:53am

ASU has continental seating, but I remember seeing a map where they had either removed seats, or built a walkway for the animals to use.

[Whiteguy2088]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 6:19am

I saw the tour in Orange County a few months back. Absolutely amazing. Rafiki had an amazing voice. I got chills on the first few notes of Circle of Life. Was really great. Shadowland was wodnerful, as was Endless Night.

All in all amazing show.

Never seen the NYC but see the tour!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 8/3/05 at 6:32am

i thought broadway was famous for its musicals...not its circus???