The Lion King at Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre

The story of The Lion King is set in motion in a fictional land in Africa; living in The Pride Lands, the young heir Simba is destined to succeed as King, before betrayal occurs because of the deeds of his dishonorable uncle Scar and his impulse to take the throne and become King himself. The first half's course of events leads to the young prince's exile from The Pride Lands and the tale of his consequent return to bring peace to his lands and citizens.

The musical, since its formation, had to borrow several design elements and inspiration from real African civilization and history given its content. The story itself is actually taken from historical African warriors and real events – Simba being the animal equivalent of Sundiata Mansa, the Emperor of the Imperial Mali who was appropriately referred to The Lion of Mali.

Julie Taymor, the first female director in Broadway history to win a Tony for Best Direction of a Musical, completed in-depth research on African and East Asian history, particularly design, which paved the way for a faultless Broadway production of the musical. The outfits when seen are perfect portrayals of several ethnic people in Africa, a portrayal of which is Simba’s garb in the play which as it happens based on Kenyan Maasi fighters' attire. Just like the late 1994 movie, the fantastic musical score created by Elton John and Tim Rice stays respectful to its African inspiration, with the live adaptation even putting in numbers with lyrics that are performed either partially or completely in African dialects including Swahili and Zulu. Moreover, the African motif is also clearly seen in choreography, with many of the dances consistently featuring the fluidity of Bali-inspired dance.

The costume design, African influence, and stellar performances all work in harmony to make up an excellent musical. On Thursday 23rd October 2025 and at Denver, Disney's The Lion King will be in Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre - famous to locals and tourists for holding the best musicals and stage adaptations due to the leading facilities and topnotch sound system that show venues can provide. Tickets to this musical on Thursday 23rd October 2025 are now available and may be secured by clicking the links provided on the top of this page.