Lion King at Procter & Gamble Hall

“‘The Lion King’ continues to be a wonderful evening at the theatre. You will laugh, cry, and marvel at all the beauty around.” – New York Theatre Guide

Cincinnati, this year you won’t have to get on an airplane to escape to the African wilderness – the Pride Lands is coming to you! The sun will be rising over the Pride Lands accompanied by exquisite, hair-raising African chants once more; the animals will gather to meet their future king again; the lions will roar loud and proud; the rich soundscapes and breathtaking scenery of the Pride Lands will cement itself deep in your heart and soul again – so be prepared, because the most extraordinary scenery, story, music, and adventure await you! 

It’s a tale about kings and a theatrical experience befitting kings; it’s a one-of-a-kind, exceptionally creative staging; it’s nothing short of extraordinary – and is guaranteed to make your hair stand on end from the moment the sun rises in the spectacular, jaw-dropping opening until the very last notes have died down! This year your lucky African stars are aligning, Cincinnati, because The Lion King is coming to the Procter & Gamble Hall at the Aronoff Centre for the Arts! 

Lion King Tickets

Tickets are on sale now from the venue’s box office – and with The Lion King’s reputation of sold-out shows, it’s a matter of urgency to get to the box office to secure your seats. If you rather won’t risk it and want to get your hands on your premier seats right now, simply click on the ‘Buy Tickets’. Here, with only a few clicks, you’ll be able to get your buyer-guaranteed tickets in hand quickly, easily, and effectively! 

“A jaw-dropping magnificent spectacle!” – Newsday

SYNOPSIS

“You will be bombarded by some of the most beautiful and spectacular sights theatre can offer!” – New York

Simba, a young, wide-eyed, and bubbly lion cub and the future king of the Pride Lands, is learning about the circle of life, the joys of the vast African wilderness, life itself, and how to be a good king from his father Mufasa, king and highly regarded leader of the Pride Lands – much to the dismay of his uncle Scar. After an attempt on the young cub’s life with the eye on succession to the throne, Scar is confronted by Mufasa, and Simba is taught a valuable life lesson. Scar, however, has a plan to overthrow Mufasa’s regime and claim the throne for himself – with devastating consequences. 

The question is, will Simba find the strength in himself to return to the Pride Lands, face the truth, and overcome the challenges at hand? 

Nothing can prepare you for the gasps and awe of seeing the animals come to life with the use of spectacular, innovative, intricate, life-sized puppetry; nothing will stop jaws from dropping at the sheer power, artistic, and creative design of a one-of-a-kind production that transcends all other productions; nothing can prevent it from delivering chill after chill with its gorgeous soundscapes and unsettling deep emotions with its exquisite visuals – and there is simply no other option than falling in love with this masterpiece! 

“The opening may be the most beautiful – and emotional – theatrical scene there is.” – Theatre and Tonic

CREATIVE TEAM

Following the 1994 animated Disney film The Lion King, Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi have written a magnificent book, featuring the original songs from the film by Elton John and Tim Rice, and with new music contributed by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Tsidii Le Loka, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. 

World-renowned director Julie Taymor (The Tempest, The Green Bird, Titus Andronicus, Juan Darién: A Carnival Mass, M. Butterfly) is heading up the stellar creative team once more for this year’s North American touring production of The Lion King, and also contributed in terms of costume design, mask and puppet co-design, and additional lyrics. 

“Julie Taymor’s imaginative ideas seem limitless. It’s a gorgeous, gasp-inducing spectacle.” – Time Magazine

CAST

The return of The Lion King to the Procter & Gamble Hall is packed to the brim with natural talent, with Darian Sanders (Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hairspray, Dreamgirls) as Simba, and Peter Hargrave (Tiny Houses, Henry V, South Pacific, Beauty and the Beast, The Merchant of Venice) as Scar. 

The stellar cast also features the talents of Kissy Simmons as Nala, Fredi Walker-Browne as Rafiki, John Plumpis as Timon, Blake Hammond as Pumbaa, Jeff Binder as Zazu, Akil I. Lugman as young Simba, and Paula Collins and Cajai Fellows Johnson as young Nala. 

“There is simply nothing else like it.” – The New York Times

HISTORY & LEGACY

The 1994 animated film, The Lion King, produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation, was a success nobody could have foreseen. In 1997, Disney Theatrical Productions premiered its stage adaptation, with the book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice, and additional music by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Tsidii La Loka, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  

With its highly innovative staging, stunning visuals, wonderful music, and creative design, the stage adaptation of The Lion King was an overnight success, even before its late 1997 Broadway debut at the New Amsterdam Theatre. From there, the production moved to the Minskoff Theatre, where it is still being performed today, after over 11,000 performances, becoming Broadway’s third longest-running show in history and the highest grossing Broadway production of all time. To date, The Lion King has received no less than six Tony Awards, eight Drama Desk Awards, a Theatre World Award, a New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, and two Laurence Olivier Awards, among others.  

The Lion King is without a doubt the biggest must-see of the year. 

“The breathtakingly staged adaptation of Disney’s king of the cartoon jungle is an instant theatre classic.” – Entertainment Weekly

THE PROCTER & GAMBLE HALL

When the masses express that a specific venue is one of the best they’ve ever visited, you can take their word for it – and the iconic Procter & Gamble Hall at Cincinnati’s Aronoff Centre for the Arts is it. It is the largest of the three theatres at the centre, boasting a whopping capacity of 2,719. Here you will find the best of the best in entertainment all year around – from straight plays and music concerts to ballet, from musicals to stand-up comedy, and way, way more! With its massive proscenium stage, 60-foot fly tower, fibre-optic ceiling, state-of-the-art sound and lighting, pin-drop acoustics, and perfect sight-lines, every theatrical experience at the Procter & Gamble Hall is an unforgettable one. The venue boasts luxurious seats spread across an orchestra floor, loge, boxes, and balcony, ensuring that every single seat at the Procter & Gamble Hall is the best seat in the house! 

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