The Lion King musical had a habitat in Las Vegas for two and a half years and more than 1,000 performances before closing in December 2011. Nearly a million and a half guests saw giraffes strut, birds swoop and gazelles leap live as Mandalay Events Center was transformed into the Serengeti for the Vegas version of the Tony Award-winning musical. Now the Smith Center brings Timon, Pumba and Scar back to the desert for three weeks of stunning visuals, dazzling costumes and choreography, and music by Elton John and Tim Rice that makes up one of the most beloved soundtracks in Broadway history. The history of The Lion King as a live musical dates back to the Disney Renaissance of the ’90s. John and Rice had composed songs for the 1994 hit animated film. Director Julie Taymor, red hot after three successful Shakespeare stage productions, saw the potential in a live adaptation and the production opened in Minneapolis in the summer of 1997. It became an immediate hit and moved to Broadway months later, where it is still performed today. The touring version is 150 minutes, with one 20-minute intermission.
Smith Center, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7, 9, 13-17 & 20-23, 2 & 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8, 10 & 24, 1 & 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11, 18 & 25, starting at $29 plus tax & fee. 702.749.2000
