The talent is tremendous on all counts.  The puppet designs by the legendary Julie Taymor were incredible. The opening number featured not only one of the signature songs of this award winning
musical, "Circle of Life", but also a stage filled with almost life sized puppets of the African plains.  The ending of the first number alone almost elicited a standing ovation from the audience.

The well known songs and music carry this production from scene to scene. The puppet work in its many forms, from almost two stories tall to small rodent sized shadow images scampering on stage will delight young to old. 
 

Mufasa and Simba
Photo by Joan Marcus

Is this a puppet show? Yes, but it's also an acrobatic, ballet, modern dance, song driven musical with some fun acting.  There should be something for everyone to see and enjoy.  There are dual drummers,
one on each side of the stage, providing seismic stereo percussions to put beat into each step of punctuated staged choreography.

There are also numerous magical transitions that happen on and with the stage itself, as it bends, changes shapes and reveals secrets.  This is a nice show for the whole family and you can always get the CD and remember your event for a long time.  There have been
additional days of performance added and ample times to suit your available time and desire.

When you come down get to the Cadillac a little early and you can find parking as cheap as $6.00 right in the area, look for the signs.  The show is a little less than three hours long so I would suggest that you go to the bathroom at home since the lines were long at the theater. If you find the lines too long it is worth walking down to the basement where the lines move faster.

Get your tickets soon and I would even suggest that you contact your school groups since the show would be fun for any age group and tickets are reasonable for groups as well. 

This is a highly recommended show by all of our staff.  OPJ

THE LION KING
Music & Lyrics by
ELTON JOHN & TIM RICE

Additional Music & Lyrics by
LEBO M, MARK MANCINA, JAY RIFKIN, JULIE TAYMOR. HANS ZIMMER

Book by
ROGER ALLERS & IRENE MECCHI

Adapted from the screenplay by
IRENE MECCHI & JONATHAN ROBERTS & LINDA WOOLVERTON
Produced by
PETER SCHNEIDER & THOMAS SCHUMACHER

Scenic Design 
RICHARD HUDSON 

Costume Design 
JULIE TAYMOR 

Lighting Design 
DONALD HOLDER 

Mask & Puppet Design.
JULIE TAYMOR  & MICHAEL CURRY

Choreography by
GARTH FAGAN

Directed by
JULIE TAYMOR
 

SCENES & MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT ONE

Scene 1    Pride Rock
"Circle of Life" with "Nants' Ingonyama" ........... Rafiki, Ensemble

Scene 2    Scar's Cave

Scene 3    Rafiki's Tree

Scene 4    The Pridelands
"The Morning Report" ...................... Zazu, Young Simba, Mufasa

Scene 5    Scar's Cave

Scene 6    The Pridelands
"I Just Can't Wait to Be King" ..... Young Simba, Young Nala, Zazu, Ensemble

Scene 7    Elephant Graveyard
"Chow Down" ........................................ Shenzi, Banzai, Ed

Scene 8    Under the Stars
"They Live in You" ................................. Mufasa, Ensemble

Scene 9    Elephant Graveyard
"Be Prepared".......................... Scar, Shenzi, Banzai, Ed, Ensemble

Scene 10  The Gorge

Scene 11   Pride Rock
"Be Prepared" (Reprise).................................... Scar, Ensemble

Scene 12  Rafiki's Tree

Scene 13   The Desert/The Jungle
"Hakuna Matata" ..Timon, Pumbaa, Young Simba, Simba, Ensemble

ACT TWO

Entr'acte "One by One" ................................................ Ensemble
Scene 1    Scar's Cave
"The Madness of King Scar"... Scar, Zazu, Banzai, Shenzi, Ed, Nala

Scene 2    The Pridelands
"Shadowland" ..................................... Nala, Rafiki, Ensemble

Scene 3    The Jungle

Scene 4    Under the Stars
"Endless Night". ........................................ Simba, Ensemble

Scene 5    Rafiki's Tree

Scene 6   The Jungle
"Can You Feel the Love Tonight". ......... Timon, Pumbaa, Simba, Nala, Ensemble
"He Lives in You" (Reprise) ......................... Rafiki, Simba, Ensemble

Scene 7    Pride Rock
"King of Pride Rock"/"Circle of Life" (Reprise)............... Ensemble

THERE WILL BE ONE 15-MINUTE INTERMISSION.

SONG CREDITS

All songs by EIton John (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) except as follows:

"Circle of Life"; by EIton John (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics) with "Nants' Ingonyama": by Lebo M;
"He Lives in You" ("They Live in You"): Music and lyrics by Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, and Lebo M;
"One by One": Music and lyrics by Lebo M; "Shadowland": Music by Lebo M and Hans Zimmer,
lyrics by Mark Mancina and Lebo M; "Endless Night": Music by Lebo M, Hans Zimmer, and Jay Rifkin,
lyrics by Julie Taymor; "King of Pride Rock": Music by Hans Zimmer, lyrics by Lebo M.

ADDITIONAL SCORE
Grasslands chant and Lioness chant by Lebo M; Rafiki's chants by Tsidii Le Loka.
 

CAST

cast in order of appearance
RAFIKI......................................................... Thandazile A. Soni
MUFASA. ..................................................... Rufus Bonds, Jr.
SARABI......................................................... Marvette Williams
ZAZU ........................................................... Derek Hasenstab
SCAR. .......................................................... Larry Yando
YOUNG SIMBA (at certain performances).......................... Alexander V. Bass, Maestro Harrell
YOUNG NALA (at certain performances) ............ India Savannah-Marie Harris, Geifri-Maya Hightower
SHENZI....................................................... Shaullanda LaCombe
BANZAI....................................................... Melvin Abston
ED .............................................................. Brian Sills
TIMON........................................................ Benjamin Clost
PUMBAA. ................................................... Bob Amaral
SIMB........................................................ Brandon Victor Dixon
NALA ...................................................... Adia Ginneh Dobbins

ENSEMBLE ........ Quentin Earl Darrington, Kelli David-Low, Ntomb'khona Diamini, Roberto DOS Santos, Semhar Ghebremichael, Dejah Gomez, Kehinde B. Hart, Michael A. Henry, Devert M. Hickman, Hanifa L. Jackson, Iquail S. Johnson, Nqobile Mbanjwa, Ray Mercer, Kendra Moore, Thabile Mtshali,
GeoffMyers, Tueree Shard, Lubabalo Sibindlana, Keena Smith, Vusi Sondiyazi, Omari Tau, Jasond Darril Thomas, Mariama Whyte, Marvette Williams

STANDBYS. ............ SCAR: Jonathan Weir; ZAZU: Mark David Kaplan; TIMON: Mark David Kaplan; PUMBAA: Mark David Kaplan, Jonathan Weir

UNDERSTUDIES
(Understudies never substitute for listed players unless announced at the time of the performance.)
RAFIKI: Ntomb'khona Diamini, Thabile Mtshali; MUFASA: Quentin Earl Darrington, Michael A. Henry; SARABI: Tamara L. Merritt, LaTamra Smith; ZAZU: Brian Sills; SCAR: Michael A. Henry;
SHENZI: LaTamra Smith, Mariama Whyte; BANZAI: Kenny Ingram, Omari Tau; ED: Kenny Ingram, Iquail S. Johnson; TIMON: Brian Sills; SIMBA: Kehinde B. Hart, Vusi Sondiyazi;
NALA: Dejah Gomez, LaTamra Smith, Marvette Williams

SWINGS
Garland Days, Shameika Hines, Kenny Ingram, Tamara Merritt,
Theresa Nguyen, Jose Silva, LaTamra Smith, Deanar Ali Young

SPECIALTIES
CIRCLE OF LIFE VOCALS: Lubabalo Sibindlana, Vusi Sondiyazi; MOUSE SHADOW PUPPET: Kehinde B. Hart; ANT HILL LADY: Hanifa L. Jackson; GUINEA FOWL: Roberto DOS Santos; BUZZARD POLE: Devert M. Hickman; GAZELLE WHEEL: Keena Smith; BUTTERFLIES: Keena Smith; GAZELLES: Iquail S.
Johnson, Geoff Myers; LIONESS CHANT VOCALS: Lubabalo Sibindlana; ACROBATIC TRICKSTERS: Ray Mercer, Iquail S.
Johnson; GIRAFFE SHADOW PUPPETS: Nqobile Mbanjwa, Lubabalo Sibindlana; CHEETAH: Kelli David-Low;
STILT GIRAFFE: Ray Mercer; SCAR SHADOW PUPPETS: Quentin Earl Darrington, Nqobile Mbanjwa,
Lubabalo Sibindlana; SIMBA SHADOW PUPPETS: Michael A. Henry, Vusi Sondiyazi, Omari Tau;
ONE BY ONE VOCALS: Thabile Mtshali, Vusi Sondiyazi; ONE BY ONE DANCE: Lubabalo Sibindlana,
Nqobile Mbanjwa, Vusi Sondiyazi; FIREFLIES: Hanifa L. Jackson; PUMBAA POLE PUPPET:
Kehinde B. Hart;
NALA POLE PUPPET: Kelli David-Low; FLOOR DANCERS: Hanifa L. Jackson, Devert M. Hickman;
FLYING DANCERS: Iquail S. Johnson, Kendra Moore, Geoff Myers, Keena Smith;
LIONESS/HYENA SHADOW PUPPETS: Ntomb'khona Diamini, Semhar Ghebremichael, Dejah Gomez,
Thabile Mtshali, Omari Tau, Mariama Whyte

ORCHESTRA
Conductor-Stephen Bates
Keyboard 2/Assistant Conductor: Rick Snyder; Keyboard 1: Bob Sutler; Keyboard 3: Jeremy Kahn;
Accoustic & Electric Bass: Tom Mendel; Drum: Jim Widlowski; Percussion: David Mancuso, Eric McKain,
Joe Sonnefeldt; Guitars: Steve Roberts; Flutes: Darlene Drew; French Horn: Sandra Donatelle; Trombone 1: Robert Lustrea; Trombone 2/Tuba: Art Linsner; Violin 1 (Concertmaster): Paul Zafer; Violin 2: Roberta Freier; Viola: Kristin Figard; Cello: Mark Lekas; Vocal Coach: Ben Johnson Music Coorduiator-Michael Keller
Musical Coordinator for Broadway In Chicago: Sam Lutfiyya, Music Service International Based on the Disney film LION KING
Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff; Produced by Don Han
Special thanks to all the artiste and staff of Walt Disney Feature Animation
 

      DISNEY'S "THE LION KING" OPENS
AT CHICAGO'S CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE
CHICAGO (May 3,2003) - The curtain is rising at the Cadillac Palace Theatre for the eagerly awaited Chicago engagement of Disney's "THE LION KING." The award-winning Best Musical will play a limited engagement at the Cadillac through November 23, 2003. This brand new company is the ninth production worldwide after New York, Tokyo, Osaka, London, Toronto, Los Angeles, Hamburg and the U.S. National Tour.

The cast of "THE LION KING" totals 48 performers, most of whom are performing the show for their first time. Approximately thirty percent of the company is from Chicago. Heading up this new production is Chicago native Larry Yando, playing "Scar." Reprising the role of "Mufasa" from the Los Angeles production is Rufus Bonds, Jr. South African Thandi Soni plays "Rafiki." "Timon" is played by Benjamin Clost. Chicago native Derek Hasenstab portrays "Zazu." Other principals include: Bob Amaral as "Pumbaa;" Brandon Victor Dixon as "Simba;" Adia Dobbins as "Nala;" Chicago native Melvin Abston as "Banzai;" Shaullanda LaCombe as "Shenzi;" Brian Sills as "Ed;" Chicago natives Alexander Bass and
Maestro Harrell alternate the role of "Young Simba;" and India Harris and Geffrimaya Hightower alternate the role of "Young Nala."
The rest of the ensemble includes: Quentin Darrington, Kelli David-Low, Garland Days, Ntomb'khona Diamini, Roberto DOS Santos, Semhar Ghebremichael, Dejah Gomez, Kehinde Hart, Michael Henry,Shameika Hines, Kenny Ingram, Hanifa Jackson, Iquail Johnson, Mark David Kaplan, Nqobile Mbanjwa,
Ray Mercer, Tamara Merritt, Kendra Moore, Thabile Mtshali, Geoff Myers, Theresa Nguyen, Tueree Shard, Lubabalo Sibindlana, Jose Silva, Keena Smith, Latamra Smith, Vusi Sondiyazi, Omari Tau,
Jasond Thomas, Jonathan Weir, Mariama Whyte, Marvette Williams and Deanar Ali Young. Now in its sixth sold out year in New York at the New Amsterdam Theatre, "THE LION KING" is the
winner of six Tony® Awards including Best Musical, eight Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle
Awards, the New York Drama Critics award for Best Musical, the Evening Standard Award for the Theatrical Event of the Year, two Olivier Awards, a Theatre World Award, the Astaire Award for

         Outstanding Choreography, two Drama League Awards and a Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album.
         Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in Broadway history to win the Tony® Award for Best Director of a Musical. Taymor, along with Michael Curry, created hundreds of masks and
puppets for

         Tickets to "THE LION KING" are currently on sale for performances now through November 23, 2003.
         Ticket prices for the engagement range from $18 to $82. Additionally, Disney has announced that 40,000 new tickets in every price level have recently been released, encompassing all current
performances through November 23,2003.
         Theatergoers are able to upgrade to a VIP experience by purchasing the special VIP Ticket Package, which includes: premium orchestra seats, a commemorative souvenir program, exclusive
merchandise from "THE LION KING" and complimentary parking (one pass per order). VIP Ticket Packages range from $122 to $127. 

Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (22 W. Monroe St., 24 W. Randolph St. and 151 W. Randolph St.), by calling the Broadway In Chicago Ticketline at (312) 902-1400, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers (including all Carson Pirie Scott stores, Tower Records, Hot Tix, select Coconuts,Record Town, fye stores and Camelot locations) or at ticketmaster.com. Tickets for groups of 20 or more can be ordered by calling (312) 977-1710. "THE LION KING" is part of the Neumann Homes Broadway In
         Chicago 2003 Season Series.
 

MASKS/PUPPETS:

  There are more than 232 puppets in
  the show, including rod puppets,
  shadow puppets and full-sized
  puppets.

  There are 25 kinds of animals, birds,
  fish and insects represented in the
  show.

  There are 27 kite birds.
  It took 37,000 hours to build the
  puppets and masks.

  The masks of "THE LION KING"
  are constructed using carbon graphite,
  a tough, lightweight material.
  Mufasa's mask weighs 11 ounces.
  Scars mask weighs 9 ounces.

  The tallest animals in the show are the
  18-foot exotic giraffes in the song "I
  Just Can't Wait To Be King."

  The tiniest animal in the show is the
  trick mouse at the end of Scar's cane:
  5 inches.

  The Timon puppet weighs 15 pounds.

  The longest animal is an elephant:
  13' long, 11 '3" tall, and 9' wide at
  the ears. It collapses to 34 inches
  wide to go down the aisle at the
  Cadillac Palace Theatre.

  750 pounds of silicone rubber were
  used to make the masks.
  COSTUMES:
  60 pounds of grass were used for the
  Grasslands Headdresses.

  Number of ants on Ant-Hill Lady:   106

  MISCELLANEOUS:

  There are 143 people directly
  involved with the daily production
  of "THE LION KING" - 
  53 cast  members, 21 musicians, 25
  wardrobe people, 13 carpenters, 10
  electricians, 8 administrative people,
  6 creative associates, 4 props people
  and 3 sound people.

  Lighting designer Donald Holder
  used nearly 700 lighting instruments
  to create the lighting plot.