BROADWAY AT THE PARAMOUNT - Disney's THE LION KING December 4th through January 4th, 2026 Media Night Review
Disney Presents: THE LION KING
Music and Lyrics by Sir Elton John and Tim Rice
Paramount Theatre
Seattle, WA
Music and Lyrics by Sir Elton John and Tim Rice
Book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi
Choreography by Garth Fagan
Conceived and Directed by Julie Taymor
Paramount Theatre
Seattle, WA
Premera Blue Cross Broadway At The Paramount
Review: December 5, 2025 - Media Night
As another year wraps up, a mammoth of a musical returned to the Paramount Theatre stage in Seattle, WA. Disney’s The Lion King roared into action Friday evening with a packed house ready to revisit the Pridelands once again.
For those that haven’t seen the musical version of Disney’s The Lion King, I will do my best to not spoil the event for you. The magic and the spirit of the original film from 1994 is creatively captured for the musical stage in extremely spectacular ways. Once you see it, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Having said that, the show is still one of the veteran shows that, for this reviewer, hasn’t grown stale. Disney pretty much nailed every aspect of the original film which made it a classic - storyline, voiceovers, music, animation for the time, themes, humor, etc. So, the musical version has the very best bones to build from.
A piece of advice - do not be late to the start of your performance. You don’t want to be one of those unfortunate souls that has to wait in the lobby for an appropriate time in the show to be let in. The opening of Disney’s The Lion King is one of the best in the musical theatre world. It actually feels like the climax from the end of the show. So, allow for extra time and all of that so you can be in your seat ready to be whisked away to the Pridelands.
The performances last evening were as solid and professional as one would expect from such a show. Having had a few minutes to speak with two members of the cast at Friday morning’s press event, both Peter Hargrave (“Scar”) and David D’Lancy Wilson (“Mufasa”) spoke about how they have been encouraged to find their own voice in the characters that they play while still paying homage to the iconic voiceover performances from Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones, respectively.
Peter was everything you wanted from Scar. He nailed the role with his performance. David also brought Mufasa to life in magnificent ways. His presence on stage was captivating as a lion king should and he kept the heart of the character from the film firmly in place when it came to his family and the Pridelands.
Every character you love or love to hate from Disney’s The Lion King is done so well that it would take forever to describe each without giving away the magic of how they are performed on stage. Just know that a ton of work goes into the costumes, sets, choreography, music, and performances. When one talks about a collaborative effort on a massive scale, look no further for a pristine example than Disney’s The Lion King.
The show comes with my highest recommendation, whether you’ve been to the Pridelands before or if you’re a first time visitor, Disney’s The Lion King is sure to please everyone.
Disney’s The Lion King plays through January 4, 2025. Purchase tickets: HERE!
Happy Holidays,
Mark D. Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts Media
Connect With Eclectic Arts Media: Social Media and Email Links
Review: December 5, 2025 - Media Night
(Company of The Lion King on Broadway. Photo by Matthew Murphy. Disney)
As another year wraps up, a mammoth of a musical returned to the Paramount Theatre stage in Seattle, WA. Disney’s The Lion King roared into action Friday evening with a packed house ready to revisit the Pridelands once again.
For those that haven’t seen the musical version of Disney’s The Lion King, I will do my best to not spoil the event for you. The magic and the spirit of the original film from 1994 is creatively captured for the musical stage in extremely spectacular ways. Once you see it, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
Having said that, the show is still one of the veteran shows that, for this reviewer, hasn’t grown stale. Disney pretty much nailed every aspect of the original film which made it a classic - storyline, voiceovers, music, animation for the time, themes, humor, etc. So, the musical version has the very best bones to build from.
A piece of advice - do not be late to the start of your performance. You don’t want to be one of those unfortunate souls that has to wait in the lobby for an appropriate time in the show to be let in. The opening of Disney’s The Lion King is one of the best in the musical theatre world. It actually feels like the climax from the end of the show. So, allow for extra time and all of that so you can be in your seat ready to be whisked away to the Pridelands.
The performances last evening were as solid and professional as one would expect from such a show. Having had a few minutes to speak with two members of the cast at Friday morning’s press event, both Peter Hargrave (“Scar”) and David D’Lancy Wilson (“Mufasa”) spoke about how they have been encouraged to find their own voice in the characters that they play while still paying homage to the iconic voiceover performances from Jeremy Irons and James Earl Jones, respectively.
Peter was everything you wanted from Scar. He nailed the role with his performance. David also brought Mufasa to life in magnificent ways. His presence on stage was captivating as a lion king should and he kept the heart of the character from the film firmly in place when it came to his family and the Pridelands.
Every character you love or love to hate from Disney’s The Lion King is done so well that it would take forever to describe each without giving away the magic of how they are performed on stage. Just know that a ton of work goes into the costumes, sets, choreography, music, and performances. When one talks about a collaborative effort on a massive scale, look no further for a pristine example than Disney’s The Lion King.
The show comes with my highest recommendation, whether you’ve been to the Pridelands before or if you’re a first time visitor, Disney’s The Lion King is sure to please everyone.
Disney’s The Lion King plays through January 4, 2025. Purchase tickets: HERE!
Happy Holidays,
Mark D. Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts Media
Connect With Eclectic Arts Media: Social Media and Email Links
BEHIND THE SCENES PRESS TOUR VIDEO 12/5/25
(David D'Lancy Wilson as Mufasa. The Lion King. Disney. Photo by Matthew Murphy)
(Peter Hargrave as Scar. The Lion King North American Tour. Disney. Photo by Matthew Murphy)
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