‘Disney’s The Lion King’ Musical Roars into Town (Wed., 9/9/26)

Authoritarian rule is to be dreaded, except in The Lion King. All creatures rejoice when baby Simba is born—a future monarch who would surely seem destined to eat many of them. But Disney’s 1994 animated movie won the hearts of millions by dwelling on other adventures of Simba and his friends. The Broadway musical, stunningly adapted under the direction of Julie Taymor, has been playing in New York since 1997. Now the latest touring production of Disney’s The Lion King visits Pittsburgh. It retains all the features that won multiple Tony Awards (including Best Musical) for the Broadway original. Actors use Taymor’s costumes and puppets to vividly re-create a story in which no characters are humans. The musical has additional scenes and songs beyond those in the animated film, as composers such as Lebo M of South Africa expanded on the movie’s Elton John-Tim Rice score. If you want to go, you must know that Disney’s The Lion King is a hot ticket, so reserve promptly. 7:30 p.m. Through September 27 at Benedum Center, 237 7th St., Cultural District. (M.V.)

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