Over a weekend, I had the opportunity through a school field trip to watch the Broadway production of The Lion King. This took place in the Cadillac Palace Theatre and was an experience that I recommend for everyone. 

The musical starts off with Rafiki, played by Gugwana Dlamini, alone on stage singing “Nants’ Ingonyama.” This moment invites the audience to the world of The Lion King and sets the mood perfectly for what is about to come. 

The audience is then introduced to young lion cub Simba (played by Jaylen Lyndon Hunter), the son of King Mufasa (Gerald Ramsey), who befriends young Nala (Scarlett London Diviney). Together they dream about the independence that comes with growing up and what they will be in their futures. 

Simba’s uncle, Scar (Peter Hargrave), pulls Mufasa and Simba into a stampede in hopes to kill them both, which would give him the title of King. However, only Mufasa is killed while Simba escapes and plans to take back his homeland as an adult lion. 

Jaylen Lyndon Hunter does a wonderful job capturing the essence of young Simba. His youthful playfulness and charm makes him a joy to watch. Vocally, he sings with tons of support, aside from having to dance in almost every scene. Hunter and Diviney’s voices blended so well that it seemed it was their destiny to perform on stage together. Hearing “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King,” made me take a journey back into my childhood and was a moment I will never forget. 

Peter Hargrave is the perfect person to play a villain like Scar. His deep tones in the way he speaks and sings brings a power that fills the theater like no other. In his performance of “Be Prepared” the audience was on the edge of their seats, wondering what Scar would do next. 

The entire cast of Lion King, including the orchestra pit and specialties such as dance, were selected so adequately that it brought the story to life. The quality of sound was just as powerful, if not better, than watching the movie itself. The music pushed the plot along, whether it was in moments of happiness or despair and absolutely brought the house down. 

The costuming and set of the musical was expressed extremely creatively. Actors who played birds, gazelles, zebras, or even elephants all had a different interpretation of that animal represented in their costume. The bright colors on set and materials used to create grass, water, or even starlit skies invited us to share the scene with the characters. 

The message that this musical conveys is the power of love and courage. If Simba hadn’t had love for his hometown, he wouldn’t attempt to win back the title of King to save his community.

This production of The Lion King was definitely one worth watching. “The Worlds #1 Musical” is a deserving title for this show and I give it a full five stars.