Monday, July 11, 2016

The Lion Sleeps Tonight

Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba
Sithi uhm ingonyama
Ingonyama
Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba
Sith uhhmm ingonyama
Ingonyama
Siyo nqoba
Ingonyama
Ingonyama nengw' enamabala
Cue: breathtaking serengeti sunrise and wildlife awakenings

They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway, and they're right.  But they are on all the surrounding NYC streets too.  And this particular night at the Minskoff Theater at 1515 Broadway, the lights were shining especially bright when these stars made their Broadway debut together.
The Minskoff opened in 1973, named for Sam Minskoff and his sons, members of a New York real estate family.  The theater seats just about 1,600 audience members, and has played home to Disney's Lion King since its opening in 1997.  The play stands as the highest grossing show or film in box office history, playing over 8,000 performances on Broadway.  (Though watch for a certain current play that rhymes with a Million Things I Haven't Done to make an historic run of its own.)
Playbills in hand, the family was ready, Andrew foreshadowing the iconic Pride Rock scene with Simba for his display.) 
The original Disney cartoon ranks up there as one of my favorite entries in the Disney movie library, with Elton John's music and lyrics setting an unforgettable tableau for the tale that follows.
On our frequent trips to Disney's Animal Kingdom, the Festival of the Lion King live performance has always been one of the highlights of that park, especially when the dancers pull children from the audience to join them in their revelry.
But all that being said, nothing prepares you for the majesty of the African plains playing out live before you on a Broadway stage.
The following pics from the play's Facebook pages give you a peek into the glorious triumph of this performance:

And everyone, sing it with me:

It's the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love

Till we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
Take a bow folks, this was a spectacular spectacle
Afterwards, my favorite theater critics were still basking in the glow of the event
Mufasa (or is it Simba) himself watches over you as you leave the theater
My Pride
Nearby, promotional posters for all the other shows on Broadway take Heather and I back to April, 2011, and the unforgettable St. Margaret's School trip to New York and Washington, a trip that included a class viewing of the Phantom of the Opera.  An event that left an indelible mark on Heather and I.  For very different reasons.  You can figure out our reviews from this pic.
Heather, All I Ask of You is that you don't make me sit through that again.
So how do you top off a night on Broadway?
With mango gelato, obviously.
Regards, Broadway!
Remember me to Herald Square!  Tell all the gang on 42nd Street, that I will soon be there!  Whisper of how I'm yearning to mingle with the ole time throng.  Give my regards to old Broadway and say that I'll be there e'er long!

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