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The Lion King Tickets

Pride Rock comes to life in Disney’s long-running hit.

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About The Lion King on Broadway

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A lively stage adaptation of the Academy Award-winning 1994 Disney film, The Lion King is the story of a young lion prince living in the flourishing African Pride Lands. When an unthinkable tragedy, orchestrated by Simba’s wicked uncle, Scar, takes his father’s life, Simba flees the Pride Lands, leaving his loss and the life he knew behind. Eventually companioned by two hilarious and unlikely friends, Simba starts anew. But when weight of responsibility and a desperate plea from the now ravaged Pride Lands come to find the adult prince, Simba must take on a formidable enemy, and fulfill his destiny to be king.

Know Before You Go

Winner of six Tony Awards® including Best Musical, Disney's The Lion King showcases the talents of one of the most acclaimed creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor reimagines the popular story using some of the theater's most extraordinary stagecraft. The Lion King also features the exceptional work of Tony Award-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and a glorious score crafted by the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Elton John and Tim Rice.

"The breathtakingly staged Broadway adaptation of Disney's king of the cartoon jungle is an instant theater classic." Entertainment Weekly Chris Willman

"Awe-inspiring! Broadway theater is alive again. [Julie] Taymor's imaginative ideas seem limitless. it's a gorgeous, gasp-inducing spectacle. Most important - against all odds - it has innocence. The show appeals to our primal, childlike excitement in the power of theater to make us see things afresh." Time Magazine Richard Zoglin

"Seen purely as a visual tapestry, there is simply nothing else like it. Suddenly, you're 4 years old again, and you've been taken to the circus for the first time. You can only marvel at the exotic procession of animals before you: the giraffes and the elephants and the hippopotamuses and all those birds in balletic flight. Such is the transporting magic wrought by the opening 10 minutes of The Lion King, [director Julie] Taymor has introduced a whole new vocabulary of images to the Broadway blockbuster." The New York Times Ben Brantley

"A jaw-dropping magnificent spectacle. The show and the playhouse are enchanting. The unprecedented production is worth every penny. If this is Disney's idea of a theme park, we are delighted to report that the theme is quality." Newsday Linda Winer

"Julie Taymor's staging of Disney's The Lion King is a marvel, a theatrical achievement unrivaled in its beauty, brains and ingenuity. Leaping far beyond its celluloid inspiration, the stage version improves upon nearly every aspect of the hit 1994 animated film, from visual artistry and storytelling to Lebo M's score and the newly African-ized pop songs of Elton John and Tim Rice." Variety Greg Evans

Frequently Asked Questions

The Lion King is a full-length Broadway musical running 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one intermission.

The Lion King is intended for guests 6 and up. All guests require a ticket, regardless of age.

There is no dress code at the theatre. For all performances, attire should be comfortable and appropriate for the occasion. The Minskoff theatre is air conditioned throughout the year, so a sweater or light jacket is recommended in the summer.

While there is no direct interaction with audience members, The Lion King opens with performers in the balcony and a procession of characters down the aisles of the orchestra. 

Cast & Creative

Broadway debut! Vincent has performed around the world in multiple companies of  Hamilton  (including in Puerto Rico alongside Lin-Manuel Miranda), playing the roles of Hamilton, Burr, Lafayette/Jefferson, George Washington and King George III. Off-Broadway:  White Girl in Danger . Regional:  Passing Strange,   In the Heights,   The Great Society ,  Hairspray . TV/film: Chicago Med (NBC), Shots Fired (FOX) and American Crime (ABC)

L. Steven Taylor is excited to rejoin the Broadway Company of The Lion King after traveling with the National Tour, during which time he had the honor of performing at The White House. NYC/Regional credits include  Ataria, Cutman, G word, Miss Saigon, Songs For A New World, Godspell and A Chorus Line.  He's been seen on film and television in  The Electric Company (Leo Watson), Last of The Ninth (HBO Pilot), Made For Each Other , Expiration Date and  Game Over .

Tshidi toured Europe and Japan with M. Bongeni Ngema in the hit musical Sarafina . Other stage credits: Rafiki in the Broadway and Toronto productions of The Lion King , Daughter of Nebo by Hillary Bletcher, Mfowethu by Gibson Kente, The Stick by Aubrey Sekhabi. Honored to have performed with legendary artists such as Paul Simon, David Byrne, Hugh Masekela, Jabu Khanyile, Vusi Mahlasela. Album: Sisters of Joy.

Stephen Carlile makes his Broadway debut as Scar in The Lion King . He has West End credits include Trimmingham in  The Go-Between; The  Producers  original London cast;  Phantom of the Opera; Snoopy!  UK Regional: Freddy Eynsford-Hill in  My Fair Lady  (NT/Cameron Mackintosh) , Twelfth Night, By Jeeves, Don Giovanni, Over My Shoulder .   Europe: Magaldi in  Evita .   US Tour: Captain Hook in  Peter  Pan 360 .   Film:  Brideshead  Revisited, Bright Young Things .

Ben is pumped to be making his Broadway debut! Ben holds an MFA (Acting) from Rutgers University, where credits included  Antigone ,  Romeo and Juliet ,  In the Sawtooths  and more. His BFA (Acting/Musical Theatre) is from Abilene Christian University, where credits included  Jane Eyre  and  Seussical . TV: The Good Wife, Louie . Endless thanks to God, his incomparable wife and the family.

Broadway debut. Off-Broadway:  Bury the Dead, Room Service, Shockheaded Peter, The Normal Heart, The Vocal Lords.  Nat’l tour:  The Buddy Holly Story. Regional: North Shore Music Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, O’Neill Theater, Geva Theatre, Huntington Theatre, New Repertory, Cleveland Play House. Film:  Twelve Thirty, A Very Special Episode, Goin’ Down, Redirecting Eddie.  TV: Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Daily Pops, All My Children .  Award-winning narrator of more than 50 audio books. All my love to Kate, Benjamin and Isabella! For Mom and Dad.

Broadway Tour:  The Lion King, War Horse.  Off Broadway:  The Mint . Regional: Denver Center, The Rep St. Louis, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Cleveland Playhouse, Syracuse Stage, TheaterWorks Hartford, City Theatre Company, Barrington Stage Company, Two River Theater. NY: American Globe Theatre. Television: “Chicago Fire.” BFA: Marymount Manhattan College. All my love to Kate and my parents.

Robb is overjoyed to return to  The Lion King , having   previously appeared in the 1st National, North American and Las Vegas companies. Broadway:  Wicked  (Boq),  Shrek  (Pinocchio). Off-Broadway:  Happiness  (Lincoln Center),  Enter Laughing (cast recording), Disaster!, Zanna, Don’t! (cast recording), Johnny   Guitar (cast recording).  Regional: Paper Mill Playhouse, Goodspeed, The MUNY, Music Theatre Wichita, Syracuse Stage, Barrington Stage Company, Bristol Riverside, ACT of CT, Ogunquit Playhouse. Other:  Saturday Night Fever  (1st National Tour). Robb holds a BFA from Syracuse University.

James Brown-Orleans originated the role of Banzai on  The Lion King  Gazelle Tour and is thrilled to be part of the Broadway company. James can be seen as Doc Motors in Disney’s  The Princess Diaries . He is also the founder of Protected by Imagination Inc. “media to inspire.” 

A native of Montgomery, AL. Bonita is a proud graduate of Alabama State University and Brandeis University (MFA). She is overjoyed and grateful to be a part of this talented cast. Credits: NYC/ Regional:  Mandela  the Musical  (staged reading),  The Color Purple  (workshop),  Guys  and Dolls ,  The Piano Lesson ,  The Old Settler  and  In the  Blood . TV: The Knick  (HBO). Bonita is a voiceover artist and can be heard on film, podcasts, commercials and animated series. Many Thanks to God, my family, Dr. Tommie (Tonea) Stewart, My husband Neil Caesar and our lovely children Nia and Noah.

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THE LION KING North American Tour to Celebrate 22nd Anniversary

Since the North American tour launched in April 2002, The Lion King has welcomed over 23 million theatergoers.

The North American tour of Disney's The Lion King will celebrate its 22nd anniversary on Saturday, April 27 in Minneapolis. The Lion King has returned “home” to Minneapolis' historic Orpheum Theatre, where the Tony Award-winning Best Musical played its pre-Broadway run in 1997, and where the touring production is currently entertaining capacity houses through Sunday, April 28. 

Since the North American tour launched in April 2002, The Lion King has welcomed over 23 million theatergoers, making it North America's longest-running and most-attended Broadway tour. During the past 22 years, the record-breaking tour has employed hundreds of theater professionals, played over 10,000 performances during 253 engagements in 95 cities. Few tours in theatre history have achieved anything like its reach or impact.

The touring production features Peter Hargrave as “Scar,” Gerald Ramsey as “Mufasa,” Mukelisiwe Goba as “Rafiki,” Nick Cordileone as “Timon,” Nick LaMedica as “Zazu,” John E. Brady as “Pumbaa,” Darian Sanders as “Simba,” Khalifa White as “Nala,” Forest VanDyke as “Banzai,” Martina Sykes as “Shenzi” and Robbie Swift as “Ed.”

The role of “Young Simba” is alternated between Mason Lawson and Julian Villela and the role of “ Young Nala ” is alternated between Jaxyn Damasco  and Aniya Simone . 

Rounding out the cast are William John Austin , Iman Ayana , Eric Bean, Jr., Layla Brent , Vernon Brooks III , Sasha Caicedo , Lauren Carr , Thembelihle Cele , Daniela Cobb , Gabriel Croom , Lyric Danae , Maurice Dawkins , Marquis Floyd , Tony Freeman , Jolina Javier , Valériane Louisy Louis Joseph, Joel Karie , Samaree Lawson , Gabisile Manana , Justin Mensah , Marq Moss , Sarita Amani Nash , Nhlanhla Ndlovu , Aaron Nelson , Jeremy Noel , Sicelo Ntshangase , Erick D. Patrick , Sayiga Eugene Peabody , Yael Pineda-Hall , Jordan Samuels , Poseletso Sejosingoe , Jennifer Theriot , Courtney Thomas , Ben Toomer , Denzel Tsopnang , Shacura Wade , Brinie Wallace , Thom Christopher Warren and Jordan Nicole Willis .

About The Lion King

Celebrating 26 landmark years on Broadway, The Lion King continues ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world.  Since its premiere on November 13, 1997, 28 global productions have been seen by over 112 million people.  Produced by Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt , Anne Quart , and Thomas Schumacher , The Lion King has made theatrical history with three productions worldwide running 20 or more years and two others running 25 or more years. 

Performed over its lifetime in nine different languages (English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese), there are currently eight productions of The Lion King around the world: Broadway, London, Paris, Hamburg, Madrid, Tokyo, Sao Paulo and on tour across North America. The Lion King has played over 100 cities in 28 countries on every continent except Antarctica; its worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.     

The Lion King won six 1998 Tony Awards:  Best Musical, Best Scenic Design ( Richard Hudson ), Best Costume Design ( Julie Taymor ), Best Lighting Design ( Donald Holder ), Best Choreography ( Garth Fagan ) and Best Direction of a Musical.  The Lion King has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. 

Director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor , the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical, remains actively involved in the show, launching new productions and maintaining the flagship Broadway production.

The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice 's songs from the Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina , Jay Rifkin , Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer ; and music from "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer .  The resulting sound of The Lion King is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to Lebo M's rich choral numbers.

Elton John , Lebo M, and Hans Zimmer all collaborated on the 2019 version of the film, executive produced by Julie Taymor and Thomas Schumacher , which has gone onto extraordinary worldwide success.

The book has been adapted by Roger Allers , who co-directed the animated The Lion King feature, and Irene Mecchi , who co-wrote the film's screenplay.  Other members of the creative team include:  Michael Curry , who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), Anthony Lyn (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor), Lisa Dawn Cave (production supervisor), Thomas Schlenk (general manager) and ARC/ Mark Brandon , CSA (casting).  Anne Quart serves as executive producer.

Photo credit: Deen Van Meer

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If you just can’t wait to be king, you’re in luck! Brandon A. McCall is taking you backstage at the Minskoff Theatre as he gets ready for a performance of Broadway’s The Lion King.…

Oh he just can't wait to be king!

The Tony-winning musical officially opened November 13, 1997.

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The Lion King continues to amaze, with astounding visuals that will make this a show youll remember forever. Marvel at the breathtaking spectacle of animals brought to life by an enormous company of international performers, whose detailed costumes, carved masks, and intricate makeup will transport you to the gorgeous vistas of the African savanna.

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The Lion King

Since 1997, The Lion King has been dazzling audiences on Broadway and beyond with its captivating puppetry and talented cast. Connect with both current cast members and those who originated these legendary roles, and learn all about what it’s like to bring the Pridelands to life each night.

Tickets & VIP Experiences

Custom group events, discount group tickets, see the show, and meet the cast broadway plus unlocks access to great seats and incredible vip experiences with artists from both new york and touring productions..

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Adrienne Walker

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Kimberly Marable

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Shekinah McFarlane

The Lion King, SIX 

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Darilyn Castillo

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Gugwana Dlamini as Rafiki. The Lion King North American Tour ©Disney. Photo by Joan Marcus.

Company of The Lion King on Broadway. Circle of Life ©Disney. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Lionesses Dance. The Lion King North American Tour ©Disney. Photo by Deen van Meer.

Disney's The Lion King

Giraffes strut. Birds swoop. Gazelles leap. The entire Serengeti comes to life as never before. And as the music soars, Pride Rock slowly emerges from the mist. This is Disney’s THE LION KING, making its triumphant return to the Ohio Theatre!

More than 100 million people around the world have experienced the awe-inspiring visual artistry, the unforgettable music, and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular – one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage.

Winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, THE LION KING brings together one of the most imaginative creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award®-winning director Julie Taymor brings to life a story filled with hope and adventure set against an amazing backdrop of stunning visuals. THE LION KING also features the extraordinary work of Tony Award®-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and some of Broadway’s most recognizable music, crafted by Tony Award®-winning artists Elton John and Tim Rice.

There is simply nothing else like THE LION KING.

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I Saw Almost All 18 New Spring Shows on Broadway — Here Are the Best Ones to See

New York–based theater critic Barbara Schuler on the best new shows on Broadway right now.

Marc J. Franklin/Courtesy of Hell's Kitchen

Oh, the pressure. When you write about theater, it’s hard to get away from people (friends, family, minor acquaintances) inquiring about the best show to see on Broadway . Understandable, what with tickets so expensive and especially this spring, with 18 new shows opening in March and April alone. 

Of course, my opinion (like everyone else’s) is completely subjective. But after seeing most of the new productions that have opened in the past few months, here are the ones I’m encouraging people to see — diplomatically listed in alphabetic order.

Emilio Madrid/Courtesy of Enemy of the People

"An Enemy of the People"

Circle in the Square, 235 W. 50th St.; anenemyofthepeopleplay.com

I always get chills when a play written more than 100 years ago is so frighteningly relevant. Ibsen’s 1882 drama about a local doctor who fights to inform the public about pollution in the public baths clearly speaks to our current concerns about climate change. The air of tension persists throughout, to the point that when actual climate protestors interrupted an early preview, many people thought it was part of the production. Of course, some  audience members just come to see two big names from television — Jeremy Strong of Succession as the beleaguered doctor, and Michael Imperioli ( The Sopranos , The White Lotus ) as his slimy brother, the town mayor.

"Cabaret"

August Wilson Theatre, 245 W. 52nd St.; kitkat.club

The show starts a full 75 minutes early at this production, with audiences invited to come early and have a drink or two — even dinner if you pay enough for your tickets — in the renovated theater, rebranded the Kit Kat Club. A cast of prologue performers wanders the three levels of the club, so by the time Eddie Redmayne as the emcee takes the stage to sing “Willkommen” you’re in the proper frame of mind. The powerful show set in the early days of the Nazi regime is always gut-wrenching, but in this version Gayle Rankin, playing Sally Bowles, really twists the knife with her unhinged rendition of the title song.

Marc J. Franklin/Courtesy of Hell's Kitchen

"Hell’s Kitchen"

Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St.; hellskitchen.com

Alicia Keys has worked on this show for 13 years, but sorry — she’s not in it. Instead a young up-and-comer, Maleah Joi Moon, portrays Ali, a character clearly inspired by Keys’ life. The show is not completely biographical, but it does depict key elements of the Grammy winner’s upbringing, growing up in a building on West 43rd Street offering subsidized housing for artists. It’s a jukebox musical of sorts, featuring many of Keys’ best-known songs (“This Girl Is on Fire” blows the roof off the Shubert), but she has worked them seamlessly into this sweet coming-of-age story about a teenager defeating her demons and forging her own path.

Matthew Murphy/Courtesy of Mary Jane

"Mary Jane"

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre,  261 W. 47th St.; manhattantheatreclub.com

Did Rachel McAdams lose her way? You’d have thought the Oscar-nominated actress, who made a name for herself in the 2004 movie “The Notebook,” would have been a couple blocks away starring in the stage adaptation of the famed tearjerker. But no, instead she chose to make her Broadway debut in this gripping drama about a mother managing the care of her gravely ill child. The 90-minute (no intermission) play moves from a cramped apartment to a hospital pediatric intensive care unit, as an assortment of caretakers (night nurse, music therapist, a Buddhist nun) offer their assistance. But truthfully, it’s hard to take your eyes off McAdams as she navigates this unthinkable tragedy.

"Suffs"

The Music Box Theatre,  239 W. 45th St.; suffsmusical.com

In this season of high-profile producers, it’s hard to top Hillary Clinton. And the political nature of the production is inescapable, even before the Biden fundraiser. But forget all that — enjoy Shaina Taub’s musical for what it is, a thoughtful retelling of the suffragists’ struggle to pass the 19th Amendment. With a nod to Lin-Manuel Miranda, Taub plays the lead role herself, and she makes a fine Alice Paul, strident, demanding, unrelenting. And with all the rock blaring at us on Broadway stages right now, her songs are a welcome relief. There were a lot of mothers and daughters in the audience — with good reason.

Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman/Courtesy of Gatsby

"The Great Gatsby"

Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway; broadwaygatsby.com

Of all the books getting a theatrical treatment this season, this is the one that has lovers of literature raising their eyebrows. But the adaptation remains relatively faithful to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s treasured classic — it’s no spoiler to say there’s no happy ending. Before the tragic finish, the rich, lavish production takes audiences to the wild, brash parties of the Roaring '20s, with sparkly costumes (I haven’t seen this many sequins since “The Cher Show”), brilliant dancing, music that evokes the jazz age, and some serious pyrotechnics. And yes, there’s a green light at the end of a dock.

"The Notebook"

Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th St.; notebookmusical.com

The producers know tears will flow, which is why they’re selling commemorative tissue boxes at the concession stand. And it’s true, at times it’s painful to watch this heart-wrenching love story. Nicholas Sparks, who wrote the best seller that’s sold more than a million copies, told Time magazine the story is so enduring because of the universal elements of life and passion. The stage adaptation sticks pretty close to the book and the subsequent movie, though in the stage version the lovers are portrayed by three different couples.  The performances are stunning, especially from Dorian Harewood and Maryann Plunkett who play the couple in their declining years, and the ending is as bittersweet as they come.

Matthew Murphy/Courtesy of The Outsiders

"The Outsiders"

Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St.; outsidersmusical.com

Last April, S.E. Hinton joined the cast bringing her 1967 coming-of-age novel to the stage at the Outsiders House Museum in Tulsa (where the story is set).  Oh, and joining them was Angelina Jolie, who’s producing the show. But the musical works without all the hype — it’s a powerful, occasionally brutal display of teenage angst as two rival gangs defend their turf, and the music and choreography have audiences on the edge of their seats. Ultimately, though, it’s an endearing story of a family fighting to stay together.

Jeremy Daniel/Courtesy of The Wiz

"The Wiz"

Marquis Theatre, 210 W. 46th St.;  wizmusical.com

Wayne Brady as the title character in this lively revival doesn’t even show up until the second act, but it’s OK. The Afrocentric take on “The Wizard of Oz” is a fun theater experience thanks to the great songs — “Ease on Down the Road,” “Home” — and the laudable performances from cast members like young Nichelle Lewis, making her Broadway debut as Dorothy, to recording artist Deborah Cox, whose rendition of “Believe in Yourself” brings tears. Don’t try to compare with the 1978 film starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson, and you’ll have a great time.

Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman/Courtesy of The Who's Tommy

"The Who’s Tommy"

Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st St.; tommythemusical.com

I loved this album more than life itself as a teen, so it was a big thrill to introduce the musical to my daughter and granddaughter. While story lines differ some between album, movie, and stage show, the plot is pretty much expected: Kid witnesses horrific murder and immediately goes deaf, dumb, and blind. It’s a story of acceptance and redemption, but really the audience comes for the music — “Pinball Wizard” rocks the rafters. The Who’s frontman Pete Townshend has been out and about promoting the show; he performed with the young cast of the rock opera, and let’s just say The Tonight Show might never be the same.

Matthew Murphy/Courtesy of Water for Elephants

"Water for Elephants"

Imperial Theatre, 249 W. 45th St.; waterforelephantsthemusical.com

The high-flying acrobatics are worth the price of admission in this new musical, adapted from the best-selling novel and set in a traveling circus during the depression. Seriously, one fearless performer is repeatedly tossed halfway across the stage — I don’t think I ever held my breath so many times in one show. A love story at heart (not always a happy one), the musical is told in flashback as the narrator, once the circus’ vet, looks back on his life. While this is no “Lion King,” the animals are a delight, whether they’re portrayed symbolically (an aerialist portrays a horse in cascading white silks) or the star of the show, Rosie the elephant, a massive, life-size puppet (even if sometimes all you see is her trunk).

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The Bushnell announces seven Broadway series shows for 2024-25 season

The Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford announced its 2024-25 Broadway series of musicals on Monday.

The slate of shows for the upcoming season includes the Neil Diamond bio-musical “A Beautiful Noise” Oct. 1-6, 2024; the return of Disney’s “The Lion King” Nov. 13-Dec. 1, 2024; “MJ the Musical” Dec. 10-15, 2024; a radically rethought revival of “Peter Pan” Feb. 4-9, 2025; “The Wiz” March 11-16, 2025; “Some Like It Hot” April 29-May 4, 2025; and “Back to the Future the Musical” June 4-8, 2025.

The schedule breaks down to two jukebox musicals, two refreshed and reinterpreted 20th-century musical classics and three musical versions of famous movies (one of them from Disney).

The Bushnell continues its tradition of hosting the first national tours of recent Broadway hits. Two of the shows, “MJ” and “Back to the Future,” are still running on Broadway as their first national tours commence. The Broadway production of “Some Like It Hot” closed in December after running for around a year. “The Wiz,” a revival of the 1974 Black version of “The Wizard of Oz,” is touring before it gets to Broadway, playing The Bushnell less than three weeks before it begins preview performances at New York’s Marquis Theatre.

Besides the seven shows in the subscription season, The Bushnell announced return bookings of two musicals that have already played the venue in recent years: “Les Miserables” from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3, 2024, and the concert-style British history lesson “Six” Dec. 31, 2024 through Jan. 5, 2025. Various tours of “Les Mis” have been coming to The Bushnell since 1989, most recently in 2017. When “Six” happens, it will be only two years since the first tour of the show about the six wives of Henry VIII played The Bushnell in January 2023.

Tickets are not yet available. Bushnell Broadway series subscribers are contacted first about renewing their subscriptions. Then, new subscriptions are offered to those not currently subscribing. Finally, months from now, single tickets will go on sale for the shows.

Of the seven subscription shows, five are the first national tours of new musicals that have never appeared at The Bushnell. The other two, “Peter Pan” and “The Wiz,” first came to The Bushnell decades ago but in very different forms. This new production of “Peter Pan” has been rewritten by playwright Larissa Fasthorse (Broadway’s “The Thanksgiving Play”), with a particular interest in reworking the original script’s objectionable depictions of Native Americans.

“Some Like It Hot” is based on the 1959 film comedy directed by Billy Wilder and starring Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe. It’s not the first time the movie has been turned into a musical. A previous attempt, “Sugar,” by Jule Styne, Bob Merrill and Peter Stone ran on Broadway in 1972 and (retitled as “Some Like It Hot”) played the Shubert Theatre in New Haven in 2002. This new one has a score by the “Hairspray” and TV “Smash” team of Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman and a book by Matthew López and Amber Ruffin. López has had several of his plays (including the world premieres of “Somewhere” and “Reverberation”) produced by Hartford Stage, which also commissioned (but did not end up producing) his Tony-winning epic “The Inheritance.”

Ruffin, best known as a writer/performer on “Late Night with Seth Meyers” and for her now-defunct “Amber Ruffin Show” on Peacock, also had a hand in the tour of “The Wiz,” adding new material to the show’s book.

It took years, but The Bushnell has finally caught up with the backlog of Broadway series shows whose visits to Hartford were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The last straggler was “The Cher Show,” which was originally scheduled to play The Bushnell in November of 2020 and finally arrived earlier this month. This will likely be the first season since 2021 which has not had to make room for delayed runs of musicals originally planned for previous seasons.

The 2024-25 season begins in the fall. There are still three more Broadway shows coming in the current 2023-24 season: the “Wizard of Oz” prequel “Wicked” April 24 through May 12, “Beetlejuice” May 28 through June 2 and “Funny Girl” June 18-23.

The Shubert in New Haven announced its own 2024-25 Broadway series slate last week with “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Clue,” “Mean Girls” and “Ain’t Too Proud: The Life & Times of the Temptations.” All but one of those shows, the non-musical play “Clue,” has already played The Bushnell on earlier tours. Other Connecticut theaters that host Broadway tours, such as the Waterbury Palace, will announce their 2024-25 seasons soon.

For more information on The Bushnell’s upcoming 2024-25 season, go to the venue’s website at bushnell.org .

©2024 Hartford Courant. Visit courant.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Things To Do | Explore the star-studded trajectory of Bay Area…

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Things to do | elizabeth holmes’ projected release from prison is moved closer, subscriber only, things to do | explore the star-studded trajectory of bay area singers on their path to broadway.

Musical legend Carol Channing grew up in the Bay Area, after all, graduating from San Francisco’s Lowell High School in 1938 before winning Broadway fame in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and her Tony award-winning turn in the original “ Hello Dolly! ”

Last year’s “ Camelot” revival on Broadway featured Oakland native and former Berkeley Shakespeare Festival artistic director Dakin Matthews as Merlyn, as well as longtime San Francisco actor Marilee Talkington as Morgan Le Fey.

San Francisco native B.D. Wong , who starred in “ Big Data” at ACT earlier this winter, won a Tony for “M. Butterfly” in his Broadway debut. Fellow San Franciscan Francis Jue got his Equity card in “Pacific Overtures” at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley in 1988 and later performed in the same show on Broadway, as well as “M. Butterfly” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”

Bay Area native Taylor Iman Jones just finished a year-long Broadway stint as Catherine Parr in “Six. ” Berkeley High grad Ar’iel Stachel won a Tony for his role in “The Band’s Visit,” an experience he discussed in his recent solo show, “ Out of Character, ” at Berkeley Rep.

And Bryce Pinkham, the Tony-nominated star of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder,” grew up in Lafayette, his destiny set in motion at the age of … 6?

“My parents had a parent-teacher conference with my first-grade teacher who said, ‘I need you to find your son an outlet for his reckless creativity,’” Pinkham says.

So his parents enrolled him in theater camp at Diablo Valley College, where he was cast in the children’s ensemble of DVC’s production of “The Music Man.” When his father, David, came in to talk to the director about a planned family vacation, the elder Pinkham wound up cast in the show as well.

Meanwhile, Bryce Pinkham kept acting as one of many hobbies, but didn’t take it seriously until midway through college at Boston University. In grad school at Yale’s School of Drama, he auditioned for an early reading of “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” and didn’t land it, but director Alex Timbers cast him in another play fresh out of grad school.

But if Pinkham thought it was all going to be that easy, auditioning in New York City soon disabused him of that notion.

“I got an apartment with two friends, and I was running around to three different part-time jobs,” Pinkham says. “I was a waiter, I was a private English tutor, and I was a kids’ soccer coach. And then I ended up booking the New York premiere of ‘ Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson ,’ which would eventually go on to be my Broadway debut.”

That was the first of several Broadway shows, but it was his star turn in “ Gentleman’s Guide ” that really put Pinkham on the map. Most recently he’s been performing in the hit off-Broadway revival of “ Little Shop of Horrors ” as the sadistic dentist.

A class Pinkham taught last year at Boston University was titled “Reckless Creativity,” and one thing he tells students is to take a business course.

“I thought I was getting away with something by going into the arts and doing something that was playful and athletic,” Pinkham says. “What I quickly realized is this a business like any other, and I’m the CEO of my own startup. It’s called show business. It’s not called ‘show fun’ or ‘show everybody-gets-a-chance.’”

Starring alongside Pinkham in “Little Shop” was San Francisco native Darren Criss of “Glee” fame, who got his start in ACT’s Young Conservatory and starred on Broadway in “ How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying ” and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”

Clearly, there’s something about “Little Shop” — and it’s not just the appeal of Seymour and the Audreys, carnivorous and otherwise. The show is a magnet for Bay Area-bred singers.

Earlier in the “Little Shop” run, before Pinkham and Criss joined the cast, SF-born Lena Hall played Audrey (the woman, not the plant), and her Seymour was Matt Doyle, a graduate of Larkspur’s Redwood High School. Both are Tony Award winners. Hall won for her role as Yizhak in the 2014 “Hedwig” revival, and Doyle won in 2022 for the gender-swapped revival of “Company.” In that same “Company” was San Mateo-born Bobby Conte, who’s currently back on Broadway as Cousin Kevin in “The Who’s Tommy.”

There might be something about “Aladdin” and its magic carpet ride, too. Half Moon Bay siblings Adam and Arielle Jacobs both starred in that Broadway production at different times. Adam originated the title role and took it on tour, while Arielle joined the Broadway cast as Princess Jasmine. Adam also had star turns in “The Lion King” and “Les Miserables,” and Arielle recently starred as Imelda Marcos in “Here Lies Love.”

When he brought “Aladdin” to the Orpheum in 2017, Adam Jacobs had some advice for theater kids with Broadway dreams: “I always tell kids, don’t forget that passion, because a lot of it’s just perseverance and determination and sticking with it.”

From the outside, the Bay to Broadway trajectory may look straightforward, but Adam said, “I worked my way up with regional gigs and cruise ships and theme parks and got as much experience as I could. Try to come to New York or L.A. with a little bit of experience instead of jumping straight in, and then don’t let anybody take that passion away from you.”

Hayward native James Monroe Iglehart won a Tony for his role as the Genie in that same original “Aladdin” cast. This year Iglehart has back-to-back Broadway stints as King Arthur in “Spamalot” and Louis Armstrong in “ A Wonderful World ” this fall.

The current Jasmine in “Aladdin” is Sonya Balsara , who grew up in El Cerrito and Berkeley. She’s played Jasmine since January of 2023 after a two-month stint in mid-2022, just a few months after she performed in TheatreWorks’ “Sense and Sensibility” musical. This starring role was her Broadway debut.

“I saw a production of ‘Oklahoma’ at Albany High School in fourth grade, and it changed everything,” Balsara recalls. “I went to Silver Screen Video in El Cerrito Plaza and rented the movie and wrote out a whole script of ‘Oklahoma.’ I held auditions at my elementary school and cast it and then put it on in my living room.”

Having grown up doing children’s theater with Contra Costa Civic Theatre and other companies, Balsara went from Berkeley High to New York University, where she was cast in her first feature film while still in college.

“I worked as a legal assistant and booked a few short film and TV things and a lot of commercials,” Balsara says. “But it took about a year and a half until I booked my first professional theater job, which was ‘West Side Story’ in Tokyo. I played Maria. Getting that job really catapulted my career.”

Appropriately enough for a Disney princess, Balsara accentuates the positive in her advice for Broadway hopefuls.

“Kindness goes such a long way in this industry, and people remember that about you, if you’re easy to work with,” Balsara says. “Everyone’s really, really talented, and the thing that’s going to set you apart is really knowing who you are, being your authentic self and being kind. And also knowing that your success is not a reflection of your talent and ability and even your hard work. A lot of the time your success is about luck, and you have to be patient and kind to yourself about it, too.”

Still on the road to Broadway is Fremont’s Shefali Deshpande, who plays Mrs. Darling in the national tour of “Peter Pan” that will come to Broadway San Jose this June.

It’s an adaptation of the 1954 musical newly revised by playwright Larissa FastHorse. Playing young John is another Bay Area native, William Foon, who has performed locally with Walnut Creek’s Center Rep and Lafayette’s Peter Pan Foundation .

Deshpande graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in political science and a minor in musical theater. In L.A., she initially focused on screen work and releasing her own original R&B music before returning to musical theater in 2021 as Kamala Harris in the touring Capitol Comedy musical, “Biden My Time.”

“It is a marathon, not a sprint,” Deshpande says. “You will watch people you were in class with skyrocket, and all you can do is be happy for them, because everybody’s timing is different. That phrase, ‘comparison is the thief of joy,’ could not be more true. What it takes is perseverance, hard work and focusing on what it is you want and then not stopping until you get it.”

So Deshpande’s advice for the next generation of performers is to stick with it and not be deterred when things don’t work out at first.

“In this industry, there are no guarantees,” Deshpande adds. “I could still be auditioning 10 years from now and never have landed anything that felt like a big break. But that’s what you sign up for, because the reward is so high. When a little girl comes up to you after the show and says, ‘Oh my gosh, that was amazing!’ and she’s inspired to go back to her school and do plays — that’s the biggest reward.”

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