A Roar of Extravaganza
Long before the big green ogre in Shrek and the cute clownfish in Finding Nemo appeared on cinema screens, The Lion King ruled the animation world when it was first shown in cinemas back in 1994. It followed right after the footsteps of other animations like other Disney classics such as Beauty and the Beast, instantly becoming a favourite among fans of animation shows and cartoons. Soon after its appearance, the screen production lead to the creation of a Broadway musical that brought all the moving, memorable scenes “live” on stage.
And now, 13 years running, Disney’s The Lion King Broadway musical is coming to Southeast Asia for the first time. The crew will be assembling the award-winning musical right in the iconic splendour of Singapore – the Marina Bay Sands. Having wowed audiences around the world, including New York, London, Hamburg, a North American Tour, Tokyo and Las Vegas, The Lion King will be staged at the Sands theatre – a state-of-the-art theatre equipped with some of the most advanced theatrical equipment around.
Adhering to its South African accent and cultural colours, the musical will boast a strong native flavour, with performers hailing from eight countries and five continents, including Broadway veterans. Despite its strong cast of foreign performers, this production in Singapore will be specially adapted to reflect a local flavour – including local castings and collaborations.
Here are some trivia you probably don’t know about the award-winning musical. Before it first started, the idea of having actors dressed in “animal skins” was seen as a silly idea. However, after much persistence and perseverance, the producers of the musical won over their initially sceptical supporters. Julie Taymor was the talent behind the creation of the masks and costumes for the stage. If you haven’t heard of her, she is also the director of a brilliant film – Across the Universe. Taymor infused a blend of “humanity” into the props and costumes by making the human element an essential component when it comes to manoeuvring the “animals” on the stage.
Well, it certainly makes sense since theatre is one in which the audience is connected emotionally and intellectually to what’s unfolding on the stage. Hence, actors holding on to the antelope costumes, for instance, are choreographed to simulate the running movements of galloping antelopes in the wild. Energetic dance sequences too add to the visual display of vibrant colours and exhilarating pulses of fluidity, not forgetting the intense yet thoroughly uplifting musical scores and singing throughout the show.
Moreover, the essence of a musical is definitely the songs involved. Familiar ballads composed by Sir Elton John like Can You Feel the Love Tonight and Circle of Life will promise to delight, complementing the eye-grabbing feast on stage. But spectators can expect more than the movie: new songs have been added to make the whole show a worthwhile experience of about two-and-a-half hours.
If you want see a truly magical performance, then you should not miss The Lion King musical.
The Lion King musical opens on 3rd March 2011 at Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands. Tickets are available at SISTIC. Visit http://www.sistic.com.sg or call 6348 5555 for more details.
