Chicago Tribune - Highly Recommended
"...In the end, of course, "The Lion King," which has brought in more money than all the "Star Wars" movies put together and will be bringing some much needed life to the Loop for the next several holiday weeks, is a comforting show."
Chicago Sun Times - Highly Recommended
"...The cover of the program for "The Lion King," now playing at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, boasts the claim that it is "The World's #1 Musical," and it is easy to understand why. Now 25 years since its inception, it checks all of the boxes for a quality production: a compelling story, beautiful music (by Elton John and Tim Rice) and excellent performers. But what earns it the top spot is the commitment to costumes, sets, makeup, props, and puppetry. As a first-time viewer of this show on stage, I have frankly never seen puppetry this exceptional outside of a puppet exhibition."
Daily Herald - Highly Recommended
"...For much of the performance, our attention is riveted on the actors' faces, but this Lion King offers moments of magic where our eyes lock with the amazing animal masks, as in the powerful "He Lives in You" scene between Simba and Rafiki."
Chicago Reader - Somewhat Recommended
"...The latest U.S. tour to stop in Chicago feels significantly less lavish from earlier versions that blew audiences and critics away with its visually, aurally stunning Hamlet-but-with-lions tale of an African king, Mufasa (Gerald Ramsey), murdered by his evil brother Scar (Peter Hargrave). Mufasa’s cub Simba (Darian Sanders) flees the kingdom, and the journey of Simba from reckless cub to royal king is the nexus of Elton John’s soaring, percussive score (lyrics by Tim Rice)."
Let's Play Theatrical Reviews - Highly Recommended
"...Returning to Chicago for the fifth time and one of Broadway's longest-running shows in history, The Lion King, has arrived at the Cadillac Palace Theatre - and this theatrical masterpiece is still a thriller. With music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice, along with additional music and lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer, The Lion King's enthralling magical rhythms of the African Pridelands make for an amazing evening of theater."
Around The Town Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...The rich tapestry of the African Serengeti is laid bare before you in Broadway in Chicago's production of "The Lion King." "Awesome!" "Amazing!" "Those were the actual words spoken by the audience upon leaving this fabulous show on opening night. This is a performance that will appeal to both adults and children. The masterfully done puppetry is well worth the price of admission."
Chicago Theatre Review - Highly Recommended
"...Do not, if at all possible, miss this new sensational, jaw-dropping National Tour of one of Disney's best-loved stories. Whether it's your first or your fifth time visiting Pride Rock, audiences of all ages will find enchantment and essence in this new traveling production. Broadway's praiseworthy adaptation of Disney's popular 1994 animated film roars into Chicago for a much-welcome visit. It's the perfect family show, filled with love, beauty, unbelievable creativity, vibrant color and multitudes of texture. And with its important themes of family devotion and the ecological balance in nature, this Circle of Life continues to ensue and enchant. It's a must-see production you will never forget!"
The Fourth Walsh - Highly Recommended
"...You know the story. You've sung along with Elton's song. Still, if you haven't sat in the midst of Taymor's creative genius, you haven't truly experienced the LION KING. For first timers or returning fans, LION KING is holding court at Cadillac Palace. It's a royal treat for the entire family!!"
Chicagoland Musical Theatre - Recommended
"...More striking than their songs are the augmentations and original numbers contributed by a kitchen full of cooks, Lebo M. above all. This music hits like a ton of bricks while that silken sun rises high over the African savannah and Rafiki’s (Gugwana Dlamini’s) shaman soprano rises even higher than that."
Chicago On Stage - Highly Recommended
"...There is so much to see on the stage—all of the vibrant animals, the vast elephant graveyard, clever puppet projections, incredible dancing, the giant Oz-like face of Mufasa assembling itself before our eyes, the beautiful swaying grasses, the birds and fireflies—that it isn’t remotely possible to mention them all. Suffice it to say that this is one of the most spectacularly imaginative productions you are ever likely to see. Whether you are a first-timer or can sing along with all of the movie’s Elton John/Tim Rice compositions, I don’t think it’s even possible not to enjoy this show."
Picture This Post - Highly Recommended
"...Inventive production elements certainly enhance a show. But staging, no matter how spectacular, does not have staying power unless grounded in substance. What keeps the Pride Lands worth visiting is the story that happens between the rising and setting of that simple sun. For all of its grand scope, The Lion King is intimate and its message coherent, a musical that can reach just about anyone on life's journey."
Splash Magazine - Highly Recommended
"...Did I already mention that The Lion King was a perfect experience? A big part of that had to do with the amazing, talented cast of performers who brought the story to life. The cast also brought some fresh interpretations and character portrayals, while keeping faithful to the script."
NewCity Chicago - Highly Recommended
"...“The Lion King,” the play, remains the monarch of Disney stage transfers, the one live Disney show that even non-Disneyphiles seek out. And unlike, say, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera,” which is getting ready to close on early next year after an all-time record of thirty-seven years on Broadway, there are no sarcastic eyerolls when “The Lion King” play is mentioned. There is an aura of reverence about this show that is unparalleled in the world of Broadway musicals."
