I really wanted to start this post with the opening lyrics to “Circle of Life,” but let’s be real—my Swahili* is not good enough to pronounce them correctly (note for the reader: I do not actually know Swahili … OR the words to the opening of “Circle of Life”).

Instead, if you will, please imagine that trademark orange-red sunrise we all know and love, rising as the unmistakable sounds of Disney’s The Lion King fill our eager ears. If you’re anything like me, you probably pushed rewind and play on your VCR 10,000 times in the 90s to learn every word of this iconic musical, then fell in love with the Festival of the Lion King at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park as an adult, THEN spent the next five or so years pining for the opportunity when you could see the full Broadway interpretation live on stage.

Or maybe you’re not like me and you still resonate with one or some of those things … that’s cool, too.

The POINT, my friends, is that the Broadway version of Disney’s The Lion King is making its way back to the Detroit Opera House for a long-awaited return engagement! For context, this show played a four-week, SOLD-OUT RUN the last time it visited the Detroit Opera House in 2017. If you’re interested in seeing it this time around, I’d say you’d better hop on those tickets. 😉

But enough about the hype. You know all of that. Let’s get to the show details.

Disney’s The Lion King in Detroit: Show Details

Approaching 24 landmark years on Broadway, The Lion King continues to ascend as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its premiere on November 13, 1997, 25 global productions have been seen by nearly 110 million people. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, The Lion King has made theatrical history with six productions worldwide running 15 or more years, with four of those running 20 or more years.

Performed over its lifetime in nine different languages (English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese), by the end of 2021, there will be ten productions of The Lion King around the world, including Broadway, London, Paris, Hamburg, Tokyo, Madrid, on tour across North America, Japan, and the U.K. & Ireland, with a separate production touring internationally. Having played over 100 cities in 21 countries on every continent except Antarctica, The Lion King’s worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show, or other entertainment title in box office history.

The Lion King holds six 1998 Tony Awards®: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Choreography, 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.

The Broadway score of The Lion King features original songs from the animated film, three new songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, and new music by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. The resulting sound is a fusion of Western pop music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa.

Disney’s The Lion King in Detroit: Show Dates & Ticket Information

Photo: Deen van Meer

Show Dates:

January 27 – February 20, 2022

Location:

The Detroit Opera House, 1526 Broadway St., Detroit, MI

Performance Times:

* Tuesday – Saturday at 7:30pm
* Sunday Evenings at 6:30pm
* Saturday matinees at 2:00pm
* Sunday matinees at 1:00pm
* Special open-captioned performance on Sunday, January 30 at 6:30 p.m.

Ticket Information:

Tickets for Disney’s The Lion King start at $25 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased at the Fisher Theatre Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com, and BroadwayInDetroit.com.

For group sales (10 or more), please email broadwayindetroitgroups@theambassadors.com or call 313-871-1132.

Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice.

**Health & Safety Protocols (NEW For 2021-2022 Season)**

Following the lead of Broadway and concert venues across the country, Broadway In Detroit theater patrons will be required to show photo identification and proof of a negative Covid test within 72 hours of the performance date or proof of full Covid-19 vaccination before they will be admitted into the venue. Additionally, all patrons will be required to wear a mask while inside the theater regardless of one’s vaccination status.

Disney on Broadway performances are recommended for a general audience. As an advisory to adults who might bring young people, Disney recommends its productions for ages 6 and up. Children under the age of 2 will not be admitted to The Lion King tour performances. Children ages 2-11 will not need to show proof of negative Covid test or vaccine to attend The Lion King at the Detroit Opera House. All persons entering the theater, regardless of age, must have a ticket and will be required to wear a mask at all times except when actively eating or drinking.

All ticket purchasers will receive a Broadway In Detroit Health & Safety Guide via email prior to their performance. This guide will also be posted on the company’s website (BroadwayInDetroit.com) and available at the Fisher Theatre box office. It will have the latest information on the company’s health and safety protocols as well as information on what to expect when you arrive at the theater.

For more information on Broadway In Detroit, subscriptions, group sales, and more, please visit www.BroadwayInDetroit.com.

**NOTE: I am not an official representative of Broadway in Detroit. Please visit www.broadwayindetroit.com for the most up-to-date information on this show and upcoming shows.

Do you plan on seeing Disney’s The Lion King at the Detroit Opera House? What are some of your favorite memories from this iconic franchise? Drop a comment below and click here to learn about more shows coming to Broadway in Detroit!