After more than two years, The Lion King is ending its run at Mandalay Bay, as of December 30, 2011. To see other great production shows, check out the Cirque du Soleil shows or the Blue Man Group, or take a look at our list of Las Vegas shows.

Show Type:
Production

Location:
Mandalay Bay
Mandalay Bay Theatre
3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South,
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119

NOTE: The Lion King Las Vegas is not yet playing at the Mandalay Bay. The show is set to debut in May 2009.

Show Description:
Bringing a refreshing new face to theatre in Las Vegas, Lion King Las Vegas bursts onto the scene with amazing songs, dazzling costumes and staging, and a storyline adults and children alike enjoy. The Las Vegas Lion King show also is the first ever Disney production in Las Vegas-a city known increasingly for quality entertainment as well as casinos and gambling.

Whether you have seen the Disney film version or not, The Lion King's transformation into a stage productionis a spectacle that anyone who appreciates musical theatre will enjoy. Additional songs were added in along with extra scenes that help flesh out the characters for an adult audience. The Lion King Las Vegas features the full-length production (a rarity in a town where most shows are cut to 90 minutes) and is almost exactly the same as the Broadway version. Featuring a score written by Elton John and Tim Rice, The Lion King Las Vegas is inherently a perfect combination of impressive staging similar to Cirque du Soleil, which is always popular in Las Vegas, and more traditional musical theatre.

Thecostumes are by far the most impressive aspects of this show and are what makes this show unique versus the many others on the Strip. To create the illusion of animals on stage, the Lion King Musical Las Vegas incorporates elaborate costumes-actors on stilts to portray giraffes, mechanical components or headpieces built into the costumes built to mimic animal movements, or even costumes that are more like a full-sized puppet. Some puppets reach up to five feet tall, while the characters physically on stage are complemented by shadows on the set to truly fill out the depth and appearance of the scenes. A highlight of the effects used to bring this animal world to life is when Simba's father is killed by a stampede of hundreds of wildebeest-the effects combine to create a stampede that draws the audience into this dramatic moment. The Lion King productions the world over have impressed with the unique look of this show and the Las Vegas Lion King show does not disappoint.

The Lion King Musical Las Vegas will play at the Mandalay Bay Theatre and replaces Mamma Mia. If you want to do dinner or a nightclub before or after your Las Vegas Lion King show experience, Mandalay Bay alone has enough options to fill out your evening. The well-known Border Grill is located here along with several other restaurants, and nightlife includes the popular Rumjungle or the very exclusive Foundation Room perched on top of the hotel.

The Lion King has proven to be a success in so many destinations worldwide that it is sure to be equally well received here in Vegas. Many of the more popular shows in Vegas sell out nightly, so make sure to get your Lion King musical tickets as early as possible.

Show Biography:
After a successful animated film, The Lion King began its run as a musical on Broadway in New York City in 1997. Since then, this Disney show has set up productions around the world in locations ranging from the US to Europe to Asia. Directed by Julie Taymore, The Lion King has won several awards, including six Tony awards. The soundtrack was produced by Grammy Award and Golden Globe winner Chris Montan, and featuring songs by Elton John and Tim Rice such as "Can You Feel The Love Tonight." Worldwide, 45 million viewers have seen the show and the Lion King Musical Las Vegas is sure to further explode those numbers.