More recently we’ve had Frozen, a strictly replicated version of the smash-hit animation. Among the House of Mouse’s contributions to the genre are Aladdin, which transformed the smart, reputation-enhancing 1992 film into something that veered towards slapstick. One of the strangest things is that Disney, clearly buoyed by that show’s success, has rarely allowed any directors after Taymor to take the same bold, creative risks and turn their films into genuine theatrical works. Paradoxically, for such an adored production, The Lion King has ruined musical theatre. And yet, its legacy in terms of musical theatre is more complicated. Its reputation is seemingly imperishable. The Lion King has grossed $9 billion (about £7.6 billion) worldwide and played in 24 countries – on every continent except Antarctica. One of Taymor’s many innovations was inspired by Japanese Bunraku-style puppetry which allowed the audience to see the actors, with animal masks on their heads evoking the characters. This adaptation of the 1994 Disney film was boosted by the visionary brilliance of director Julie Taymor who, after some tricky discussions with studio executives, was allowed to play fast and loose with the original.
When The Lion King opened on Broadway 25 years ago, it immediately proved to be a critical and commercial success.
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