I have been attending shows at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts for as long as I can remember. I have vivid memories of my dad taking me as a young girl to see David Copperfield perform and I can still remember how excited I was to be immersed in the theater’s sights and sounds and the crowd’s energy. I got to witness top-tier actors and musicians doing what they love and feel the story’s spirit come alive in the room. I relived all of this over again last night with my daughter when I took her to see the Lion King on broadway. This show is one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its premiere on November 13, 1997, 28 global productions have been seen by over 112 million people. The Segerstrom Center is an amazing place to see theatrical productions due to it’s crimson interior and unique seating layout.
What To Expect
The story of The lion King is incredibly powerful. It’s a story about love, loss, and redemption. I found myself get teary-eyed more than a few times so expect some emotion while you are watching. The show is a true spectacle, featuring stunning costumes, vibrant sets, and amazing music. There is fog, moving sets, actors on harnesses in the air, flying props, live drummers, a live orchestra, beautiful lighting, dancing, movement, and just a room FULL of energy.
Tip 1: If you plan on buying merchandise I would siggest you get there early and buy it before the show. Lines can get long and if you purchase merchandise during intermission you risk missing some of the show.
Tip 2: Be sure to grab one of the performance magazines upon entry to the theater.
Costumes and Masks Facts
I was absolutely gobsmacked by how intricate and detailed the costumes for this show are. Many of the costumes have a synchronicity where they share the space and the movement so everything flows so elegantly. There are over 200 puppets in the show! Not only that but many of the characters come down the aisles in the theater so you can see them up close, which amplifies how incredible the costumes really are. There is so much craftsmanship and so many different materials and techniques incorporated into the costumes.
- Mufasa’s mask weighs 11 ounces, Scar’s mask weighs seven ounces and Sarabi’s mask is just four ounces. The masks, along with many others used in the show, are extremely lightweight (just under one pound) and are comprised of silicone rubber (to form the mask imprint) with carbon fiber overlay – the same durable material used to build airplanes. Over 750 pounds of silicone rubber were used to make the masks.
- Scar and Mufasa each wear two different masks: one moves and one is a stationary headdress.
- The tallest animals in the show are the four, 18-foot exotic giraffes from “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King.” The two giraffes in “Circle of Life” are 14 feet high. Two actors trained in stilt-walking, climb 6-foot ladders to fit inside the puppets, mount stilts and enter stage left to cross the stage.
- The largest and longest animal in the show is the Elephant. At 13 feet long, 12 feet high and 9 feet wide, the puppet requires four actors to carefully walk her down the orchestra aisle. When not occupied by the actors, the puppet can collapse down flat for convenient backstage storage.
- The smallest animal is the trick mouse at the end of Scar’s cane at just five inches.
- Zazu is the last animal to make his entrance on stage in the “Circle of Life” opening number.
- The Timon meerkat puppet weighs 15 pounds.
- Worn like a back pack, the Pumbaa puppet is the heaviest costume, weighing in at 45 pounds.
- Scar uses three different walking sticks.
- The yearly upkeep and maintenance of the 20 Grasslands headdresses requires over 3,000 stalks of grass (roughly 60 pounds).
- Every ensemble member plays both a hyena and a Grassland head.
- The Bird Lady and Bird Man costumes represent a flock of birds.
What Dates Is The Lion King On Broadway Performing?
Costa Mesa’s Limited Return Engagement Plays Thursday, February 1 to Sunday, February 25 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.
Performances are as follows: :
- Special Matinee: Thursday, February 1 at 2:00 pm
- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 7:30 pm
- Saturday at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm
- Sunday at 1:00 pm and 6:30 pm
Tickets start at $39.
Box Office
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Hours:
- Monday 10am to 2pm
- Tuesday through Friday 12pm to 5pm
- Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Phone: Monday – Friday 10am to 5pm
(714) 556-2787
Online – SCFTA.org
Group Sales – (714) 755-0236
For more information worldwide, visit LionKing.com, www.facebook.com/thelionkingusa and www.instagram.com/thelionking.
Segerstrom Hall faces the Center’s 46,000 square-foot Julianne and George Argyros Arts Plaza, with Richard Serra’s imposing “Connector” sculpture and Henry Moore’s “Reclining Figure.” The Plaza hosts many free community events each, including Strides for Life and Walk for the Cure. The Center presents its own free Movie Mondays series on the plaza each summer, attracting thousands of picnickers and families to screenings of classic movie musicals. Many live performances are showcased each year on the plaza as well, including dance events by such noted companies as Merce Cunningham Dance Company, Project Bandaloop, Trey McIntyre Project, Chris Botti, Ozomatli, Teatro ZinZanni and others.
