Disney: ‘Lion King’ show returns to Animal Kingdom
The popular “Lion King” show will return to Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park in mid-May, says Jeff Vahle, president of Walt Disney World.
Vahle posted photos and video of the show’s cast members, along with Sarah Riles, new vice president of Animal Kingdom, on his Instagram account. He noted that the cast is in rehearsals in preparation for mid-May performances. The show has not been performed since Disney World closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020.
“Hearing that wonderful, familiar music put a lump in my throat,” Vahle posted. “Thrilled to have these talented cast members back on our stage.”
In January, Disney announced that the show would return this summer but in a modified form to adjust to pandemic restrictions and precautions. The tweaked title that Vahle used Monday — “A Celebration of Festival of the Lion King” — could reflect that. Be prepared.
The original version, which premiered with the theme park in 1998, featured live singers, dancers, acrobats, aerialists, fire twirlers, giant puppets and music from Disney’s “The Lion King” movie.
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