Broadway is Back! Day Trip Adventures to See THE LION KING on Broadway
There is something so incredibly special about taking a trip into the city with your family to see a Broadway show. From getting dressed up to finding nearby restaurants to hit before or after a show, there’s a certain excitement to the whole experience that is magical for both kids and adults.
Having kids of different ages, ranging from elementary school to teenager, I am always looking for activities that meld all of their interests in a somewhat seamless manner. For us that often involves a live performance or show – with seeing a Broadway show as the ultimate treat!
We set off on an adventure one day recently to see a show in NYC, and it wasn’t hard to narrow down our choices. I’ve been wanting to see THE LION KING since high school! The third longest-running show on Broadway, it’s been thrilling audiences for over 25 years – and I am so happy I got to experience the joy and excitement of it together with my kids.
Coming from Westchester, I had the option to drive to Manhattan or travel by public transportation. To make it more of an adventure, I opted to take the railway into the city instead of driving. After about a 50-minute ride from Northern Westchester to Grand Central Station in the open-aired train, we hopped off and walked a few blocks to the Minskoff Theatre on 45th Street. You can also take the S shuttle train from Grand Central Station to Times Square for easy and direct access that will deliver you and your family right to the heart of Broadway.
Times Square buzzes with excitement all day and night, and THE LION KING offers shows that will work with your family’s schedule, including earlier showings for the younger crowd. Matinee performances are Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. I opted for the Saturday afternoon show so we would have a few daylight hours left to explore the city afterward.
As we waited for the doors to open, I noticed many other families waiting in line with excited children. As a lover of the arts, it almost brought a tear to my eye recalling how, just a few years ago, mid-pandemic, the city stood still and the future of Broadway was in question. Now that it’s back, it’s better – and safer – than ever.
We passed a security checkpoint, and as much as I would love to live in a world where such precautions aren’t necessary, relief washed over me knowing my kids and I would be completely safe inside the theater. Outside, the ongoing presence of police officers patrolling Times Square also brings me comfort.
Upon arrival, the kids and I soaked up as much theater magic as we could while other families took their seats. We anxiously waited for the show to begin, thumbing through the Playbill to see all of the actors’ names and a preview of the scenes/songs we were about to witness; this is one of our favorite parts of the Broadway experience!
The kids’ faces lit up as the curtains parted and we settled in for a theatrical trip to the Pridelands of Africa, and I mentally high-fived myself for finding a way to successfully turn their attention away from their devices long enough to live in the moment and enjoy the live action and excitement only a Broadway play can bring to audiences.
THE LION KING is a heartwarming, funny, and entertaining Broadway experience, following a coming-of-age story through a multitude of layers. It explores the depth of the familiar yet reimagined characters of Simba and his family and friends. We meet him on his journey from a cub to an adult while the death of his father weighs heavily on him. Audience members are brought along as he discovers his inner strength and courage with the help of his friends, Timon, Pumbaa, Zazu and Nala.
It being Broadway, I expected to see some elaborate costumes. But I didn’t expect to be fully awestruck! The exquisitely detailed, handmade costumes were crafted by none other than Tony Award® winning director and costume designer Julie Taymor, whose ingenious craftsmanship allows for intimate and direct viewing of the actors’ faces and expressions (as opposed to being just covered up by a mask). The textile puppets and masks collectively took a whopping 37,000 hours to create – and it showed.
The stage sprang to life with a breathtaking amalgamation of lively characters, like 18-foot-tall exotic giraffes, over 232 earth-toned puppets, and a massive elephant maneuvered by three actors that you have to see to believe.
The show also takes families on a musical journey through Africa with songs and dialogue in six indigenous African languages, such as Swahili, Zulu, Xhosa, Sotho, Tswana and Congolese. Powerful voices belted out beloved favorites like “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to be King,” and “Be Prepared.”
My kids and I were fully in hakuna matata mode, smiling and swaying along with the rhythm while taking in the incredible choreography, watching the actors and dancers gracefully contort into their respective animal forms onstage with poise and purpose.
The curtains closed and my kids and I were buzzing from the magic and the lessons that unfolded. The walk back to Grand Central was filled with talk of our favorite parts, the stunning costumes, and of course, how much we couldn’t wait for our next Broadway show!
It is wonderful to know that there are still activities that families with kids of all ages can enjoy together. My children and I truly had a fulfilling, entertaining, and most importantly, screen-free experience seeing THE LION KING on Broadway. It was so refreshing to revel in a live experience where we used our imaginations and witnessed the power of theater-making, dance, music and visual artistry, up close and personal.
A pivotal experience for kids, live theater truly is back and better than ever. Make it an adventure for your family by spending a day in the city exploring its many cultural amenities and attractions for kids.
THE LION KING runs for two hours and 30 minutes and is designed for kids ages six and up. The show runs daily, except on Mondays. Tickets are available at the Minskoff Theatre box office (200 W 45th St.) or at lionking.com/tickets. Learn more at lionking.com.
