The Lion King

The Lion King on Broadway is one of those shows that makes you understand why people fly across the country to see live theater. You walk into the Minskoff Theatre (or whatever touring venue it's playing), the lights go down, and then the opening procession starts - and your jaw hits the floor. Animals walking down the aisles, puppets that move like real creatures, costumes that transform humans into giraffes and elephants and hyenas. It's unlike anything else on a stage.

Director Julie Taymor's vision for this show is what makes it a masterpiece. She didn't just adapt the Disney movie - she reimagined it as a piece of African-inspired theatrical art. The masks, the shadow puppetry, the way Timon is performed as a hand puppet while his actor walks beside him - every design choice is deliberate and brilliant. You'll forget you're watching people in costumes within minutes.

And then there's the music. Elton John and Tim Rice's songs - "Circle of Life," "Can You Feel the Love Tonight," "Hakuna Matata" - are some of the most recognizable melodies on the planet. Hearing them performed live with a full orchestra and a cast that can actually sing is a completely different experience from watching the movie. The vocal performances, especially Mufasa and Rafiki, will give you goosebumps.

The show has been running since 1997 and it's still packing houses. That's nearly three decades of sold-out performances, and for good reason. This is the kind of production you bring your kids to and then realize you're enjoying it even more than they are.

Find Lion King tickets on Evil Tickets. Bring tissues for "Circle of Life." You've been warned.