The Lion King is over a decade old and yet it is still able to bring throngs of parents and children to see its shows all over the world. The show has proved to be perhaps the signature creation of Disney Theatricals. It is the first I think of when I think of animation adaptations.

It has survived the moved from the New Amsterdam Theater to the Minskoff Theatre. It has even endured the rush to adapt every Disney classic to a stage show.

I am still in awe of the work done by Julie Taymor and Michael Curry. While the advances in animation have often left the movies of the past behind and archaic, their costumes and the set design by Richard Hudson have managed to help children and skeptical adults (even this one) suspend their belief and envision that the grasslands have been preserved inside New York�s concrete jungle.

I do not know if the wild life is as vicious as some of the creatures that loom in Central Park, but King Scar and his hyenas are still as menacing as they were when the animated film debuted in 1997. Sometimes I fear that efforts of the actors and actresses beneath the makeup and puppetry go unappreciated. Derek Smith has been able to capture the right balance of ferocity, spite, and general evilness to make the character powerful and believable without damaging the children.

Nathaniel Stampley, similarly brings the nobility of a truly good king as Mufasa to the stage before his demise. Simba is the pivotal character and theater productions often have troubles finding the right combination of children and adults to make the character blossom. Guy Barfield II as Simba the young and Dashaun Young a Simba the adult help bring the conflicted jungle Hamlet to life without leaving the audience snickering at the quick maturation.

The list of accolades and personal performances goes on and on, and they are the reason that the Lion King is still able to outdraw Mary Poppins tickets despite moving to the smaller theater two years ago.

Perhaps many of us have taken the work of the individuals for granted in this age of gigantic Disney Theatrical productions, but after the troubles of the Little Mermaid I feel compelled to remind every Broadway fan that great, enduring works are not common. They are not the product of a machine, but a creation that such a powerful financial force like Disney can cultivate when they match the right people to the right story.

I have not had the pleasure of watching the Lion King productions on tour or in other cities, but I truly appreciate Broadway�s rendition. It has continued to attract the very best talent and has been able to include such wonders as the truly incredible stampeded scene thanks to its permanent location.

The Lion King is still able to captivate audiences and inspire the latest generation of preschoolers and elementary school children. This production immerses them in the perfect breeding ground for young theater fans. The very best in set and costume design, the very best in storylines with an adaptation of Hamlet, and the very best in songs with a collection of music by Elton John and Tim Rice are sure to snare Broadway fans of the future.