Cast members from Broadway's THE LION KING were welcomed by First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House's Kids State Dinner on July 18th. The event was part of the Third Annual Healthy Lunchtime Challenge to promote healthy diets for America's youth.
Below, watch the cast's performance of 'He Lives in You', from the long-running Broadway musical!
THE LION KING won six 1998 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical. The Lion King has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.
The Broadway score features
Elton John and
Tim Rice's music from The Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African
Lebo M,
Mark Mancina,
Jay Rifkin,
Julie Taymor and
Hans Zimmer; and music from "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by
Lebo M,
Mark Mancina and
Hans Zimmer. The resulting sound of The Lion King is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award-winning song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" to the haunting ballad "Shadowland."
The book has been adapted by
Roger Allers, who co-directed The Lion King animated feature, and
Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film's screenplay. Other members of the creative team include:
Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor,
Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design),
Michael Ward (hair and makeup design),
John Stefaniuk (associate director),
Marey Griffith (associate choreographer),
Clement Ishmael (music supervisor) and Doc Zorthian (production supervisor).
Anne Quart serves as associate producer.