The Lion King musical premiered on Broadway in 1997.
Before reaching New York, the stage production debuted on July 8, 1997, at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. It then began Broadway previews at the New Amsterdam Theatre on October 15, with its official Broadway opening on November 13, 1997.
The musical adapts Disney's 1994 animated film, but it is not simply a stage copy. Director Julie Taymor created a distinctive theatrical language using masks, puppets, costumes and visible performers to represent the animals. Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi wrote the book, while Elton John and Tim Rice's film songs were joined by new music and arrangements from artists including Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Jay Rifkin.
The year can be confused with 1994, the release year of the animated movie, or 1999, when the production opened in London's West End. The Broadway show became a major long-running hit, winning six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and later moved from the New Amsterdam Theatre to the Minskoff Theatre in 2006.