Festival of The Lion King
Complete photo collection
Preshow and Intro
The show begins with your hosts, traveling singers named Kiume, Nakawa, Kibibi, and Zawadi. After introducing themselves, they tell the audience about the the four different sections they've been seated in- Lion, Warthog, Giraffe, and Elephant. People from in each section are expected to make the appropriate animal sounds at certain times in the show, so the hosts let everyone know what sounds to make- after grabbing an audience member out of each section to help demonstrate.
Once everything's set, a troupe of dancers emerge and the lights dim, then the audience uses its newfound animal calling skills to summon Simba and his friends. More performers and dancers burst into the theater, leading a set of four floats that are positioned at the corners of the stage. Timon rides out on one of them, in particular the one that carries the show's logo. Each also bears the mascot of one of the seating sections; no points for guessing who the Lion and Warthog are...
"Hakuna Matata" and Tumble Monkeys
Timon tries to sing a familiar song, but the antics of some new simian friends, the Tumble Monkeys, interrupt the show. Later, it turns out that these monkeys can put on quite a show of their own...
"Be Prepared" and "Can You Feel The Love Tonight"
After the Tumble Monkeys pack up their gear, things take an ominous turn. The tone (to say nothing of the lighting) gets darker and Kiume sings a warning that one should be prepared for the murkiest skies. The Fire Hyena takes center stage, and puts on a stunning display of incendiary virtuosity.
Then its the Adage Birds' turn, and they lighten the mood with their aerial ballet. As the birds dance, Nakawa and Kibibi sing of love in the air...
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and Finale
Timon and the Tumble Monkeys take center stage to sing one more song, this time about a lion taking a snooze this evening. Then comes the grand finale, in which most of the performers from the show do a brief repise of their earlier acts. When all is done, the cast take a bow and exit the theater. Several seconds later, Timon comes over the PA system and compliments the audience on their enthusiasm... then tells everyone to get out! And as the audience does so, another performance of Festival of The Lion King comes to an end.
Photographs copyright © Matt N., 2010, 2011. Much of the stuff in them is copyright © The Walt Disney Company. All rights reserved by their respective owners.