The Lion King (Minskoff Theatre) (New York, USA)
The Lion King (Minskoff Theatre)
The Minskoff Theatre is a Broadway theatre, located at 1515 Broadway in Times Square in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is currently home to the musical The Lion King, based on the 1994 animated film of the same name. Winner of six Tony Awards® including Best Musical, Disney's The Lion King showcases the talents of one of the most acclaimed creative teams on Broadway. Tony Award-winning director Julie Taymor reimagines the popular story using some of the theater's most extraordinary stagecraft. The Lion King also features the exceptional work of Tony Award-winning choreographer Garth Fagan and a glorious score crafted by the Tony Award-winning songwriting team of Elton John and Tim Rice.
The 1,621-seat venue, designed by architects Kahn and Jacobs, is on the third floor of One Astor Plaza, an office tower constructed on the site of the Astor Hotel. Named after Sam Minskoff and Sons (Henry H. Minskoff, Jerome Minskoff, Myron Minskoff, and Leo Minskoff), builders and owners of the high-rise building, it opened March 13, 1973, with a revival of Irene starring Debbie Reynolds. Over the years it has served as host to musicals, dance companies, and concerts.
In 1981, it hosted Miss Universe 1981, won by Irene Saez of Venezuela, as well as the transfer of Joseph Papp's production of The Pirates of Penzance. In 1994, Sunset Boulevard was a hit at the theatre. In 2006, The Lion King transferred to the theatre, where it continues to run, as of 2020.
In September 2007, a new set within the Minskoff space was created for the syndicated news magazine The Insider, which had formerly been based on the second floor of Astor Plaza in MTV's studios and in Los Angeles. The program returned to Los Angeles for the 2008–09 season.