Roaring into July: Disney's 'The Lion King' feels the love in DFW

Be prepared for fun (and a break from the heat) with Disney's 'The Lion King', wrapping up its run on the Broadway Dallas stage next week. The Tony Award Best Musical winner has been on my must-see list for YEARS, and I was so excited to finally experience the production. Here's my take on the show itself, and a few additions I highly recommend for getting the most out of your day at Fair Park!

I arrived a couple of hours before showtime to visit the African American Museum of Dallas for their special exhibit "From Africa to the Broadway Stage: Disney's 'The Lion King'". The museum is directly across from the theater, and there were trams from the parking lot to each building, which was much appreciated with temps hitting the 100s this week! This experience is presented free of charge (keep in mind there is a donation basket if you feel so inclined), and included an up-close look at some of the masks and props used in the show.

I really enjoyed learning more about how these show-stopping masks were constructed, and how they work on the stage. One thing I knew going into the show was that the actors act almost as puppeteers, moving in a way that allows the elaborate costumes to create the illusion of animals on the African savanna. Seeing some of the main character costumes up close made me appreciate the design and function even more. I don't think it would have been quite as impressive from my seat without the opportunity to take in these details before the show.

The exhibit also included activities for the family, like decorating tribal mask sheets, beading bracelets, and themed face painting. While there, spend some time viewing the AAM's other exhibits, including a black sports hall of fame, a history of Freedman's Town (the once-thriving black community where Uptown sits today), and one of the largest collections of African American folk art in the country. Your mileage may vary, but I spent about 30 minutes at the museum. The AAM is currently operating 2 hours before showtime until 30 minutes prior to curtain for the run of Disney's 'The Lion King' through July 3.

Once it was time to head to the theater, I stopped by the Crystal Terrace restaurant inside the music hall for a glimpse at their lunch/brunch menu. I wasn't dining here this weekend, but I absolutely recommend making a reservation ahead of time for a meal before your show! I love how they offer themed dishes based on the production taking place. Current selections include a curry rubbed chicken, lemongrass chimichurri beef tenderloin, stewed okra and vegetables, and a veggie jollof rice - plus tons of other starters, sides, and desserts.

I also visited the merch stands to see if there were any must-have items that needed to come home with me. If you have a standard souvenir go-to like a coffee mug, t-shirt, or bag, you'll definitely want to bookmark some extra dollars because the choices were super cute. I noticed a lot of people walking around with a fuzzy-eared Simba hoodie that I'm sure many of you would love to get your hands on!

One word of warning here for anyone planning their visit: this is a popular Disney production based on a popular Disney animated film. The family vibes were HIGH, and there were a lot more kids and families in the audience than the typical theater experience. While I fully support kids at the theater, understand that theater etiquette might not be at its best for a show like this. It may have just been my show, but people were coming in and out, talking, and getting up and down a lot more than normal. It didn't seem like everyone really settled in until deep into the first act, which was distracting and kept me from getting into the performance. Be ready to put your phones away and pack your patience!

That said, the opening number - Circle of Life - quite literally took my breath away. The parade of animal characters we all know and love from the film, including immersive audience placement, was STUNNING. They got a loud round of applause mid-number, and just that moment alone was worth the cost of admission! The cast was great, and I enjoyed the staging and display of different African influences a lot. The show does a nice job of blending the Disney-fied Africa we see in the film with the true culture, sounds, and colors of the African continent.

Will you add this experience to your summer bucket list? Disney's 'The Lion King' runs at the Music Hall at Fair Park through July 3, 2025, presented by Broadway Dallas. https://broadwaydallas.org/shows/the-lion-king/