One of Broadway’s most popular shows of all time is coming to Columbia. How to see it

If you’ve ever wanted to see dancers transform seamlessly into gazelles, giraffes and even an elephant wearing interestingly engineered costumes and performing to familiar tunes, the Broadway version of Disney’s “The Lion King” is for you.

The show will make its Columbia debut at the Koger Center March 23 and run until April 3.

Extravagant simply doesn’t say it for those used to seeing the movie. The Serengeti spreads across the stage, enhanced by music written by Elton John and Tim Rice.

Broadway in Columbia recently made individual tickets available for the Koger Center shows. “The Lion King” is part of Broadway in Columbia’s 2022 season, which includes seven hit Broadway shows beginning Feb. 28 with “Cats.”

More than 100 million people have seen “The Lion King,” which premiered on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre in November 1997. It won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show reopened last September at the Minskoff Theatre in New York City.

The Disney animated movie was released in 1994.

In a news release, Broadway in Columbia said “the awe-inspiring visual artistry, the unforgettable music, and the uniquely theatrical storytelling of this Broadway spectacular (make this) one of the most breathtaking and beloved productions ever to grace the stage.”

Tickets are available at the Koger Center Box Office at 806 Park St. in Columbia, online and by phone at www.BroadwayInColumbia.com, www.KogerCenterfortheArts.com or at (803) 251-2222.

Tickets start at $30.

The full performance schedule is available at KogerCenterfortheArts.com.

This story was originally published February 8, 2022 at 5:00 AM.