On my drive downtown from suburbia I had plenty of time to second-guess my plan to bring my almost seven year old daughter to an 8 PM showing of Disney’s, The Lion King at the Cadillac Palace Theatre. Her eyes were already heavy as I pulled into a parking garage just down the street. This quickly changed as she took in the energy of other theatergoers. This was then sustained for the two and a half hour show by the amazing performers. The elephant that sauntered down the aisle certainly helped, later followed by wildebeests, hyenas, and birds. The music, singing and dancing kept my daughter fixated on every move and word.

The director has evoked a heightened level of attention to detail in all of the cast and crew and the puppeteers stayed true to their characters. It is obvious they have studied not only the lines and vocal inflections, but also the nuances of their characters movements and manners. The play stayed true to the story line of the animated original. Their favorite songs from the movie like “The Circle of Life” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” will dazzle both kids and adults. But those songs are not the only reason to see this play. The costumes are amazing, the story line is brilliant and it all comes together due to a talented cast. The Lion King is well suited for audiences of all ages.

Before you buy your tickets, be aware that while the Cadillac Palace Theatre is cozy. Seats to the far sides of the stage will provide an obstructed view of activities that take place in the rear corners. The show is in Chicago for nine weeks through Saturday, November 27. For tickets or additional information, go to www.BroadwayInChicago.com.