You've probably seen the movie. Maybe you've even seen the "live-action" CGI remake that everyone had feelings about a few years ago. But honestly, nothing prepares you for the moment the sun rises over the Paramount Theatre stage and that first Zulu chant hits your chest.
Seattle The Lion King isn't just another touring show passing through Washington. It is a massive, complicated, and deeply moving piece of engineering that somehow feels intimate despite its scale. When the tour landed at the Paramount Theatre for its most recent run—stretching from early December 2025 through January 4, 2026—it reminded us why this specific show has outlived almost everything else on Broadway.
People think they know what to expect. They expect "Circle of Life." They expect the puppets. What they don't expect is how heavy the silence feels when Mufasa falls, or how the aisles of a 100-year-old Seattle landmark transformed into a literal Serengeti.
The Paramount Theatre Transformation
The Paramount is old-school. It has that gilded, 1920s grandeur that usually feels a bit stiff. For this production, though, the venue basically becomes part of the set.
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If you were lucky enough to snag an aisle seat on the main floor, you had a life-sized elephant brushing past your shoulder. It’s a bit jarring. One second you're adjusting your coat, and the next, a puppet controlled by three people is lumbering toward the stage. This is the "Julie Taymor magic" people talk about. She didn't want to hide the actors; she wanted you to see the human and the animal at the same time.
Why the Seattle Run Was Unique
Seattle audiences are famously "polite," but the energy during the 2025-2026 holiday stint was different. Maybe it was the timing. The show ran through the darkest weeks of a Northwest winter, offering a literal explosion of savanna gold and deep reds to people who hadn't seen the sun in fourteen days.
- The Cast: The touring company featured Gerald Ramsey as Mufasa, a role he has inhabited with a terrifyingly beautiful gravitas for years.
- The Music: While the Elton John hits are there, the real soul of the Seattle show was the South African influence brought by Lebo M’s additional scores.
- The Logistics: Bringing a show of this size into downtown Seattle is a nightmare. We're talking dozens of trailers and hundreds of masks that have to be climate-controlled because, believe it or not, Seattle humidity can mess with the delicate materials used for the puppets.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Puppetry
There's a common misconception that the "masks" are just hats. They aren't.
Take Scar, for instance. Peter Hargrave, who played the villain during the Seattle leg, uses a mechanical rig. When he leans forward to menace Simba, the mask slides down over his face. It’s fluid. It’s predatory. It isn't just a costume; it’s an extension of the actor's spine.
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The giraffes? Those are actors on stilts. All four limbs. It looks exhausting because it is. They have to mimic the specific, swaying gait of a real giraffe while maintaining balance on a raked (sloped) stage. It's a miracle no one trips, honestly.
Practical Advice for Future Paramount Shows
If you missed the 2025-2026 run, the tour is heading to Spokane next, hitting the First Interstate Center for the Arts from late January to mid-February 2026. But for the next time a "blockbuster" like this hits Seattle, you need a game plan.
Parking is the enemy.
The Paramount doesn't have its own lot. If you try to park at the 7th and Pike garage thirty minutes before curtain, you will miss the opening number. And missing the opening of The Lion King is a tragedy. The "Circle of Life" is the best ten minutes of the show.
Instead, look at the 1731 Minor Ave lot or the Rainier Square Garage. They’re a few blocks' walk, but you won't be trapped in a line of Teslas when the show lets out.
The Bag Policy is strict.
Don't bring your laptop bag. Don't bring a massive backpack. The Paramount limits bags to roughly 18x12x12 inches. They will make you walk back to your car, and in Seattle rain, that's a vibe killer.
Best Seats for the Money.
Everyone wants the front row. Don't do it. You'll spend the whole night looking at the actors' shins and the bottom of the puppets. The "sweet spot" at the Paramount is actually the Mid-Mezzanine or the back half of the Main Floor. You need distance to see the "Double Event"—the term Taymor uses to describe seeing the human actor and the animal puppet simultaneously.
Beyond the Spectacle: Does It Still Hold Up?
Some critics argue the show is "style over substance." They say the story is just a 90-minute movie stretched into a two-and-a-half-hour musical.
They aren't entirely wrong about the pacing. The second act has a few songs that feel like "filler" compared to the powerhouse hits of the first act. But the emotional payoff remains unmatched. Seeing Simba (played by Darian Sanders in this tour) stand atop Pride Rock while the ensemble belts out the finale is a primal experience.
It hits on themes of displacement, grief, and the "Circle of Life"—which sounds like a cliché until you're sitting in a dark theater with 2,800 other people feeling the exact same thing.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Theater Trip:
- Check the Broadway Seattle eClub: This is how people got the "early bird" tickets for the 2025 run before they hit the general public and prices tripled.
- Arrive 60 Minutes Early: Security at the Paramount involves metal detectors and bag searches. It moves fast, but the lobby is half the fun. Grab a drink, look at the architecture, and settle in.
- Spokane is the Backup Plan: If you missed the Seattle dates, the tour stays in Washington through February 15, 2026. It’s a five-hour drive, but for a show this size, it’s worth the trek.
- Buy Merch at Intermission: The lines at the start of the show are insane. Wait until the middle of Act I or hit the smaller booth on the upper level.
Seattle's relationship with The Lion King is long-standing. Every time it returns, it breaks box office records. It’s the one show that brings out the theater nerds, the families, and the people who "don't really like musicals." It’s a rare piece of art that actually lives up to the hype, even decades after its debut.
If you are following the tour through the Pacific Northwest, keep an eye on the weather and the traffic, but whatever you do, make sure you're in your seat before that first "Nants ingonyama bagithi baba" rings out. You won't regret it.