To kick off the 15th anniversary celebration of the hit Broadway musical, The Lion King, a pop-up exhibit opened yesterday at the 5,000 square foot venue located at the southwest corner of 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue across from Bryant Park. Dubbed "Inside The Lion King," the exhibition showcases artifacts from the show, including a 17-foot ostrich puppet, Madame Tussaud's wax portraits of Rafiki and Scar, elaborate costumes and miniatures, early concepts materials and sketches, as well as the Tony Award trophy won by the show for Best Musical in 1998. Disney's teaching artists will also be on hand for a series of kid-friendly workshops: "Storytelling" (Dec 8) will give tots an inside look into the playwriting process; "Music" (Dec 9) explores the sounds of the savannah and the techniques used to mimic them on stage; "Movement" (Dec 15) teaches kids choreography from the show and "Design" (Dec 16) explains the artistry behind the show and gives participants the chance to create an original mask. All workshops will take place at 10:30 AM and 3 PM. The exhibit is free and open to the public from 10 AM-8 PM daily. The exhibit runs through December 16. A creation of Julie Taymor, The Lion King opened on Broadway in November 1997 and continues to be one of the most popular shows on Broadway. It plays the Minskoff Theatre located at 200 West 45th Street.
