Disney animated features were never really the same after 1994’s The Lion King. It’s just impossible to imagine Treasure Planet being adapted into a Broadway production—especially one worthy of the Tony Award for best musical, which the stage version of The Lion King picked up in 1998. Luckily, the touring version keeps chugging along, returning to the Orange County Performing Arts Center for a three-week run starting this week. There are some story changes—Rafiki is a female in the stage production, and there’s a few added scenes—but it retains the beloved Elton John-scored, Tim Rice-penned soundtrack that made the film the highest-grossing “traditionally” animated movie in history, a title it still holds. Plus, the character of Timon probably had some influence on that show Meerkat Manor.
Tuesdays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Sundays, 1 & 6:30 p.m. Starts: May 26. Continues through June 13, 2010
