No. 12. “He Lives in You (Reprise)” (The Lion King, 1997)

By Elton John (music), Tim Rice (lyrics), and Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi (book). Additional music and lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer. Adapted from the screenplay by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts and Linda Woolverton

Disney had a major hit with Beauty & the Beast, even if its translation from screen to stage was somewhat pedestrian, beyond some technical wizardry. Their follow up, however, was an artistic triumph and eventually became the highest grossing piece of entertainment in any medium. The Lion King turned Disney’s “Hamlet-in-the-Saranghetti” into a celebration of African culture, coupled with puppetry and stage imagery unlike anything seen on Broadway before. Julie Taymor went from respected experimental downtown artist to household name. Its influence on staging can been seen in productions like War Horse, The Life of Pi, the most recent revival of Into the Woods, and this season’s Boop!. In reclaiming and restoring the long-abandoned Amsterdam Theater, Disney planted a flag on Broadway and spurred the transformation of Times Square from a crime-ridden epicenter for adult movie theaters into a family friendly tourist destination. "He Lives in You (Reprise)" and Lebo M's killer vocal arrangements highlight the vital humanity in the production.

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