Are we going to see the Lion King?

This is my 8-year-old cousin. Her name is Deja, but I like to call her The Butterfly.

She has been bugging me to see the Lion King for years.

December 2002, with comp tickets in hand on the way to see A Christmas Carol at The Madison Square Garden Theater.

The Butterfly: "We're going to NY? Are you taking me to see the Lion King?"

Kimberly: "No, not this time, but I think you're going to like this."
Meanwhile, I'm mentally making a note to take her to see the Lion King one day when I get the money. I felt like I let her down. Sucker.

Spring 2003 with comp tickets to A Year with Frog and Toad in hand (for those of you who forgot, it was the children's show featuring Mark Linn-Baker at the Cort Theatre, it wasn’t open very long).

On the Path train-
The Butterfly: "You're taking me to NY? Am I going to see a show? Are you taking me to the Lion King?"

Kimberly: "No, we're not going to see the Lion King, but I think you'll like this."

Turns out she loved the show, she sang the music all the way home to New Jersey, and continued singing for weeks. This is probably her favorite experience to date.

We had a similar trip to see 42nd Street. Honestly, I should've known better. I HATED the show; I have no idea why I thought she would like it. Tap dancing, sequins, and mirrors will only get you so far. By the end of the second number she groaned, "When is it going to be intermission?"

A year later, I tried it again. After finally landing my first 1st National Tour, I wanted to take The Butterfly to see the show I was working on. Here I am, walking down the streets of Midtown Manhattan, full of pride with The Butterfly in tow. She asked if we were going to see the Lion King. I said no, but I expected her to have a good time at Little Shop of Horrors. A plant, singing black girls, music with a beat and soul…Did she like it?

Not so much.

As soon as the blood red logo appeared on the show curtain, she said, "Aw man, I saw this movie."

Once again, she was praying for the intermission. Little Shop on Broadway was less than two hours including the intermission. I was faced with the fact that Broadway musicals aren't for everyone, and my idea that if you start young, they will grow up to appreciate the form. Boy, was I naive. I will have to figure out another way to entice young black people to support my career.

Anyway, this bring us to May of 2005, the day between returning from Puerto Rico and flying to LA. I made a stop in the New York Metropolitan area, picked up The Butterfly and we road the Path.

The Butterfly: "I know we're going to NY. Are you taking me to see the Lion King?"

Kimberly: "Yes"

I was so excited to be able to say yes. She was excited to finally go. We had a quick dinner and walked to the New Amsterdam where Simba loomed above us.

We took our seats in the middle of the orchestra on the aisle. The lights went down, the antelopes called, Rafiki appeared and the elephants came down the aisle, right next to The Butterfly. The moment was magical.

As the first act plods along, I find my mind wandering, I figured it was because I’d seen it so many times. Apparently Deja's mind was wandering too. When the lights finally came up for intermission I asked "How do you like it?"
She said, "It's ok. It's kinda boring." "Can we go to the bathroom or something?"

I think the most fun she had in the theater was in that bathroom.

After all those years of wanting to go, and all those years of wanting to take her, what did she enjoy most? Washing her hands in the bathroom.

Well, that's life. Deja won't be my new audience. AND I've taken her to see the Lion King. That circle in my life is now complete.