Returning to Chicago for the fifth time and one of Broadway's longest-running shows in history, The Lion King, has arrived at the Cadillac Palace Theatre — and this theatrical masterpiece is still a thriller. With music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice, along with additional music and lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer, The Lion King's enthralling magical rhythms of the African Pridelands make for an amazing evening of theater.

Based on the 1994 Disney animated film about a young lion cub's life as his father's successor, The Lion King brings the jungles of Africa to life. But who doesn't know this story of King Mufasa, his son Simba and Mufasa's deceitful, jealous and calculating brother Scar? And although the charisma storyline of The Lion King is entertaining, it's all about the phenomenon of visual images and effects you experience from the visually astonishing costumes and the animated characters brilliantly displayed by the enormous cast.

Of course, the play starts with Nants ingonyama bagithi baba, translated into 'Here comes a lion, father, Oh yes it's a lion — but get ready to have your head on a shovel because this production has performers in the upper balconies and the aisles. With lions, gazelles, hyenas, wildebeast, and Zuzu, King Mufasa's Red-billed hornbill majordomo, Timon, the meerkat, and the best friend of Pumbaa, the warthog, this play will bring the child out of us all.

The show's director, costume designer, and mask co-designer Julie Taymor can teach a master class on the brilliance of stage adaptation and producing a superb production. The atmosphere that this production brings is electrifying. The captivating movements are projected on stage, where you see African-style puppets, glistening stars, and beautiful sunsets. Curvaceous mountains, an elephant graveyard, fantastic music, with phenomenal singing — Cadillac Theatre's Lion King is a holiday treat you can't miss.

All of the cast in this production was outstanding. The powerful presence and vocal of Gerald Ramsey carried the storyline as Mufasa, the lovely King, to his son Simba. Peter Hargrove's performance as the villainous Scar was magnificent, and Nick LaMedica(Zuza), Nick Corileone (Timon), and John E. Brady as Pumbaa animated characterizations were so impressive you forget they were behind their puppets.

The role of young Simba and Nala, played by Jaylen Lyndon Hunter, and Scarlett London Diviney, was adorable, and adult Simba and Nala, played by Darian Sanders and Khalifa White, charismatically moved across the stage with lion-like style and grace.