Good seats for "The Lion King"?

July 23, 2007 6:29 AM

My mother wants to take the entire family to see "The Lion King" at the Minskoff Theater in New York City. The party will include my ten-year-old twin nephews, who will be seeing a Broadway show for the first time, so we want this to be a memorable experience. (Also, the tickets are very pricey!) Seat maps of the theater, not showing all dimensions of the space, do not really give one a good idea of which would be the best place to sit. Has anyone seen this show, or is anyone familiar with the Minskoff? How would this best be enjoyed - especially if one is ten and doesn't want to be stuck behind someone with a big head?
posted by Wylie Kyoto to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (10 answers total)

Speaking with general Broadway experience (having not seen The Lion King), your best bet as a 10-year-old would be to sit on the right or left aisle. Since you'll be looking somewhat inward, the head of the person in front of you won't matter as much. Of course, if you sit further in on the right or left side, you may compromise your sight lines. Avoid sitting too close: front-row seats are usually the worst in the house, and historically the box seats are more for being seen than for seeing.

Also, here are a couple reviews of the theater, one of which says "There are no bad seats in the Minskoff. You will see everything from anywhere."

Enjoy the show! I promise it will be a memorable experience no matter where you sit.
posted by thejoshu at 6:58 AM on July 23, 2007

"The Lion King" features performers in the balcony, so you're guaranteed to be close to some action regardless of your seating position.
posted by nilihm at 7:00 AM on July 23, 2007

I've been to the Minskoff theatre (my uncle used to work there), but I don't remember the exact layout. One thing I always try to do is get center seats - when you are too far to the left or right, you tend to see things you shouldn't and miss things you should see. I personally prefer to sit in the Mezzanine (or balcony, preferably within the first 10 rows), because the angle of the stadium seating is greater. It is a better view of the stage than further back on the main floor. Sitting closer to the front of the Mezzanine will give you less chances of having someone tall in front of you as well. From what I can tell, Rows A-G and seats 115 through 135 would be best (for the price). It is a smaller theater, so you should be fine anywhere, but if you get to pick...

I once sat too close to the stage during a production of Sunset Blvd. and you could see the pad that the actor fell onto off-stage. Kind of ruined that scene for me.
posted by blackkar at 7:03 AM on July 23, 2007

I second the aisle recommendation; there's an elephant involved.
posted by Soliloquy at 7:04 AM on July 23, 2007

I saw this show when I was about 11 or 12 from the very top balcony, but they were "stadium seats", i. e. angled so greatly that we had no problem seeing anything. I may be biased because I love musicals, but it was a great show and a very memorable experience.
posted by Zephyrial at 7:16 AM on July 23, 2007

I don't know the theatre, but a friend of mine who is an absolute nut for all musicals says that TLK is better from further away, due to the intricacy of the staging and choreo.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 7:35 AM on July 23, 2007

Most, if not all, Broadway theatres, have booster cushions available for children.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:22 AM on July 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

I don't know the theatre, but a friend of mine who is an absolute nut for all musicals says that TLK is better from further away, due to the intricacy of the staging and choreo.

I loved the show and saw it from the center mezzanine. This vantage point provided a full-view and 'action' does occur in the orchestra aisles -- and some in the mezzanine itself.
posted by ericb at 8:44 AM on July 23, 2007

I sat on the second row (not in NYC), and I think I would have enjoyed being further away from the stage. I second the aisle recommendation as the nephews would get a closeup of the amazing costumes.
posted by kamikazegopher at 10:24 AM on July 23, 2007

For a first timer impression, I will pay extra for first row mezz, anywhere on the rail, left, right or center. They can see everything. And by everything I mean not only all the action on stage but also a little bit of the orchestra and the audience (and their reactions) as well. They can stand up if they are small enough. They can see the theater interior and lighting. It is a full experience of what musical theater is. If the rail obscurs their line of sight, booster seats fix it. My niece's jaw was dropped half the show we saw (Little Shop of Horrors, especially when 'Audrey II" articulates over the first few rows of the orchestra seats.)
posted by Kensational at 11:11 AM on July 23, 2007