Theatre Costume
1994 (original costume) (designed)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Costume from the musical The Lion King for the character of Sarabi. The costume consists of a tightly fitting corset worn over a one piece draped silk sleeved and skirted cloak, and is worn with two leather arm cuffs and a wide beaded necklace. It was designed by Julie Taymor (b.1952) and was worn with a mask co-designed by Julie Taymor and Michael Curry (owner and president of Michael Curry Design Inc).
Julie Taymor is a director and designer and has worked with both stage and screen productions. She received two Tony Awards for her work on The Lion King, one for direction and one for Original Costume design, making her the first woman to win a Tony Award for directing a musical.
The musical of The Lion King is based on the original 1994 Disney film. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical debuted on the 8th of July 1997 at the Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, Minnesota, before premiering on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on October 15th 1997. The London premiere of The Lion King took place at the Lyceum Theatre on October 19th 1999 and the show is still running.
Sarabi is the queen of the Pride Lands; mother of Simba, mate of Mufasa and sister-in-law of Scar. This costume is a replica of the original Sarabi costume that was specially made for the V&A.
Julie Taymor is a director and designer and has worked with both stage and screen productions. She received two Tony Awards for her work on The Lion King, one for direction and one for Original Costume design, making her the first woman to win a Tony Award for directing a musical.
The musical of The Lion King is based on the original 1994 Disney film. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical debuted on the 8th of July 1997 at the Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, Minnesota, before premiering on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on October 15th 1997. The London premiere of The Lion King took place at the Lyceum Theatre on October 19th 1999 and the show is still running.
Sarabi is the queen of the Pride Lands; mother of Simba, mate of Mufasa and sister-in-law of Scar. This costume is a replica of the original Sarabi costume that was specially made for the V&A.
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Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 7 parts. (Some alternative part names are also shown below)
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| Materials and techniques | Silk, leather, cotton, shell, glass, wood and brass |
| Brief description | Costume from the musical The Lion King for the character of Sarabi. Replica of original costume designed by Julie Taymor for the debut production in 1994. |
| Physical description | Costume from the musical The Lion King for the character of Sarabi. The costume consists of a tightly fitting corset worn over a one piece draped silk sleeved and skirted cloak, and is worn with two leather arm cuffs and a wide beaded necklace. It was designed by Julie Taymor (b.1952) and was worn with a mask co-designed by Julie Taymor and Michael Curry (owner and president of Michael Curry Design Inc). |
| Production type | Copy |
| Gallery label | Re:Imagining Musicals, 15 October 2022 - 4 February 2024
Replica of the costume for Sarabi in The Lion King
2010
The Lion King stage musical is based on the 1994 Disney animated film. This costume for Simba’s mother Sarabi uses a traditional African Shoowa textile pattern demonstrating strength and elegance. The lioness mask can be interpreted as both a water urn balancing on Sarabi’s head, or as a queen’s crown.
Designed by Julie Taymor
Silk, leather, cotton, shell, glass, wood and brass
Museum no. S.3140:1 to 7-2010
Given by The Walt Disney Company(2022) |
| Credit line | Given by Buena Vista Theatrical Group Ltd |
| Object history | Replica of the costume for the original 1994 production made for the V&A for display purposes. |
| Production | Attribution note: Replica of the original costume from the debut production in 1994 |
| Literary reference | The Lion King |
| Summary | Costume from the musical The Lion King for the character of Sarabi. The costume consists of a tightly fitting corset worn over a one piece draped silk sleeved and skirted cloak, and is worn with two leather arm cuffs and a wide beaded necklace. It was designed by Julie Taymor (b.1952) and was worn with a mask co-designed by Julie Taymor and Michael Curry (owner and president of Michael Curry Design Inc). Julie Taymor is a director and designer and has worked with both stage and screen productions. She received two Tony Awards for her work on The Lion King, one for direction and one for Original Costume design, making her the first woman to win a Tony Award for directing a musical. The musical of The Lion King is based on the original 1994 Disney film. Directed by Julie Taymor, the musical debuted on the 8th of July 1997 at the Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, Minnesota, before premiering on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on October 15th 1997. The London premiere of The Lion King took place at the Lyceum Theatre on October 19th 1999 and the show is still running. Sarabi is the queen of the Pride Lands; mother of Simba, mate of Mufasa and sister-in-law of Scar. This costume is a replica of the original Sarabi costume that was specially made for the V&A. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.3140:1-2010 |
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| Record created | December 3, 2010 |
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