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Theatre Costume thumbnail 2
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Theatre Costume

1994 (original costume) (designed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Costume from the musical The Lion King for the character of Scar. The costume consists of a full body leotard worn under tightly fitting corset and includes leather boots and a tail. The surface of the orange leotard is digitally printed with interlocking black diamonds and stiff leather covered piping has been attached to the corset, arms and hands. A stiff leather 'cage' is worn over the top of the upper section of the costume. 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.

Scar is the primary villain of the story and plots to steal the throne from the hero, and rightful heir, Simba. This costume is a replica of the original Scar costume that was specially made for the V&A.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 12 parts.
(Some alternative part names are also shown below)
  • Theatre Costume
  • Leotards
  • Corsets
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
  • Leotards
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
  • Theatre Costume
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Costume from the musical The Lion King for the character of Scar. 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 Scar. The costume consists of a full body leotard worn under tightly fitting corset, and includes leather boots and a tail. The surface of the orange leotard is digitally printed with interlocking black diamonds and stiff leather covered piping has been attached to the corset, arms and hands. A stiff leather 'cage' is worn over the top of the upper section of the costume.
Production typeCopy
Gallery label
Gallery rotation, 2022 COSTUME FOR SCAR IN THE LION KING: THE MUSICAL 2010 The character of Scar is both dangerous and comic. The mask and costume represent the villain’s split personality through deliberate asymmetry. Inspired by Asian mask-making traditions, the dramatic carving of the facial features enables the actor to build on a fixed expression. The jutting angles and protruding shapes of the costume design suggests a bony, menacing animal on the prowl. Costume designed by Julie Taymor, mask designed by Julie Taymor and Michael Curry, wig designed by Michael Ward Leather, Lycra, cotton and plastic (costume), carbon fibre and metal boom (mask), synthetic nylon and dyed human hair (wig) The Lion King designs (c) Disney Enterprises, Inc. Given by The Walt Disney Company Museum no. S.3139:1 to 12-2010 (07/03/2022)
Credit line
Given by Buena Vista Theatrical Group Ltd (The Walt Disney Company)
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 referenceThe Lion King
Summary
Costume from the musical The Lion King for the character of Scar. The costume consists of a full body leotard worn under tightly fitting corset and includes leather boots and a tail. The surface of the orange leotard is digitally printed with interlocking black diamonds and stiff leather covered piping has been attached to the corset, arms and hands. A stiff leather 'cage' is worn over the top of the upper section of the costume. 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.

Scar is the primary villain of the story and plots to steal the throne from the hero, and rightful heir, Simba. This costume is a replica of the original Scar costume that was specially made for the V&A.
Collection
Accession number
S.3139:1 to12-2010

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Record createdDecember 3, 2010
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