Julie Taymor is best known as the acclaimed artistic director of the Lion King musical. She is mastermind behind the incredible designs and awesome spectacle. Taymor brings her artistic flair to everything she does. With training and research in dance, puppetry, mask and costume, design aspects infiltrate all areas of her art. Take a look at this selection of projects over the years to see the range of work she has done.
1992 to 1993 – Opera
In the early nineties, Taymor focused on directing opera. After visits to the opera, she felt she could better picture the scenes if she closed her eyes and imagined them. She brought imagery and colour, to productions of Salome, Johann Strauss’ opera based on the Oscar WIlde play, Richard Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Ivor Stravinksy’s Oedipus Rex.
1997 – The Lion King
In 1997, Taymor became a household name with her hit production, The Lion King musical, debuted in the West End, but is now on Broadway and played worldwide. The Lion King features large scale design depicting the African savannah through puppets, costume and set. The technology and art of mime and puppetry came originally from her stay in Paris, at Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq, and complemented later by a course from The American Society for Eastern Arts. Such skills influence not only the Lion King show, but much of her work.
In 1997, Taymor became a household name with her hit production, The Lion King musical, debuted in the West End, but is now on Broadway and played worldwide. The Lion King features large scale design depicting the African savannah through puppets, costume and set. The technology and art of mime and puppetry came originally from her stay in Paris, at Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq, and complemented later by a course from The American Society for Eastern Arts. Such skills influence not only the Lion King show, but much of her work.