'The Lion King' musical supervisor on enduring messages of peace and community

The enduring magic of Disney's 'The Lion King' on stage continues to resonate with audiences worldwide, not just for its spectacle, but for its profound messages, according to David Kreppel, associate musical supervisor for the theatrical version.

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Without worries, that is how one must live.

Kreppel points to the film's iconic lyric, "Hakuna Matata" (no worries), as a central teaching, but emphasizes another powerful lesson: living in peace and harmony with all beings on the planet. He expresses concern that despite the story's 1994 debut, the world's current state indicates that humanity has not fully internalized this message. "You think that people on the planet have learned that lesson and it seems that we still need a constant reminder of that," Kreppel stated.

He finds deep satisfaction in working on a show that explores themes of family, community, the celebration of new life, mourning loss, and conflict resolution. "It's one of the things that keeps this story relevant," he added. Kreppel views theater as a vital form of community, celebrating artistic, cultural, and sporting events for their ability to foster human interaction.

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You think that people on the planet have learned that lesson and it seems that we still need a constant reminder of that, it is beautiful that we can work on a show with those messages of family, community, celebration of birth, crying of loss and negotiation of conflicts, it is one of the things that keeps this story relevant.

In contrast, Kreppel perceives mobile devices and social media as isolating forces. He shared an anecdote about attending a World Cup game in Toronto, noting how such events, like theater, bring people together for a shared experience. "Anything that brings the community together at the same time is wonderful," he said, highlighting the impact of experiencing something collectively rather than alone while engrossed in a phone.

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Anything that brings the community together at the same time is wonderful. I saw a World Cup game in Toronto a few months ago and it did similar things, sporting events and theater attract people, anything that brings people to the room at the same time, having a shared experience instead of being on their phone, having the experience alone is impactful, beautiful and important for everyone.

Musically, 'The Lion King' production is a rich tapestry reflecting this global harmony. Kreppel notes the show incorporates diverse musical styles from around the world, which he believes contributes to its universal success. "The Lion King has many styles of music happening at the same time during the show from cultures all over the world, I think that is one of the reasons why the show plays so well and successfully in all the places it has been, except Antarctica, where we haven't been," he quipped. Kreppel, along with associate director Anthony Lyn and associate choreographer Marey Griffith, are responsible for maintaining the franchise's standards across international productions, including the one in Mexico City.

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The Lion King has many styles of music happening at the same time during the show from cultures all over the world, I think that is one of the reasons why the show plays so well and successfully in all the places it has been, except Antarctica, where we haven't been.