J. Anthony Crane (Lion King)

J. Anthony Crane

After 5 years, Disney’s THE LION KING returns to Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre as part of the Broadway in Chicago series. The musical is based on the Disney animated movie. Director Julie Taymor’s creative vision blends elements of African art and Broadway artisan-ship to depict anthropomorphic animal characters. J. Anthony Crane plays the evil and menacing Scar. We spoke at the Cadillac Palace Theatre about the challenges and rehearsal process of working with both a puppet head and his own head, how the audiences eyes shift back and forth between the performer and the animal, and the spectacular costumes, puppets, masks, make-up and set, which all create the magic on stage.