O Magazine interview

Taymor speaks about directing Broadway’s The Lion King in an interview with O Magazine.

I wasn’t afraid, but I was cautious. Everyone was asking me, Why are you doing Disney? You do folklore and mythology. My aesthetic is not a Disney aesthetic at all, but when I met with the wonderful producers at Disney, they weren’t looking for me to do their aesthetic. I’d already spent 20 years in the theater, so if they were going to hire me, they’d be hiring me for what I have to offer. Everyone learned a transforming lesson from The Lion King: You don’t have to patronize your audience, and you can mix art and commerce in a profound way.