Yes, that Disney spectacle was indeed The Lion King, and A Strange Loop‘s Michael R. Jackson spent years working as an usher for the runaway hit. He says, “Being an usher was pretty brutal, for me at least. You’re seeing Broadway patrons up close and personal eight shows a week. Anything can happen. There’s lots of vomit involved, and accidents, and spills, soda, and trash.” But hey, it inspired a musical that “has been thrilling New York audiences with its audacious update of the form.” – Slate