Ok, I'm in a theme-park dry spell. Getting ready for a vacation, then 10 days off, then the Orlando Fringe Festival means I haven't been to a theme park in (gasp!) a month. That actually, is a very long time for me.

So I bring you instead today, a field-trip option. If you have not seen Disney's "The Lion King," get thee to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. The current tour has stopped there, and continues playing until June 22.

I have seen the show before (once in Japanese!), but the puppets, masks, performers' artistry and athleticism still amaze. If you think the show will simply be an expanded version of the "Festival of the Lion King" show at Disney's Animal Kingdom, think again. I love the "Festival" show, but this Broadway production is on a different plane.

I was especially impressed with this touring cast: Boundless energy and crisp, emotional singing by all. The kids -- especially Nicholas Ashe as young Simba -- were outstanding, both in acting and singing.

Treat yourself, and join this incredible Circle of Life.

For ticket information, go to tbpac.org.

Get your head in the game and line up right over here.

It’s not much of a problem for your preteen or teenage kids to catch the new High School Musical 2 show at Disney MGM Studios. They show up and watch the show, just like most anyone else.

But what about the preschoolers and the slightly older kids who also get a kick out of the show? Or, for that matter, what about someone with a disability? Or even Grandma, who’s at the park with the grandkids and wants to see what all the fuss is about over this "school musical"?

The park seems to have taken that into consideration with their unique way of ensuring that guests get up close to the production. Provided, of course, if the guests show up early and queue up in a designated area.

In the midst of the anticipation surrounding the Denver opening of Disney's latest Broadway musical, The Little Mermaid, the company's Tarzan slunk off the Great White Way.

[For some details about the music of the new staged Little Mermaid, click here. For a story about composer Alan Menken, click here.]

Why does Disney have such a hard time with Tarzan?