Tickets Available for THE LION KING at Mead Theatre, 2/12

Disney Theatrical Productions and Victoria Theatre Association announced today that tickets for the long-awaited production of Disney's THE LION KING will go on sale to the public on Saturday, February 12 at 7 AM.  Dayton's most eagerly awaited stage production will begin performances at the Benjamin & Marion Schuster Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, June 14 for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, July 10.  The opening night is Thursday, June 16 at 8PM.  THE LION KING is part of the 2010-2011 Miami Valley & Good Samaritan Hospitals Broadway Series.
 
Ticket buyers are invited to special box office opening festivities on Saturday, February 12 beginning at 7AM at the Schuster Center.  Doors at the Schuster Center open at 5 AM, with in-person ticket sales beginning at 7AM.  99.9 LITE FM's Paul Ellis and Mix 107.7's Kristi Leigh will broadcast live from the Wintergarden in the Schuster Center throughout the morning. Prizes will abound with the first 100 ticket-buyers receiving THE LION KING's original Broadway cast CD, all others receiving a Lion King winter hat,  and a chance to win a mini-massage and respite in the Clear Channel's Lion's Den. On-line sales begin at 10AM at www.ticketcenterstage.com, sales over the phone begin at 11AM.
 
In Dayton, THE LION KING will play Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 PM, 6:30 PM on Sundays and matinees on Saturdays at 2 PM and Sundays at 1 PM. Ticket prices start as low as $32. Premium Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available. Beginning Saturday, February 12 at 7 AM tickets will be available at the Ticket Center Stage Box Office, located in the Wintergarden of the Schuster Center. Online sales begin at 10 AM at www.ticketcenterstage.com, and at 11 AM phones open with Ticket Center Stage at 937.228.3630 or toll-free at 888.228.3630  Orders for groups of twenty (20) or more may be placed by calling Betty Gould at 937.228.7591 ext. 3074.  Tickets will sell quickly, and Ticket Center Stage is the only approved vendor for the sale of the Dayton engagement of THE LION KING.
 
The North American touring production of THE LION KING has been seen by over 12.7 million theatergoers and grossed over $834 million to date.  Having already played more than 60 cities across North America, THE LION KING now proudly makes its Dayton premiere at the Schuster Center.  The current schedule is listed below.  Visit LionKingonTour.com.
 
ABOUT THE LION KING
As it begins its 14th year THE LION KING remains ascendant, continuing to reign as a cultural phenomenon and one of the most popular stage musicals in the world.  Since its 1997 Broadway premiere, 17 global productions have been seen by more than 54 million people, and grossed over $4.2 billion to date.  Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is the eighth longest-running musical in Broadway history and one of only five productions in theatre history to play for ten years or more, both on Broadway and in the West End.  Translated into five different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch), the show has been performed in 13 different countries on five continents.  THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway (its flagship production), on stages across North America, and in Las Vegas, London's West End, Hamburg and Tokyo.  In March of 2011, an all-new production will bow in Singapore.
 
THE LION KING won six 1998 Tony Awards®:  Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical, making Taymor the first woman in theatrical history bestowed with the honor.  THE LION KING has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. 
 
On stage, Taymor's creative vision blends elements of African art and Broadway artisanship to depict anthropomorphic animal characters.  Taymor, along with designer Michael Curry, has created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING.  The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed The Lion King animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film's screenplay.  Other members of the creative team include:  Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor).  Anne Quart serves as associate producer.
 
The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice's music from The Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer; and music from "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer.  The resulting sound of THE LION KING is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy® Award-winning song "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" to the haunting ballad "Shadowland." 
 
For more information worldwide, visit, LionKing.com     
 
The Dayton engagement of THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with Victoria Theatre Association and is a subscription offering of the 2010-2011 Miami Valley & Good Samaritan Hospitals Broadway Series.