North American LION KING Tour Celebrates 3,000th Performance in Alaska

The North American Tour of Disney's THE LION KING celebrated its 3,000th performance at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts in Anchorage, AK on Sunday, October 4 becoming one of a rare few touring productions to achieve this milestone. The touring production has played 56 cities across North America and has been seen by over 7 million theatergoers and grossed over $446 million to date.

Entering its 6th and final week in Anchorage, THE LION KING has already broken all sales and attendance records for events at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. Making a major economic impact on the city of Anchorage, it is estimated that theatergoers will spend an additional $15 million with local businesses by the time the engagement concludes on Sunday, October 11.

"It is truly wonderful that since the tour premiered at the Buell Theatre in Denver, CO in April 2002, people in communities all across North America continue to embrace THE LION KING" said Jack Eldon, Vice President, Domestic Touring, Disney Theatrical Productions. "We are thrilled that audiences in Anchorage are currently enjoying the experience of this award-winning Broadway production and are looking forward to sharing this theatrical phenomenon with more cities during the coming years."

THE LION KING is currently playing at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts in Anchorage, AK through Sunday, October 11, 2009 and during the coming year will play return engagements in San Diego, CA; Spokane, WA and San Antonio, TX. Recently announced premiere engagements scheduled for 2010 include Madison, WI, Vancouver, B.C., and Salt Lake City, UT. For more details visit www.lionkingtour.com.

THE LION KING is the winner of over 70 major awards worldwide and has become a global phenomenon seen by nearly 50 million people. This North American Tour is currently one of seven productions running worldwide along with New York, London, Hamburg, Tokyo, and Paris.

A new production recently opened in May to excellent reviews at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas and is currently playing to capacity crowds.

Now in its second sold-out decade in New York, THE LION KING is the winner of six Tonyâ Awards including Best Musical, eight Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, the New York Drama Critics award for Best Musical, the Evening Standard Award for the Theatrical Event of the Year, two Olivier Awards, a Theatre World Award, the Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography, two Drama League Awards and a Grammyâ Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in Broadway history to win the Tony® Award for Best Director of a Musical. Taymor, along with Michael Curry, created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING. Choreography is by Garth Fagan, scenic design is by Richard Hudson, costume design is by Julie Taymor and lighting design is by Donald Holder. The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated film and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay for THE LION KING. The score features Elton John and Tim Rice's music from the 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.