Cast of THE LION KING Performs on ABC's 'The Chew' Today

Today, December 5th, the stars of Broadway's THE LION KIN will perform on the ABC daytime talk show 'The Chew' airing 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET.

As it enters its 16th year, The Lion King is in a position unprecedented in the history of Broadway. Already the highest-grossing and fifth longest-running show in Broadway history, the show is routinely the #1 Broadway show in a given week, a feat previously unimaginable for a show at this stage in its life. As it celebrates 15 years, the show, far from slowing, has actually strengthened recently; to take but one representative bit of data, 25,000 more tickets were sold in its 15th year than in the 14th and 50,000 more tickets were sold than in the 10th.

Among the most successful titles in entertainment history, its worldwide footprint is more remarkable still. With a cumulative gross in excess of $5 billion, the title has already earned more than the biggest hit films in movie history: more than the Lord of the Rings trilogy combined, more than the six Star Wars films combined, and more than Avatar and Titanic, the #1 and #2 highest-grossing films in movie history, combined.

With seven productions currently playing around the world, it will make its South American and Portuguese language debut when it begins performances in Sao Paolo, Brazil in February 2013. With that production, The Lion King’s 21 productions will have played in 98 cities in 16 countries on every continent except Antarctica.

The Broadway production has played through three Presidential administrations, four mayoral elections, eight New York City team championships and the opening and closing of 536 Broadway shows.

The show’s director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor continues to play an integral part in the show’s ongoing success. The first woman to win a Tony® Award for Direction of a Musical, Taymor has in recent years supervised new productions of the show in Las Vegas, Madrid and the UK tour and just completed casting the Brazilian production in Sao Paolo.

ABC's "The Chew" (weekdays; 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET; broadcast in stereo) is your Home of the Holidays when hosts Mario Batali, Michael Symon, Carla Hall, Clinton Kelly and Daphne Oz share their culinary wisdom and decorating/entertaining ideas all month. Beginning MONDAY, DECEMBER 3, "The Chew" kicks things off with an hour featuring more than 60 tips on ways to celebrate the season in style.

Kermit the Frog ("The Muppet Christmas Carol" 10th Anniversary), Fran Drescher ("Happily Divorced"), stars of Broadway's "The Lion King," Andrew McCarthy ("Come Dance with Me"), and Katherine Jenkins ("This is Christmas") are featured guests DECEMBER 3-7.

For the week of Dec. 3-7 (subject to change):

MONDAY, DEC. 3 - Kermit the Frog ("The Muppets Christmas Carol" 10th Anniversary); a holiday ham recipe.

TUESDAY, DEC. 4 - Fran Drescher ("Happily Divorced"); comfort food recipes; correspondent Jamika Pessoa shares a look at the country's largest gingerbread house competition.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5 - Musical performance from stars of Broadway's "The Lion King"; fail-safe holiday dish ideas.

THURSDAY, DEC. 6 - Andrew McCarthy ("Come Dance with Me"); Chef Josh Capon, Billy Harris and Seton Rossini surprise a family with the ultimate holiday meal.

FRIDAY, DEC. 7 - Katherine Jenkins ("This is Christmas"); budget friendly holiday classics.

About "The Chew":

Celebrating and exploring life through food, "The Chew" is an innovative and groundbreaking daytime series co-hosted by a dynamic group of engaging, fun, relatable experts in food, lifestyle, and entertaining. Produced by GorDon Elliott's Chew Productions for the ABC Television Network, "The Chew" serves up everything food -- from cooking and home entertaining to food trends, restaurants, holidays and more -- all aimed at making life better, fuller and more fun. Featuring celebrity chefs Mario Batali, Michael Symon, and Carla Hall, entertaining expert Clinton Kelly and health and wellness enthusiast Daphne Oz, "The Chew" is a leap forward into a delicious new kind of lifestyle series.

Follow "The Chew" (@thechew) and hosts Mario Batali (@mariobatali); Michael Symon (@chefsymon); Clinton Kelly (@clinton_kelly); Carla Hall (@carlahall) and Daphne Oz (@DaphneOz) on Twitter (tm)

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