Disney's 'The Lion King' Plays 4,500th Performance 8/24

Disney's THE LION KING will play its 4,500th performance on Sunday, August 24.  The groundbreaking musical is currently celebrating its 10th Anniversary on Broadway and continued success around the world.

Since its Broadway opening on November 13, 1997 (preview performances began October 15, 1997), THE LION KING has become the 9th longest running musical on Broadway and has been seen by over 45 million people worldwide. In addition to New York City where the show has remained among the top 5 selling shows on Broadway for over 10 years, the curtain of THE LION KING currently rises six more times every night all over the world in London, Hamburg, Tokyo, Paris, Fukuoka, and the US national tour.

THE LION KING won six 1998 Tony® Awards, including Best Musical.  Director, Julie Taymor is the first woman to win a Tony Award® for Direction of a Musical. 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 and music from an album inspired by the animated film, "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer.  The resulting sound of THE LION KING score is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, embracing the Academy Awardâ-winning "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" and the haunting "Shadowlands."   

Julie Taymor, along with Michael Curry, has created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING.  Scenic design is by Richard Hudson; Lighting design is by Donald Holder.

Costume design is by Julie Taymor.  Choreography is by Garth Fagan.  The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated feature and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay of THE LION KING.

Other members of the creative team include: Steve Canyon Kennedy, sound design; Michael Ward, hair and makeup design; Jay Binder, casting; Joseph Church, music director; Robert Elhai, David Metzger and Bruce Fowler, orchestrators.

The pre-Broadway engagement of THE LION KING had its world premiere on July 13, 1997 in Minneapolis at the historic Orpheum Theatre.  The pre-Broadway engagement ran for eight weeks, closing on August 31, 1997.

PLEASE NOTE PLAYING SCHEDULE

Now through August 31, THE LION KING plays Tuesday through Saturday at 8 PM, matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM and Sunday at 3 PM.

From September 2 -October 12, the schedule is as follows:  Tuesday at 7PM, Wednesday at 8PM, Thursdays at 8PM, Friday at 8PM, Saturday at 2PM and 8PM, and Sunday at 1PM and 6:30PM.

From October 13 - November 23, the schedule is as follows:  Tuesday at 7PM, Wednesday at 2PM and 8PM, Thursday at 8PM, Friday at 8PM, Saturday at 2PM and 8PM, and Sunday at 3PM

Running time for the production is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Tickets for THE LION KING are available at www.DisneyOnBroadway.com, the Minskoff Theatre Box Office (200 West 45th Street), and all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling Ticketmaster's Disney on Broadway hotline at (866) 870-2717.  Prices range from $51.25.-$121.25.  For group sales and information please call (800)439-9000.

www.DisneyOnBroadway.com

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.