LION KING To Be Celebrated At National Museum of American History

Disney Theatrical Productions will donate objects from the Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical, THE LION KING, to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in a special donation ceremony on Thursday, 9/24.

Thomas Schumacher, President of Disney Theatrical Group, will present objects from Broadway's landmark musical event, and Disney's longest-running Broadway musical.

Disney's Tony and Olivier Award-winning musical THE LION KING, based on the 1994 Disney animated film, reigns as one of the most popular shows on Broadway and around the world. The show recently passed the 50-million mark in worldwide attendance, becoming the first American musical in history to achieve the feat.

These objects will join a rich collection of artifacts with Broadway origins, including costumes from the Broadway productions of "Rent," "The King and I," "Hello, Dolly!," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Cats," "This Is the Army," "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "Mame" and" Lorelei." Currently on view at the museum is "Dumbo the Flying Elephant" from Disneyland's opening year (1955), and the museum holds Walt Disney's pencil sketches of "Steamboat Willie," an early iteration of Mickey Mouse.

The ceremony will take place at the National Museum of American History (14th Street and Madison Drive N.W.) on Thursday, September 24 at 11:00a.m. Dwight Blocker Bowers, curator, National Museum of American History and Thomas Schumacher, president and producer, Disney Theatrical Productions will lead the event.