THE LION KING Opens Tonight In Schenectady, Runs Through 3/20

The Schenectady premiere of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Thursday, February 24 at 8:00PM at Proctors for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, March 20, 2011. In Schenectady, THE LION KING plays Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00PM and Saturday matinees at 2:00PM, with additional performances on Sundays at 1:00PM & 6:30PM. There will also be a 2:00pm matinee on Thursday, March 17.

The engagement has already sold more than 74,000 tickets and generated more than $5 million at the box office. Even with all this success, there are still seats available for most performances and customers are encouraged to contact the box office the day-of the performance for updates on cancelations. Tickets to THE LION KING are available in person at Proctors Box Office, by calling (518) 346-6204 10:00 AM - 6:00PM daily, or via the Internet at proctors.org.

THE LION KING began as a 1994 animated feature-length film developed and produced by the Walt Disney Company. The story, a coming of age parable set among animals indigenous to its setting, the African savanna, tells the tale of Simba, the lion cub who rises to be the King of the jungle.
On stage, Director Julie Taymor's creative vision blends elements of African art and Broadway artisanship to depict anthropomorphic animal characters. The sardonic and deviously cunning "Scar" is played by J. Anthony Crane. Dionne Randolph is "Mufasa," the great warrior and ruler of the Pridelands. Brenda Mhlongo is the wise baboon shaman "Rafiki." Tony Freeman portrays the prim and proper hornbilled bird "Zazu." Ben Lipitz is the carefree warthog "Pumbaa" and Nick Cordileone is the wisecracking meerkat "Timon." Mufasa's son, "Simba," the lion prince born to be king, is played by Adam Jacobs and Maurica Roland is the loyal lioness "Nala."
The three evil hyenas are played by Omari Tau ("Banzai"), Monica L. Patton ("Shenzi") and Ben Roseberry ("Ed"). The role of "Young Simba" is alternated between Dusan Brown and Jerome Stephens, Jr. and the role of "Young Nala" is alternated between Monique Lee and Madai Monica Williams.

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 Schenectady premiere at Proctors. 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 Schenectady engagement of Disney's THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with Proctors and is a subscription offering of the Key Private Bank Broadway Series.

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011:
Schenectady - Proctors Theatre

February 22 - March 20, 2011

Rochester - Auditorium Theatre

March 22 - April 17, 2011

Toronto - Princess of Wales Theatre

April 19 - June 12, 2011

Dayton - Schuster Center

June 14 - July 10, 2011

Ottawa - National Arts Center

July 14-August 7, 2011

Montreal - Place des Arts

August 9 - September 4, 2011