THE LION KING Opens Tonight At Orange County Performing Arts Center, Runs Thru 6/13

The Orange County return of DISNEY'S THE LION KING opens tonight, Friday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. in Segerstrom Hall at the Orange County Performing Arts Center for a limited engagement of three weeks through Sunday, June 13. In Orange County, THE LION KING plays Tuesday through Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. with additional performances on Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1 and 6:30 p.m. Great seats are still available for each performance.

The North American touring production of THE LION KING has been seen by over 12 million
theatergoers and grossed over $775 million to date. The tour is one of seven productions running
worldwide, along with New York City, London, Hamburg, Paris, Tokyo and Las Vegas.
Tickets to THE LION KING are available online at OCPAC.org, by calling 714.556.2787 or at the Center's Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. Ticket prices for the engagement start as low as $23.25.

Premium Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir
program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available. Orders for groups of 15 or more may be placed by calling the Group Services office at 714.755.0236. The TTY number is 714.556.2746. The 2p.m. performance on Saturday, June 12 will be sign-language interpreted.
The Center applauds Wells Fargo for its generous support of the 2009-2010 Broadway and Curtain Call Series. Orange Coast magazine is the Media Partner for the Center's 2009-2010 Curtain Call Series. Cox Communications is the Media Partner of the Center's 2009-2010 Broadway Series.
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 Brent Harris. Dionne Randolph is "Mufasa," the great warrior and ruler of the Pridelands.
Phindile Mkhize is the wise baboon shaman "Rafiki." Tony Freeman portrays the prim and proper
hornbilled bird "Zazu." Ben Lipitz is the carefree warthog "Pumbaa" and Tyler Murree is the wisecracking meerkat "Timon." Mufasa's son, "Simba," the lion prince born to be king, is played by André Jackson and Marja Harmon is the loyal lioness "Nala."

The three evil hyenas are played by Omari Tau ("Banzai"), Andrea Jones ("Shenzi") and Ben
Roseberry ("Ed"). The role of "Young Simba" is alternated between Jerome Stephen, Jr. and Elijah
Johnson and the role of "Young Nala" is alternated between Jamariana Tribble and Madai Monica
Williams. Having already played 60 cities across North America, THE LION KING continues to entertain audiences in new cities. The current schedule is listed below and for more information and dates, please visit LionKing.com.

ABOUT THE LION KING
Now in its 13th year, THE LION KING continues to reign as one of the most popular shows on Broadway and around the world. It is the eighth longest-running musical in Broadway history and, according to figures just released by The Broadway League, placed second on the Top 10 lists for both the highestgrossing and best-attended shows of the 2009-10 season, a remarkable indicator of its unprecedented success. THE LION KING is one of only five musical productions in theater history to play for 10 years or more on both Broadway and the West End.

THE LION KING has been seen by more than 50 million people in 13 different countries and translated into five different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch).
THE LION KING made history in September 2009 when two of its signature costumes were inducted into the Permanent Collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.
The global phenomenon is the winner of more than 70 major awards worldwide, including the 1998 Tony Award® and NY Drama Critics Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.

Julie Taymor was the first woman in theatrical history to win the Tony Award for Best Direction of a
Musical. She is also the winner of the 1998 Tony Award for Best Costume Design. Previous credits
include The Green Bird, The Flying Dutchman, Fool's Fire, Titus Andronicus and the Tony Award nominated Juan Darien: A Carnival Mass at Lincoln Center.
Taymor, along with designer Michael Curry, has created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING. Scenic design is by Richard Hudson; costume design is by Julie Taymor; lighting design is by Donald Holder. 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 film's screenplay.
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 "Shadowlands."

The Orange County engagement of Disney's THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with the
Orange County Performing Arts Center and is a subscription offering of the 2009-2010 Curtain Call
Series.

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