THE LION KING Opens Tonight at Wharton Center

Disney's The Lion King opens tonight, Wednesday, July 11, at Wharton Center for a limited three-week engagement through Sunday, July 29.

Tickets are available at Wharton Center's official ticketing outlets: online at whartoncenter.com, at the Auto-Owner's Insurance Ticket Office at Wharton Center or by calling 1-800-WHARTON. Orders for groups of ten (10) or more may be placed by calling (517) 884-3130. VIP Ticket Packages, which include a prime seat location, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available.

Wharton Center for Performing Arts will present a special performance of Disney's The Lion King for individuals with sensory, social and learning disabilities and their families on Saturday, July 21 at 2:00 PM. This marks the first-ever sensory-friendly performance of a touring Broadway show in East Lansing. Wharton Center has previously presented sensory-friendly performances for their Act One School Series.

Patrons will receive illustrated guidance materials and have an opportunity to become familiar with the theatre and their seat locations before they attend the show. They are also encouraged to bring their own manipulatives, seat cushions, comfort objects and extra support items to the theatre to use during the performance.

The North American touring productions of The Lion King have been seen by more than 20 million theatergoers. Having already played more than 70 cities across North America, The Lion King now proudly makes its return to East Lansing.

ABOUT The Lion King

After 20 landmark years on Broadway, The Lion King continues ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its premiere on November 13, 1997, 25 global productions have been seen by more than 95 million people. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), LION KING has made theatrical history with six productions worldwide running 15 or more years. Performed in eight different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese), productions of LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway; London's West End; Hamburg; Tokyo and Sapporo; Madrid; Scheveningen, Holland; Manila, Philippines; and on tour across North America, for a total of nine productions running concurrently across the globe. Having played over 100 cities in 20 countries on every continent except Antarctica, LION KING's worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.

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. 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.

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 around the world.

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."

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: Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor) and Doc Zorthian (production supervisor). Anne Quart serves as co-producer.

For more information worldwide, visit LionKing.com.

Photo by Deen Van Meer