On Wednesday, January 20, Disney's THE LION KING welcomed its one millionth guest to the Parisian production at the Mogador Theatre. This landmark number of theatre patrons adds to an already celebratory year in which THE LION KING, presented by Stage Entertainment Ltd, Disney's licensed presenting partner in Europe, entered its 3rd season in the French capital, making it the longest-running musical in Parisian history.
THE LION KING first opened in Paris on October 4, 2007 and has played over 750 performances to date. It won three Molière Awards in 2008 for Best Musical, Costumes and Lighting.
ABOUT THE LION KING
Now in its 13th year, Disney's THE LION KING continues to reign as one of the most popular shows on Broadway and around the world. This landmark musical event recently surpassed the 50 million mark in worldwide attendance, becoming the first American musical to reach that milestone and only the fourth in theater history. The Broadway production will played its 5000th performance in November 2009 and the London company celebrated its 10th anniversary in October 2009 making THE LION KING one of only five musical productions in theatre history to play for ten years or more on both Broadway and the West End.
THE LION KING made history on September 24, 2009 when two of its signature costumes, a stylized lion mask and headdress of Simba and costume, custom shoes and hat designed for Rafiki, were inducted into the permanent entertainment 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. In 1998, Taymor won the Tony Award® for Best Costume Design and Best Direction of a Musical for THE LION KING. The directing honor made Taymor the first woman in theatrical history to win the coveted award.
The show has been seen by over 50 million people in 13 different countries (US, Canada, UK, Japan, Germany, Holland, France, Mexico, Australia, China, Taiwan, South Africa and Korea). In addition to Broadway and a North American tour, THE LION KING can also be seen on stage in London, Hamburg, Paris and Tokyo. On May 2009, a sit-down production of THE LION KING opened at Mandalay Bay Theatre - the first Disney Theatrical Production to be launched in Las Vegas.
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 veldt, tells the tale of Simba, the lion cub who rises to be the King of the jungle.
Julie 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 screenplay of THE LION KING.
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 Award®-winning "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" and the haunting "Shadowlands."
Disney Theatrical Productions (DTP), a division of Disney Theatrical Group, operates under the direction of
Thomas Schumacher and is among the world's most successful commercial theatre enterprises. Reaching a global annual audience of more than 10 million people in over 40 countries, DTP produces and licenses Broadway musicals around the world including Grammy®, Tony® and Olivier-award winning The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast,
Elton John &
Tim Rice's Aida, TARZAN ® and Mary Poppins, a co-production by Disney and
Cameron Mackintosh which launched its North American touring engagement in March, 2009. Its most recent Broadway production, The Little Mermaid, debuted in 2008 and immediately became a Broadway sensation. That same year, DTP launched the professional touring stage version of Disney's High School Musical. In addition, DTP licenses musical titles for local schools and community productions through
Music Theatre International and on its website, DisneyMusicals.com.
Disney Theatrical Group also delivers live entertainment around the world through its partnership with Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney on Ice and Disney LIVE!, including High School Musical: The Ice Tour and Playhouse Disney Live!
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