THE LION KING North American Tour Opens Tonight in Vancouver, B.C
By: Lauren Wolman Jul. 15, 2010
The Vancouver premiere of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Thursday, July 15 at 7:30pm at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, August 8. In Vancouver, THE LION KING plays Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 7:30pm, Sunday evening 6:30pm, Saturday matinees at 2pm, Sunday matinees at 1pm with an additional matinee performance on Wednesday, August 4 at 2pm. There will be no 6:30pm performance on Sunday, August 8.
The engagement has already sold more than 72,000 tickets and generated over $6.7 million at the box office. Even with all this success, there are still seats available with the best locations in the weeknight performances during the last two weeks. Tickets to THE LION KING are available at the Queen Elizabeth Box Office (day of show only, one and a half hours prior to curtain) and all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 604-280-4444 or via the Internet at www.ticketmaster.ca. Premium Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available.
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 Syndee Winters 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 Jerome Stephen, Jr. and Kolton Stewart 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 12.5 million theatergoers and grossed over $815 million to date. The tour is one of seven productions running worldwide, along with New York City, London, Hamburg, Paris, Tokyo and Las Vegas. Having already played 60 cities across North America, THE LION KING continues to entertain audiences in new cities. The current schedule is listed below. For more information and dates, please visit LionKing.com.
After the Vancouver engagement THE LION KING will return to Canada in April 2011 when the record-breaking musical comes back to Toronto where it had its Canadian premiere in April 2000, entertained 2.9 million theater patrons and played 1,560 performances (closing in January 2004). The North American touring company will begin performances on April 19, 2011 for a limited five-week run at the Princess of Wales Theatre, the same venue where the Toronto production was originally housed.
Audiences in Alberta were captivated by THE LION KING during the summer of 2009 when the production set new box office records during its two Canadian engagements in Calgary and Edmonton, grossing a combined total of $13 million and entertaining more than 154,000 guests. Making a major economic impact in the Province of Alberta, it is estimated that theatergoers spent a combined total of $36 million in Calgary and Edmonton during both engagements of THE LION KING.
ABOUT THE LION KING
THE LION KING continues to reign as one of the most popular shows on Broadway and around the world. The global phenomenon can also be seen on stage across North America and in Las Vegas, London, Hamburg, Paris and Tokyo. Now in its 13th year, THE LION KING is the eighth longest-running musical in Broadway history and 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 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 has won 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.
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 Vancouver engagement of Disney's THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with Broadway Across Canada.
About Broadway Across Canada: Broadway Across Canada and Broadway Across America (Producer) is owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman). Broadway Across Canada in association with Broadway Across America, presents first-class touring musicals and plays across 40 North American cities. Under the supervision of Beth Williams (COO & Head of Production), Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse theatre. Current Broadway productions include Promises, Promises; Million Dollar Quartet; A View From The Bridge; Lend Me a Tenor; La Cage aux Folles; Hair and West Side Story. Touring productions include Dreamgirls and Nickelodeon's Storytime Live. Please visit BroadwayAcrossCanada.ca.
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE THROUGH JULY 2011
CITY/VENUE Performance Dates
Vancouver - Queen Elizabeth Theatre July 13 - Aug 8, 2010
Salt Lake City - Capitol Theatre Aug 11 - Sept 26, 2010
Chicago - Cadillac Palace Theatre Sept 29 - Nov 7, 2010
Norfolk - Chrysler Hall Nov 30 - Jan 2, 2011
Durham - Durham Performing Arts Center Jan 4 - 30, 2011
Providence - Providence Performing Arts Center Feb 1 - Feb 20, 2011
Rochester - Auditorium Theatre March 22 - April 17, 2011
Toronto - Princess of Wales Theatre April 19 - May 22, 2011
Dayton - Schuster Hall June 14 - July 10, 2011
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