San Diego Critics Praise THE LION KING North American Tour

The North American tour of Disney's THE LION KING opened on Thursday, October 15 at the San Diego Civic Theatre to rave reviews from San Diego's top theatrical critics. The limited four-week engagement plays through Sunday, November 8. This San Diego engagement is currently one of seven productions running worldwide along with New York, London, Hamburg, Tokyo and Paris. A new sit-down production in Las Vegas began performances at the Mandalay Bay Theatre in May 2009.

Following is a sampling of what the local critics had to say about THE LION KING:

James Hebert, San Diego Union-Tribune
"The six-time Tony winner still has that visual pop: the intricate, stylized animal costumes that are as much engineered as designed; the boisterous golds and greens that splash the African savanna all over the stage; the ingenious set pieces that blur the line between the mythic and the visceral."

"But the real pride of this production is its sprawling and powerful cast, which breathes life and soul into the spectacle both in the intimate scenes among the leads and the buoyant ensemble dance and chant numbers."

Pam Kragen, North County Times
"The Lion King delivers big on spectacle and entertainment value."

"In its second visit to the San Diego Civic Theatre since 2005, THE LION KING Tour has lost none of its ‘wow' factor. It's still a feast for the senses, and a monument to the creativity of its director/designer, Julie Taymor, who helped adapt the story from Disney's 1994 animated film."

Jennifer Chung Klam, SanDiego.com
"The jaw-dropping awe is immediate - ‘Lion King' may have the most dazzling opening scene of a musical ever, with a procession of creatures from the African savanna wading through the audience toward the stage. Antelope, zebras, giraffes, flocks of birds, a rhino and even an elephant showcase Taymor's gorgeous costume design, incorporating puppetry and masks."

"In its return to the San Diego Civic Theatre as part of the current North American Tour, the show is certain to spark the imagination of new audiences and satisfy dedicated fans."

Now in its second sold-out decade in New York, THE LION KING is the winner of six Tonyâ Awards including Best Musical, eight Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, the New York Drama Critics award for Best Musical, the Evening Standard Award for the Theatrical Event of the Year, two Olivier Awards, a Theatre World Award, the Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography, two Drama League Awards and a Grammyâ Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in Broadway history to win the Tony® Award for Best Director of a Musical. Taymor, along with Michael Curry, created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING. Choreography is by Garth Fagan, scenic design is by Richard Hudson, costume design is by Julie Taymor and lighting design is by Donald Holder. The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated film and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay for 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.

Tickets to THE LION KING are available at the San Diego Civic Theatre Ticket Office (3rd and B Street, downtown San Diego) and all Ticketmaster outlets; by calling San Diego Civic Theatre Ticket Office at (619) 570-1100, Monday-Friday, 10AM -6PM, or Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787; or via the Internet at BroadwaySD.com. Ticket prices for the engagement start as low as $20. Premium Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available.

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