THE LION KING Sets Box Office Records During Run At Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium

Disney's THE LION KING set a new box office record during its five-week engagement at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. THE LION KING entertained more than 80,000 people with a production described by Francois Marchand from the Edmonton Journal as, "hugely entertaining, incredibly beautiful and technically brilliant, and performed with a whole lot of heart and soul."

"With total box office sales exceeding $6.9 million, THE LION KING is the highest grossing theatrical production that Broadway Across Canada has presented in Edmonton," said Ronald Andrew, president of Broadway Across Canada. "Albertans have been asking for years for THE LION KING and we are thrilled to have finally made Broadway's Award-Winning Best Musical accessible to so many local families and theatre lovers."

Making a major economic impact on the city, it is estimated that theatregoers spent an additional $18 million with local businesses during the 5-week run of THE LION KING.

"We are so proud to share the spectacular experience of this groundbreaking production with audiences in Canada and to have entertained so many first-time and regular theatergoers in Edmonton," said Jack Eldon, Vice President, Domestic Touring, Disney Theatrical Productions. "It is truly wonderful that people in communities all across North America continue to embrace THE LION KING."

THE LION KING is currently playing at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium in Calgary, AB, Canada through August 30, 2009 and during the coming year will play Anchorage, AK; San Diego, CA; Spokane, WA and San Antonio, TX. THE LION KING is the winner of over 70 major awards worldwide and has become a global phenomenon seen by nearly 50 million people. This North American National Tour is currently one of eight productions running worldwide along with New York, London, Hamburg, Tokyo, Paris, and Fukuoka. A new production recently opened in May to excellent reviews at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas and is currently playing to capacity crowds.

Now in its second sold-out decade in New York, THE LION KING is the winner of six Tony 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 Grammy 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.

THE LION KING was the opening presentation of the Broadway Across Canada - Edmonton Season. Upcoming Broadway Across Canada presentations include: A Chorus Line (November 10 - 15, 2009), Fiddler on the Roof (January 19 - 24, 2010), and Chicago (March 23 - 28, 2010). FLEX PACKS, customizable season subscriptions, are on-sale now exclusively through Broadway Across Canada, call toll free 1.866.540.7469 or visit www.BroadwayAcrossCanada.ca.

 

To post a comment, you must register and login.