Benjamin Scheuer's THE LION Coming to Arena Stage

Award-winning singer/songwriter Benjamin Scheuer's solo musical The Lion makes its Washington, D.C. debut at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Scheuer uses his guitar-actually, six guitars-to take audiences on a rock 'n' roll journey and tell a heartwarming coming-of-age story that explores his transition from boyhood to manhood. Called an "irresistible winner" and "deeply moving" by New York Daily News, The Lion is presented in association with Eva Price and runs February 26-April 10, 2016 in the Arlene and Robert Kogod Cradle.

The Lion is directed by Sean Daniels, named "one of the top 15 up-and-coming artists in the U.S. whose work will be transforming America's stages for decades to come" by American Theatre, and comes to Arena Stage as part of a multi-city tour. The Lion premiered Off-Broadway at Manhattan Theatre Club/New York City Center in 2014 and received an encore run at the Lynn Redgrave Theater, winning the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance.

"Sometimes you come across a little show with a big heart. This is a beautiful example," shares Artistic Director Molly Smith. "Benjamin Scheuer brings us his personal story about the complexities of family relationships, but really what he brings is his love of music. Art truly makes beauty out of the challenges of life."

"When John Lennon was asked about how to write a good song, he said, 'Tell the truth and make it rhyme,'" says Scheuer. "I'm doing my very best to follow his advice."

"Benjamin Scheuer is the most dangerously honest charmer I know," adds Daniels. "As someone who was born in Potomac, Maryland and grew up going to Arena Stage with my parents, it's an absolute honor to get to return to share this incredibly brave and healing story."

Critical acclaim for The Lion:

• "Spellbinding! See it now. See it again. The best musical I've seen this year!" -Huffington Post
• "Poignant and unexpected! Benjamin Scheuer's songs are powerful, charismatic and easy to become lost in." -NBC New York
• "Only the hardest hearted could resist." -The New York Times
• "Benjamin Scheuer might be singing about his life, but really, he's singing about all of us." -TheaterMania.com
• Included in "Top 10 Theatrical Performances of 2015" -Manhattan Digest, Huffington Post and NBC New York

Benjamin Scheuer (Writer/Performer) is the recipient of the 2015 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance and a 2015 Theatre World Award. The animated music videos for Benjamin's songs "The Lion" and "Cookie-tin Banjo" have won prizes at the Annecy Film Festival, British Animation Awards, Encounters Film Festival, Crystal Palace Festival and Buenos Aires' ExpoToons Film Festival. Benjamin's album "Songs from THE LION" will be released in 2016, along with animated videos for the songs "Weather the Storm" and "Cure." With photographer Riya Lerner, Benjamin is co-creator of the art book "Between Two Spaces," from which 50 percent of proceeds go to the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society (www.betweentwospaces.com). Benjamin has toured with Mary Chapin Carpenter and performed at venues including Royal Albert Hall in London and Lincoln Center in New York. He has been a writer-in-residence at Goodspeed, Weston Playhouse and the Johnny Mercer Songwriting Workshop and been commissioned by Williamstown Theatre Festival. Benjamin lives in New York City. The Lion is on tour through February 2017. Twitter/Instagram: @benjaminscheuer. www.benjaminscheuer.com

Sean Daniels (Director) has directed at Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynn Redgrave Theater, the Kennedy Center, St. James Theatre (West End), Actors Theatre of Louisville, Portland Center Stage, Geva Theatre Center, PlayMakers Repertory Company, Cleveland Play House, Alliance Theatre, California Shakespeare Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Long Wharf Theatre, Dad's Garage Theatre Company, Swine Palace, Neo-Futurists, Aurora Theatre, Crowded Fire Theater and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His direction and shows have won "Best New Musical" in London; the Drama Desk Award in New York City; and "Best Play" and "Best Director" in the Bay Area, Rochester and Atlanta. His shows have also been nominated for a Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle Award. Sean was named "one of the top 15 up-and-coming artists in the U.S. whose work will be transforming America's stages for decades to come" and "one of seven people reshaping and revitalizing the American musical" by American Theatre. He is the artistic director of Merrimack Repertory Theatre. He previously served as artist-at-large for Geva Theatre Center and spent four years at the Tony Award-winning Actors Theatre of Louisville as the theater's associate artistic director, where he directed 17 productions including five Humana Festivals. Sean is the former associate artistic director/resident director of California Shakespeare Theater and before that spent a decade as artistic director and co-founder of Dad's Garage Theatre Company in Atlanta. Twitter: @seandaniels.

The creative team for The Lion also includes Set Designer Neil Patel, Lighting Designer Ben Stanton, Sound Designer Leon Rothenberg, Costume Consultant Jennifer Caprio and Production Supervisor Dom Ruggiero.

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