Lion King News – Cast, Tour Dates 2012, 2013 & Resources

Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ premieres Thursday night at 8 p.m. at Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts for a limited engagement of 4 weeks through Sunday, June 10, 2012.

Jipsy (Visit her blog for complete news) visited back stage of lion king for what was a truly amazing and unique experience.

She met Syndee Winters, a graduate of Palmetto High, who plays Nala; the energetic Jelani Remy, who plays Simba; and ensemble member Amyia Burrell, she plays 11 roles with 14 costume changes.

Lion King at Ziff Opera House At The Adrienne Arsht Center will perform through June 10, 2012. Lion King Miami FL Tickets sales is in full swing. Book your Lion King Miami FL tickets in advance, Use Code #SpringSavings at Checkout to Get $10 OFF on Orders of $350 or more!

The Lion King will welcome Dashaun Young back to Broadway as Simba. Dashaun Young returns as the King of Pride Rock in Broadway’s The Lion King beginning May 16.

Dashaun Young Returns to The Lion King on Broadway

Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, The Lion King is playing at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street).

In addition to The Lion King, Young has appeared in New York and on tour in: Hairspray (first national tour), Legends (NY premiere), The Scottsboro Boys (reading), Emerald Man (workshop). His regional credits include: Hairspray; Hello, Dolly!; Aida; and Radio City Christmas Spectacular. He appeared in the film Sex and the City 2 and received training at California State University, Fullerton.

Young joins current cast members Alton Fitzgerald White as Mufasa, Patrick R. Brown as the sardonic and deviously cunning Scar, Tshidi Manye as the wise baboon shaman Rafiki, Jeff Binder as Zazu, Ben Jeffrey as the carefree warthog Pumbaa, Fred Berman as the wisecracking meerkat Timon and Chauntee Schuler as the loyal lioness Nala.

The three evil hyenas are played by James Brown-ORLEANS (Banzai), Bonita J. Hamilton (Shenzi) and Enrique Segura (Ed). The role of Young Simba is alternated between Judah Bellamy and Niles Fitch and the role of Young Nala is alternated between NIA ASHLEIGH and Imani Dia Smith.

The musical currently plays Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre. Get discounts on Lion King New York NY Tickets Online, Get $10 OFF on Orders of $350 or more by using Code #SpringSavings at Checkout!

The Lion King Broadway show still on the top of the table with the gross $1,717,281 and had a 99.7% attendance rate, same as the previous week. The 38 shows on the boards grossed $25,244,974, about 0.71% more than that of the previous week’s totals.

Below are the Top 10 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending May 13, 2012.

1. The Lion King – (MINSKOFF) $1,717,281
2. The Book Of Mormon – (EUGENE O’NEILL) $1,598,593
3. Wicked – (GERSHWIN) $1,579,314
4. Evita – (MARQUIS) $1,529,144
5. Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark – (FOXWOODS) $1,218,638
6. Nice Work If You Can Get It (IMPERIAL) – $1,092,937
7. Jersey Boys – (AUGUST WILSON) $937,635
8. Death Of A Salesman (ETHEL BARRYMORE) – $934,861
9. Newsies – (NEDERLANDER) $931,370
10. The Phantom Of The Opera – (MAJESTIC) – $800,916

{Via BroadwayWorld.com}

Lion King Broadway Tour will stop in Miami for four weeks from May 15 to June 10, 2012.

Lion King musical is all about the noble lion king Mufasa sacrifices his own life to save his headstrong young son Simba. Mufasa’s evil brother Scar commits fratricide and rules over a dying kingdom. Young love blossoms when Simba reencounters his boyhood friend Nala, then finds the brave purpose that would make his late father proud. The darker elements of The Lion King’s universally resonant story are the stuff of Greek tragedy, but the reliably moving musical glows with a hopeful ending and many moments of beauty, joy and the celebration of life.

For two of the cast members in the Lion King’s touring company, playing the Arsht Center means coming home. Syndee Winters, a Palmetto High graduate, is playing the adult Nala, a role she has coveted since she was a child.

Syndee Sinters plays Nala in The Lion King

Syndee Winters as Nala embraces Jelani Remy as Simba in The Lion King

“When the show played South Florida before, I was in Miami but I couldn’t afford a ticket to see it,” says Winters, who plans to teach a class at her old high school while the show is at the Arsht. “When you come to see The Lion King, you suspend your disbelief. For the next two and a half hours, you belong to us. You could be the biggest, buffest guy, but when you hear Circle of Life, you’re affected. You get a lump in your throat. You get chills.”

Winters’ pal Williams, who will also teach a class while the show is in town, expects as many as 30 people in her extended family will see The Lion King during its Arsht run. For her, the show’s appeal is a combination of story, design, music and Fagan’s demanding choreography.

“When I first saw it, I laughed, I cried, I was touched in every way,” Williams says. “The work is challenging. The beat of the drums, the costumes, the music — they make you feel fierce. I get excited every time.”

Lion King at Ziff Opera House At The Adrienne Arsht Center will perform from May 15, 2012 through June 10, 2012. Lion King Miami FL Tickets sales is in full swing. Book your Lion King Miami FL tickets in advance, Use Code #SpringSavings at Checkout to Get $10 OFF on Orders of $350 or more!

The Lion King Musical tour will be in Wichita, Kansas for 1 month from September 04 to September 30, 2012. Lion King Kansas Tickets on sale at the box office. Kansans wait in line for hours for tickets to The Lion King Century II Convention Center performances.

Kansans lined up six hours before the box office opened to get tickets to The Lion King. Close to 800 Kansans got their pick of seats during a two-hour sale only at the Wichita-tix Box Office Saturday morning. Organizers say the turnout was better than expected with a line that wrapped around the building. The Wichita Theater League says they’re looking forward to having the award-winning musical right here in town.

“That first number, The Circle of Life when the animals all come in, it will absolutely bring tears to your eyes,” said Amy Hamm with the Wichita Theater League. “It brought tears to my eyes, it is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen on stage.”

Lion King Wichita KS Ticket sales is in full swing. Although ticket sales have been brisk, there are still good seats left. Lion King at Century II Convention Center will perform from September 04 through September 30, 2012. Book your Lion King Wichita Kansas tickets in advance, Use Code #SpringSavings at Checkout to Get $10 OFF on Orders of $350 or more!

After a week of fan voting, nominations have been announced for the 13th Annual Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards, the only major theater prize chosen by Broadway theatergoers.

Vote for Lion King for the 2012 Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards in the following categories:
Favorite Long-Running Show
Favorite Tour
Productions with Multiple Nominations

The nominees for Favorite Tour are Les Miserables, The Lion King, Next to Normal, West Side Story and Wicked.

The Broadway.com Audience Choice Awards will be presented at a swanky affair at the Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Sunday, May 13.

Now, to vote for Lion King CLICK HERE. Polls close at 11:59PM on Wednesday, May 9.

Lion King Broadway grossed $1,761,855 and had a 99.1% attendance rate, around 0.4% less than that of the previous week. The 39 shows on the boards grossed $26,084,412, about 0.66% more than that of the previous week’s totals.

Below are the Top 12 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending April 29, 2012.

1. The Lion King – (MINSKOFF) $1,761,855
2. Wicked – (GERSHWIN) $1,742,571
3. The Book Of Mormon – (EUGENE O’NEILL) $1,603,228
4. Evita – (MARQUIS) $1,515,746
5. Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark – (FOXWOODS) $1,371,737
6. Jersey Boys – (AUGUST WILSON) $907,895
7. Death Of A Salesman (ETHEL BARRYMORE) – $900,749
8. Newsies – (NEDERLANDER) $897,046
9. Gore Vidal’s The Best Man (SCHOENFELD) – $892,877
10. The Phantom Of The Opera – (MAJESTIC) – $890,181
11. Nice Work If You Can Get It (IMPERIAL) – $829,755
12. Mamma Mia! – (WINTER GARDEN) $804,623

{Via BroadwayWorld.com}

Lion King musical tour will stop in Miami, FL on May 15, 2012. South Florida’s most eagerly awaited stage production will leap onto the stage of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County on Tuesday, May 15 and runs through Sunday, June 10.

Casting has been announced for the Miami premiere engagement of Disney’s The Lion King. The talented cast of 50 actors includes two local connections. Syndee Winters, who plays the loyal lioness “Nala”, is a Miami native and graduated from Miami Palmetto Senior High School. Prior to joining The Lion King North American Tour, Winters worked as a dancer/choreographer throughout Miami. SharRon Williams, an ensemble dancer, was born and raised in Miami and is a graduate of the New World School of the Arts.

The sardonic and deviously cunning “Scar” is played by J. Anthony Crane. Dionne Randolph is “Mufasa,” the great warrior and ruler of the Pridelands. Buyi Zama is the wise baboon shaman “Rafiki.” Mark David Kaplan 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 Jelani Remy. The three evil hyenas are played by Keith Bennett (“Banzai”), Rashada Dawan (“Shenzi”) and Robbie Swift (“Ed”).

The role of “Young Simba” is alternated between Zavion J. Hill and Adante Power and the role of “Young Nala” is alternated between Sade Phillip-Demorcy and Kailah McFadden.

Other members of the creative team include: Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor) and Doc Zorthian (Production Supervisor). Anne Quart serves as associate producer.

Lion King Miami FL Schedule:
Tuesdays to Fridays – 8:00 PM
Saturdays – 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Sundays – 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM
Special matinee on Friday, June 8 – 2:00 PM
On Sunday, June 10, Lion King closes with the 1:00 PM performance.

On stage, Taymor’s creative vision blends elements of African art and Broadway artisanship to depict anthropomorphic animal characters. Taymor, along with designer Michael Curry, has created hundreds of masks and puppets for The Lion King. The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed The Lion King animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay.

The North American touring production of The Lion King has been seen by over 13.9 million theatergoers and grossed over $920 million to date. Having already played more than 70 cities across North America, The Lion King now proudly makes its Miami premiere at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the performing arts.

Lion King Miami FL Tickets sales is in full swing. Although ticket sales have been brisk, there are still good seats left. Lion King at Ziff Opera House At The Adrienne Arsht Center will perform from May 15, 2012 through June 10, 2012. Book your Lion King Miami FL tickets in advance, Use Code #SpringSavings at Checkout to Get $10 OFF on Orders of $350 or more!

Disney’s The Lion King , extends its Lyceum Theatre London booking period – tickets now on sale to 6 Jan 2013.

Disney’s The Lion King opened in the West End’s Lyceum Theatre on 19 Oct 1999, following previews from 24 Sep 1999, to good notices from the popular press. The show celebrated its 12th anniversary in London in October 2011 and is currently the 9th longest-running musical in West End history. The Lion King has been seen by 10 million people during its run at the Lyceum Theatre in London. 2011 was its best financial year so far with the production breaking the industry record for the highest annual gross box office in West End history.

The show currently features Shaun Escoffery (Mufasa) and George Asprey (Scar).

When the young lion prince Simba is born his evil uncle Scar is pushed back to second in line to the throne. Scar plots to kill both Simba and his father, King Mufasa, and proclaim himself king. Simba survives but is led to believe that his father died because of him and he decides to flee the kingdom.

The show has book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, with additional songs by Lebo M, Julie Taymor, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer. It is directed by Julie Taymor, designed by Richard Hudson, lighting by Donald Holder with choreography by Garth Fagan.

Lion King is a standing production at Lyceum Theatre. Get discounts on Lion King London United Kingdom Tickets Online.

The Lion King musical will celebrate 10 triumphant years on tour on Friday, April 27 in Orlando. Since launching in April 2002 in Denver, CO, The Lion King North American tour has played nearly 6,000 performances during 112 engagements in 74 cities. The record-breaking tour has been seen by more than 14 million theatergoers and grossed over $928 million to date.

With this milestone, The Lion King becomes only the second show in theatrical history to produce five productions running 10 or more years. Already in 2012, The Lion King North American tour has shattered box office records in Baltimore MD, Richmond VA and just recently in New Orleans, LA where it became the highest-grossing theatrical production in the city’s history. The award-winning musical is currently playing a return engagement in Orlando at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center through May 13, 2012.

“It is profoundly gratifying to know that since launching in Denver at the Buell Theatre in April 2002, The Lion King tour has been instrumental in bringing new audiences to the theatre across North America for the past 10 years,” said Jack Eldon, Vice President, Domestic, Disney Theatrical Productions. “We are overwhelmed by the enduring response to the show and are enormously thankful to our audiences for their continued enthusiasm and support. We look forward to sharing this theatrical phenomenon with more cities in the coming years.” Even after 10 years The Lion King continues to visit new North American cities, premiering in 2012 in Miami FL, Greenville SC, Wichita KS and Albuquerque, NM.

In its 15th year, The Lion King remains ascendant, recently becoming the highest-grossing Broadway show in history. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 19 productions around the globe have been seen by more than 64 million people, grossed over $4.8 billion and, cumulatively, run a staggering 91 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), The Lion King is the sixth longest-running musical in Broadway history and only the second show to produce five productions running 10 or more years. Translated into seven different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Mandarin, Spanish), the show has been performed in 15 different countries on five continents. Continuing to reign as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world, The Lion King can currently be seen on Broadway, on stages across North America, on tour in Japan, and in Tokyo, London’s West End, Hamburg and Madrid. A UK tour launches in August of this year.

On stage, Taymor’s creative vision blends elements of African art and Broadway artisanship to depict anthropomorphic animal characters. Taymor, along with designer Michael Curry, has created hundreds of masks and puppets for The Lion King. The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed The Lion King 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 “Shadowland.”

Read the complete news {Via BroadwayWorld.com}

Check Lion King Tour 2012, 2013 Schedule.