Archive for November, 2011
Disney’s The Lion King Celebrates 14 Years on Broadway
The Tony Award-winning Disney musical The Lion King celebrates 14 years on Broadway Nov. 13 at the Minskoff Theatre, 200 West 45thStreet, NYC.
As it enters its 15th year, The Lion King remains ascendant, continuing to reign as a cultural phenomenon and one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on Nov. 13, 1997, 19 global productions have been seen by more than 63 million people, and grossed over $4.7 billion to date.
Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), The Lion King is the seventh longest-running musical in Broadway history and one of only six productions in theatre history to play for ten years or more both on Broadway and in the West End.
The Broadway company of The Lion King currently includes Gareth Saxe as Scar, Alton Fitzgerald White as Mufasa and Tshidi Manye as Rafiki.
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, 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 book was adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed “The Lion King” animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay. 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).
Directed by Taymor — who became the first woman to ever receive a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical — The Lion King has become an international hit with productions playing all around the globe. In fact, the Elton John-Tim Rice musical has won over 30 major awards. Those include six Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical; eight Drama Desk Awards; six Outer Critics Circle Awards; two Sir Laurence Oliviers; the Evening Standard Award for Best Theatrical Event; and three Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards.
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Lion King Denver CO Review
Lion King Musical is currently showing at The Buell Theatre and running through December 04, 2011.
Disney’s “The Lion King” creates many expectations – and the national touring production, now showing at Denver’s Temple Buell Theatre, meets all of them.
From the moment the curtain and a dazzling sun rises to a parade of exotic African animals, you realize these characters are tactile, dissectible and very real. Each of the 25 different types of mammals, birds, fish and insects portrayed in the show reveal their human actors, breathing life and realism into every movement. Down the aisles life-sized elephants, stilted giraffes, cheetahs, jumping antelope propelled on wheels, women covered in flocks of beautiful white birds and men waving overhead high-flying winged fowls envelope the audience. Its effect: instant awe and a smile that is hard to wipe from your face for the remainder of the show.
Being able to see inside the animals, with a look at the actor’s faces and movements, pays homage to worldwide art forms of African mask rituals (where wearers’ faces are meant to be seen) and Japanese Bunkaru puppetry. “The Lion King” also delves into shadow puppetry, with its origins in Ancient Greece, China and Indonesia celebrating a blend of cultures and compelling storytelling.
Lion King Buell Theatre Performances Schedule:
Tuesdays through Saturdays – 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays – 2 p.m.
Sundays – 1 and 6:30 p.m.
The obvious stars are the costumes, which still feel innovative and cutting edge despite the stage show’s own 14-year “circle of life” on stages worldwide.
The story is all about Simba, and his coming-of-age tale amid tragedy and self-discovery, at times so accurately mimics its animated inspiration that the script, actors’ voices and even set designs take audiences back to a nostalgic place of watching the animated film for the first time.
The cast masterfully brings to life the costumes, sets and effects; their characters are just as, if not more, charming than the animated originals. This is attributed to the creative call by director Julie Taymor in costuming the characters as human and animal. This further creates a sense of identification with the story.
Actor J. Anthony Crane’s character Zazu, the hornbill bird, is a standout with perfect comedic relief that isn’t quite delivered from classic favorites Pumba and Timon.
Perhaps their scenes are the only distraction, where Timon’s puppeteer and actor Nick Cordileone is dressed and painted all in green and maneuvering a more than 4-foot-tall fabric Timon puppet. Amid the organic and abstract animals, Timon remains stuck in cartoon form and his actor often clashes amid the browns and reds of the savannah. Cordileone’s acting is still superb, making all he can of the character, but the jaunting visual contrast of Timon and his peers detracts from his scenes and serves as a distraction.
With audiences wildly cheering on their feet at the ensemble’s first bow, they match “The Lion King’s” Broadway tour with their own triumphant roar.
Read the complete review {Via Coloradoan}
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Lion King Landmark Theatre VA Tickets Selling Hot
Lion King North Americal Tour will be visiting Richmond VA in February 15, 2012. The Lion King Landmark Theatre performances begin on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 and will play through Sunday, March 11, 2012.
The Lion King tells the story of lion cub Simba, heir to his father Mufasa’s throne as ruler of the animal kingdom. Simba is remorseful believing he is to blame for his father’s death, which unbeknownst to him had been engineered by his evil uncle Scar. Guilt drives the lion cub to run away.
Lion King will be performing at Landmark Theater – VA (6 N Laurel St, Richmond, Virginia 23226
and Venue Capacity: 3,565) from Wednesday, February 15 through Sunday, March 11, 2012.
Lion King Landmark Theatre Tickets selling like hot cakes. Buy Lion King Richmond VA Tickets today. Get $10 OFF on Orders over $350! Use Code AFF$10.
Lion King Mahalia Jackson Theater Performance Schedule and Tickets Info
Lion King North Americal Tour will be visiting Mahalia Jackson Theatre in New Orleans LA in the month of March 2012.
The Lion King opens its five-week run on March 14 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts. It is the closing production of the 2011-12 Broadway Across America season. Lion King Mahalia Jackson Theater performances run through Sunday, April 15.
Lion King is the seventh longest-running musical in Broadway history and one of only five productions in theater history to play for 10 years or more, both on Broadway and in the West End.
Lion King Mahalia Jackson Theater Schedule:
Tuesdays through Fridays – 8 p.m.
Saturdays – 2 and 8 p.m.
Sundays – 1 and 6:30 p.m.
Special 2 p.m. matinees on Thursdays March 15 and April 12.
No performance on Sunday, April 15 6:30 p.m.
The Lion King New Orleans LA Tickets Go on Sale From 8 to 11 a.m., tickets only are available for purchase in person at the Mahalia Jackson Theater Box Office on Saturday, Nov. 12. Do not worry if you could not get the tickets from the Theatre box office, even you need not wait in the long lines. Buy your Lion King New Orleans LA Tickets today Online. Get $10 OFF on Lion King Mahalia Jackson Theatre Ticket Orders over $350! Use Code AFF$10.
Lion King Opens At The Buell Theatre from November 04, 2011
Broadway’s award winning musical The Lion King opened at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Buell Theatre on November 04, 2011. Seen by more than 54 million people around the world and winner of more than 70 global awards, The Lion King will play in Denver through Sunday, December 04, 2011.
The Lion King Musical is visiting Denver Colorado for the third time to play. The North American Tour first launched in Denver in April 2002 where it played a sold-out 10-week engagement and again in September 2006 where it played a 7-week sold-out engagement.
“I am delighted to be working with our friends from Disney again, and even slightly more delighted with the successful return of The Lion King”, said President and COO of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Randy Weeks.
The North American touring production of The Lion King has been seen by over 13.2 million theatergoers and grossed over $867 million to date. Having already played more than 60 cities across North America, The Lion King now proudly makes its Denver return at The Buell Theatre.
The Lion King will play at The Buell Theatre in Denver through December 04, 2011 and Lion King The Buell Theatre Tickets are selling hot. In response to the overwhelming demand for tickets, Disney Theatrical Productions and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts have announced an added performance. The newly added performance will be on Sunday, November 27 at 6:30pm.
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Lion King 1,000th performance at Mandalay Bay – Gave away 1,000 tickets to Kids
The Las Vegas production of “The Lion King” at Mandalay Bay is at the mark of 1,000th performance on Thursday, Nov. 3.
Congratulations to the cast of Disney’s The Lion King at Mandalay Bay on next week’s 1,000th performance. To celebrate the Nov. 3 milestone, cast members presented a special surprise performance yesterday to students at Walter Long Elementary School and gave away 1,000 tickets to see the hit production.
The Lion King at Walter Long Elementary – Gallery:
Lion King Cast at Walter Long Elementary
Lion King Cast at Walter Long Elementary
Lion King Cast at Walter Long Elementary
Lion King Cast at Walter Long Elementary
The cast members from the musical surprised students at a Walter Long Elementary School Tuesday, notifying them they won tickets to the show’s 1,000th performance.
Walter Long Elementary received the tickets as part of an essay contest, “Why My School Should Go to ‘The Lion King,'” contest organizers said. Local children in first through fifth grade were encouraged to write a short essay in the contest. The 1,000th show is scheduled to be performed on Thursday, Nov. 3.
The final performance of the Lion King Las Vegas production’s two-and-a-half year run at Mandalay Bay is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 30. Buy Lion King Las Vegas NV Tickets Online. Avail $10 OFF on Lion King Mandalay Bay Theatre Ticket orders over $350 Use Code AFF$10.
