Archive for July 14th, 2013
Lion King Musical National Tour Reaches $1 Billion Ticket Sales
The national tour of the hit Broadway musical The Lion King announced on July 11 that it has crossed $1 billion in ticket sales since its launch in 2002. The tour of the Tony-winning show has been seen by over 15 million people in over 70 cities across North America. The Lion King will make stops in 11 cities in the 2013-2014 season, including Pittsburgh, Dallas, Tempe, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Seattle, Atlanta and Toronto.
The show stars Jelani Remy as Simba, Patrick R. Brown as Scar, L. Steven Taylor as Mufasa, Tshidi Manye as Rafiki, Nia Holloway as Nala, Andrew Gorell as Zazu, Ben Lipitz as Pumbaa and Nick Cordileone as Timon.
The Lion King continues to rule, both on Broadway and on Tour. After opening in 1997, it quickly snared six Tonys, including Best Musical. In 2012, it became the highest grossing Broadway show in history. The play is based on the Academy Award-winning 1994 Walt Disney animated movie, now the highest-grossing hand-drawn film ever. Directed by Julie Taymor, the bright and colorfully resplendent musical paints a dreamscape of jungle characters in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets.
A lively stage adaptation of the Academy Award-winning animated film, The Lion King tells the classic journey of young royal heir Simba. With jaw-dropping puppets, masks and costumes designed by director Julie Taymor, The Lion King is a visual spectacle unlike anything seen on stage before. One of Broadway’s biggest hits since its premiere in 1997, the show won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The score by Elton John and Tim Rice features the songs “The Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight.”
