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The Lion King Return to St. Louis’s Fox Theatre – August 15 to September 02, 2012
The Lion King return to St. Louis‘s Fox Theatre this August 15. The Lion King performances at Fabulous Fox Theatre start on August 15, 2012 and continue through September 02, 2012.
Casting has been announced for the St. Louis engagement – Scar is played by Brent Harris. 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 and Syndee Winters is the loyal lioness “Nala.”
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.
Lion King Fabulous Fox Theatre Schedule:
Tuesday to Friday – 8:00 PM
Saturday – 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM
Sunday – 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM
Additional Shows – Thursday Aug 16 and Friday Aug 31 at 1:00 PM
Buy Lion King Fabulous Fox Theatre Tickets Online now. Get $10 OFF on any Lion King Saint Louis MO Ticket orders of $250 or more, use code SUMMERFUNTN at checkout.
Lion King’s Young Simba Judah Bellamy in Broadway
Judah Bellamy who plays young Simba in the Broadway production of “The Lion King,” in front of the Minskoff Theatre in Times Square, Manhattan.
Judah Bellamy in Lion King Broadway
When Judah was 6, he announced he would play Simba one day on Broadway. With Judah’s father, Bellamy being a writer in Baltimore, and his mother a day care provider, the dream was brushed off as a childish fantasy.
The Bellamys were so profoundly impacted by the rich African culture embedded in the show that Bernita played “The Lion King songs” to her belly in 1999 when she was pregnant with her first born, Judah Bellamy—who now plays Simba on Broadway.
“None of us can sing. It is just not a part of our make up. I’d probably be less surprised if they told me he could move objects with his mind,” his father said. But not only could Judah sing, he also memorized the entire “The Lion King” script by age 5. He then moved on to memorizing the Danish and German versions. His father could no longer ignore Judah’s wish when he turned 9, and began taking him to “Lion King” auditions.
Judah Roars in Lion King
Without ever taking a single singing or acting lesson, Judah left for his trip to New York. As a 4’3” 9-year-old, he walked into the large auditioning room, getting lost among 50 Simba hopefuls who were at least 3 inches taller than him. To the judges’ surprise, the most regal, resounding voice bustled from the little body. But it was more than the voice that captured the directors’ attention; it was Judah’s passion for ” The Lion King” scenes, his striking familiarity and natural ease with the script, and his compelling bearing as Simba. There was one small problem. He was too short for the role. Over the next two years, Judah was invited to audition five times. Although he was rejected each time, Judah held firmly to his dream.
“I’m going back to get it, at no time did I think I wasn’t going to get it,” he said. He got the auspicious phone call at age 11. Although his dream finally came to fruition, strangely, at such a young age, Judah’s excitement did not affect his rationale. “I ate dinner… I went to bed, because, you know, I wouldn’t really do anything until a month later,” Judah said.
Judah’s first four weeks on Broadway consisted strictly of trainings, with zero break days. But that did not stop Judah from being “a big ball of energy,” his father recalled.
Even today, at age 13, “The Lion King” is still Judah’s favorite movie. He continues to sing “Into the Night” in the shower, which happens to be his favorite scene—where Simba meets his father’s spirit in the starry sky.
Judah aspires to be a screenwriter, director, and film actor after his Simba days are over. He recently completed an independent film with Jono Oliver, an award-winning director. The film, called “Home,” is about the complex relationship between a mentally ill father and his young son. The director was originally looking for younger actors for the role of the son, but out of an array of actors, Judah was chosen for his “nuance” in the difficult role, his father said.
Although Judah has had a string of luck in his acting career, in his father’s eyes, the most important thing Judah has learned is having compassion and love for others.
Read the complete story {Via TheEpochTimes.com}
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The Lion King Will Return to the Fox Cities PAC – April 09 to May 05, 2013
Disney’s The Lion King will return to the Fox Cities PAC for its 10th anniversary season. The Lion King performances at Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, Appleton WI start on April 09, 2013 and continue through May 05, 2013.
The Lion King Fox Cities PAC Schedule:
Tuesday to Friday – 7:30 PM
Saturday – 2:00 PM and 7:30 PM
Sunday – 1:00 PM and 6:30 PM
Additional show on Thursday May 02 – 2:00 PM
Based on the 1994 Disney animated film, this blockbuster opened on Broadway in October 1997 and is still playing. In its 15th year, The Lion King recently became 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). Music is by Elton John, with lyrics by Tim Rice. Lion King musical won six Tonys, including best musical.
Lion King at Fox Cities Performing Arts Center will perform through May 05, 2013. Buy Lion King Appleton WI Tickets online today for best seat locations at the best prices. Save $10 by using the Code SUMMERFUNTN at Checkout on Orders of $250 or more!
Lion King Broadway Box Office Update for Week Ending 07/29/2012
Lion King Broadway Musical grossed $2,039,698 and had an attendance rate of 100.0%, same as that of the previous week. The 27 shows on the boards grossed $23,423,051, improving around 0.96% from the previous week’s totals.
Below are the Top 12 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending 07/29/2012.
1. Wicked – (GERSHWIN) $2,055,433
2. The Lion King – (MINSKOFF) $2,039,698
3. Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark – (FOXWOODS) $1,768,619
4. The Book Of Mormon – (EUGENE O’NEILL) $1,629,488
5. Evita – (MARQUIS) $1,253,587
6. Once – (JACOBS) $1,088,263
7. Newsies – (NEDERLANDER) $1,044,016
8. The Phantom Of The Opera – (MAJESTIC) $1,016,697
9. Mary Poppins – (NEW AMSTERDAM) $1,007,287
10. Jersey Boys – (AUGUST WILSON) $924,710
11. Mamma Mia! – (WINTER GARDEN) $898,564
12. Nice Work If You Can Get It – (IMPERIAL) $799,077
{Via BroadwayWorld.com}
Lion King Musical gallery – In the dressing room with ‘Lion King’s Rafiki
From the opening song “Circle of Life,” Rafiki is one of the most beloved characters in “The Lion King.” Actress Buyi Zama brings life to the character with an engaging spirit that shines from inside out.
khou.com were invited backstage to watch makeup artist Jennifer Anderson transform Buyi into the wise baboon of Pride Rock.
Watch the Gallery Below:
Lion King’s Rafiki – Actress Buyi Zama
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- Lion King Actress Buyi Zama
Lion King Actress Buyi Zama
The Lion King musical is playing at Houston’s Hobby Center through August 12, 2012. Watch the Lion King musical live, Get Lion King Houston TX tickets Online. Avail $15 OFF on Lion King Sarofim Hall Hobby Center Ticket Orders of $350 or more by using code SUMMERTIXTN at Checkout.
Lion King Broadway Box Office Update for Week Ending 07/15/2012 – Crossed $2 Million
The Lion King crossed the $2 million mark to top the chart in a strong week. Lion King Broadway Musical grossed $2,002,353 and had an attendance rate of 100.0%, about 0.4% more than that of the previous week. The 28 shows on the boards grossed $23,438,088, improving around 7.38% from the previous week’s totals.
Below are the Top 12 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending 07/15/2012.
1. The Lion King – (MINSKOFF) $2,002,353
2. Wicked – (GERSHWIN) $1,980,214
3. Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark – (FOXWOODS) $1,738,983
4. The Book Of Mormon – (EUGENE O’NEILL) $1,637,543
5. Evita – (MARQUIS) $1,212,448
6. Newsies – (NEDERLANDER) $1,055,178
7. Mary Poppins – (NEW AMSTERDAM) $1,021,205
8. Once – (JACOBS) $1,015,977
9. Jersey Boys – (AUGUST WILSON) $955,638
10. The Phantom Of The Opera – (MAJESTIC) $914,957
11. Mamma Mia! – (WINTER GARDEN) $863,782
12. Nice Work If You Can Get It – (IMPERIAL) $814,142
{Via BroadwayWorld.com}
The Lion King Houston TX Review – A Brilliant Collaboration of Theatrical Geniuses
The Lion King is currently playing on tour in Houston, TX beginning Tuesday July 10, 2012 at Hobby Center. Here is the Lion King musical review by Jim J. Tommaney.
Disney’s The Lion King roars into town with its menagerie of spectacle, stagecraft and human emotions grafted onto a pride of lions, showcasing what inventive minds can accomplish with apparently unlimited funds and unlimited imaginations.
After an opening with the mandrill Rifiki, a quasi-shaman, celebrating the birth of a lion cub to the jungle’s ruler, we are treated to a panoply of animal puppetry brought to exciting life by human actors. Some, like the giraffes and even the elephant, are remarkably realistic, and others more deliberately transparent but convincing because of their movements, such as the prancing oryxes and the singularly menacing and seductive cheetah. And there are solitary singers in the higher loges and birds fluttering in the sky and drummers on African tom-toms in the lower loges, and the animals parade down the aisle and enter to crowd the stage with delight. The spectacle grabs the audience by the throat, no, the heart, and almost never lets go.
Read the complete review {Via HoustonPress.com}
Lion King Tour will play in Houston, Texas through August 12, 2012. Lion King Sarofim Hall Tickets are in full Demand! Avail $15 OFF on Lion King Sarofim Hall Hobby Center Ticket Orders of $350 or more by using code SUMMERTIXTN at Checkout!
The Lion King Tour in Greenville Grossed over $5.1 Million at the Box Office
The four-week engagement of Lion King Musical in Greenville grossed over $5.1 million at the box office and entertained more than 63,500 patrons, making it the highest-grossing theatrical production in Greenville history.
Disney’s The Lion King continues to reign across North America with a sold-out, record-breaking engagement in Greenville which concluded on Sunday, July 8 at The Peace Center.
It is estimated that by the conclusion of the Greenville engagement, The Lion King will generate a $17.8 million economic benefit to the city from travel, hotels, restaurants, parking and other businesses patronized by both theatergoers and production staff. This figure is based upon a Touring Broadway League report which found that, on average, Broadway tours contribute an economic impact 3.5 times the gross ticket sales to the local metropolitan area’s economy.
Lion King Tour is currently performing at Sarofim Hall – Hobby Center through August 12, 2012. Avail $15 OFF on Lion King Houston TX Ticket Orders of $350 or more by using code SUMMERTIXTN at Checkout!
The Lion King Review – Musical Continues its Reign
North American tour of Lion King returns for its third visit to Houston, beginning Tuesday July 10, 2012 at Hobby Center. The Broadway musical continue performances at Sarofim Hall – Hobby Center through August 12, 2012. Here is the Lion King musical review by By Everett Evans.
Disney Theatrical’s megahit stage adaptation of the 1994 animated film logged another milestone in April, becoming Broadway’s top-grossing production ever. Its box-office total of $853 million surpassed that of “Phantom of the Opera,” now in its 25th year and still Broadway’s long-run champ.
But the Broadway production and North American tour (which has played to 14 million people and grossed $928 million) are only the beginning of this show’s worldwide success. To date, 19 productions of “The Lion King” have played to 64 million people in 15 countries across five continents, grossing $4.8 billion.
Besides the Broadway run and the tour seen here, there’s a company traveling in Japan, a U.K. tour that starts next month and open-ended runs continuing in London, Madrid, Hamburg and Tokyo.
Additions to the score by South African musician Lebo M and others injected authentic world-music influences alongside the Elton John-Tim Rice songs. Richard Hudson’s bold settings were influenced by African textile design, while Garth Fagan’s choreography mixed African dance moves with ballet and modern.
Yet it was Taymor’s extensive use of puppets and masks from various world-theater traditions that proved most crucial to the stage show’s unique visual profile. The techniques featured include: stylized African masks, most worn above the head rather than over the face; Bunraku puppetry, with large figures manipulated by teams of puppeteers in full view; and Indonesian shadow puppetry, with moving figures of wood and animal hide silhouetted on a muslin screen.
Taymor and Curry devised a different means for depicting each animal – as prominently displayed in the celebrated “Circle of Life” opening sequence.
The giraffes are performers on stilts that extend their arms and legs, with the tall neck and head worn atop the actors’ crown.
The cheetahs are puppets whose hind legs are worn like trousers, while the performer manipulates the puppet torso and front legs with sticks.
The zebras reverse that format. The performer wears the neck and head attached with shoulder straps, pulling the back end behind. The zebra neck and head is attached to each performer with shoulder straps, pulling the back end whose hind legs are manipulated with sticks.
The success of “The Lion King” helped pave the way for other hits showcasing various forms of inventive puppetry, from “Avenue Q” to the current “War Horse.”
As technical director of the Broadway production and this tour, David Benken supervises all technical aspects of the complex production, making sure they mesh.
Even though the actual load-in of the production to each theater takes four days, the tour manages to close one engagement on Sunday and begin the next two days later. Benken explains how.
“We use two complete duplicates of settings and equipment, so we can open in one city just after closing in the previous one. Otherwise, we’d need a week’s break between engagements. The things we do carry from each city to the next, besides the cast, are the wardrobe and puppets.”
‘The Lion King’ by the numbers
* 134 people in this touring company – 49 cast members, 19 wardrobe people, 18 musicians, 11 carpenters, 10 electricians, 5 hair and makeup artists, 4 props people, 4 stage managers, 3 puppet craftsmen, 3 sound people, 2 creative associates, 2 company managers, 2 merchandise associates, 1 child guardian and 1 physical therapist.
* 200 puppets used in the show depicting 25 species of animal
* 18 trucks (14 of them 53-foot semitrailers) to transport sets, puppets and other materials
* 7 days prep required to set up the show at each new venue (3 days of advance prep, 4 days of on-site technical preparation)
* 6 African languages heard in the course of the show: Swahili, Zulu, Xhosa (the click language), Sotho, Tswana, Congolese
* 45 wigs
* 3,000 stalks of grass required for yearly upkeep of the 20 Grasslands headdresses
* 100 Ants on the Ant-Hill Lady costume
* 12 Bird Kites in Act 2 opener, “One By One”
* 13 feet long, 9 feet wide – the elephant, largest animal in the show
* 5 inches long – trick mouse on Scar’s cane, smallest animal in the show
Read the complete review {Via chron.com}
Lion King Play at Sarofim Hall – Hobby Center through August 12, 2012. Lion King Musical Houston TX Tickets are in full Demand! Avail $15 OFF on Lion King Sarofim Hall – Hobby Center Ticket Orders of $350 or more by using code SUMMERTIXTN at Checkout!
