Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
The Lion King Touring Company’s Mufasa is Dionne Randolph through 2013
Dionne Randolph is Mufasa in the Broadway touring company of The Lion King Musical. Randolph recently signed a new contract that will keep him in the lion mask through 2013. Dionne Randolph, 39, a nine-year company veteran plays Mufasa in the Lion King Touring team.
Dionne Randolph in the Lion Mask as Mufasa - Lion King Musical
Randolph, in fact, was just about to sign a new contract for the theme-park show when he got the call from The Lion King tour; he originally understudied Mufasa before taking on the role full time six years ago.
He got into performing accidentally. He was studying aeronautical engineering at Morehouse College in Atlanta when he participated in Disney’s college-worker program. A show producer heard him talking in the “tunnels” under the Magic Kingdom and asked him to record some voice-overs. That led to a job as the voice of Disney’s Star Wars Weekends and a gig on the resort’s radio station. A Busch Gardens casting director heard him singing on the radio, which led to a job in that theme park, as well as cruise-ship and regional-theater work before returning to Disney.
“Every six months for me, it’s a new show,” he says. That’s because the bulk of Mufasa’s stage time is spent with children portraying young Simba, and the child actors frequently switch as they outgrow the part. “Those boys are hilarious,” says Randolph, “They bring a new energy for me.” “It shows the power of imagination. That’s the key to ‘The Lion King.’ That’s why people love ‘The Lion King,'” he says.”It’s the circle of life … that’s what we do.”
Lion King is currently performing at Mahalia Jackson Theatre in New Orleans LA through April 15, 2012. From here it moves to the Dionne Randolph’s home town Orlando Florida – Schedule (April 17 to May 13, 2012). Get $10 OFF on Lion King Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre Tickets Orders over $350! Use Code #SpringSavings at Checkout.
Lion King Enters Broadway Record – Highest Grossing Show of All Time
Box office revenues show that “The Lion King” has recently swiped the title of Broadway’s all-time highest grossing show from “The Phantom of the Opera.” Box office figures released Monday show that “The Lion King” last week enters Broadway’s record of all-time highest grossing show despite having run for a decade less.
The Disney show opened in November 1997, and after taking more than $2m at the box office during Easter week, Lion King’s cumulative gross earnings hit $853.8m. By comparison, The Phantom of the Opera, which opened in January 1988, added $1.2m to its cumulative gross, which now stands at $853.1m.
The upstart’s victory is due in large part to its higher average ticket prices and a slightly larger theater. Monday’s data shows “Phantom” had an average paid admission of $98.97, while “The Lion King” fetched $155.09.
Thomas Schumacher, producer and president of Disney Theatrical Productions, also gave credit to Julie Taymor, the director, costume and mask maker of “The Lion King.” ”Her vision, continued commitment to the show and uncommon artistry account for this extraordinary success,” he said in a statement.
In comparison, “The Lion King” looks like a pup: It is the sixth longest-running show on Broadway with over 5,900 performances over 14 years and has sold just over 10 million tickets.
“It doesn’t surprise me,” said Cary Ginell, a music historian and biographer who edited the seventh edition of “Broadway Musicals: Show By Show.” He compares “The Lion King” to a Disneyland ride.
Ginell tips his cap to the new box office king and doesn’t see a time soon when it abandons its kingdom. “‘Lion King’ is the perfect family musical and I think it always will be as long as expenses don’t go so far up that they won’t be able to afford to put it on anymore.”
Read the complete news {Via PostBulletin.com}
Lion King Minskoff Theatre Tickets are so popular and selling fast online. Get $10 OFF on Lion King New York NY Tickets Orders over $350! Use Code #SpringSavings at Checkout.
Lion King Broadway Box Office – Update for Week April 08, 2012
Lion King Broadway grossed $2,081,189 and had a 100.0% attendance rate, same as that of the previous week. The 39 shows on the boards grossed $27,986,522, about 14.90% more than that of the previous week’s totals.
The start of April school vacations, family and tourist demand resulted in a big hit for the Broadway shows. As a result several of the shows – “Wicked,” “The Lion King,” “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” and “The Book of Mormon” – brought in huge sums per person on average, according to weekly box office data published on Monday. Wicked, Lion King and The Book Of Mormon grosses crossed $2 million sales last week.
Over all, Broadway musicals and plays grossed $28 million last week, compared to $23.8 million a week earlier and $22.1 million for the comparable week last season.
Below are the Top 10 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending April 08, 2012.
1. Wicked – (GERSHWIN) $2,183,025
2. The Lion King – (MINSKOFF) $2,081,189
3. Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark – (FOXWOODS) $2,010,621
4. The Book Of Mormon – (EUGENE O’NEILL) $1,590,235
5. Mary Poppins – (NEW AMSTERDAM) $1,364,848
6. Evita – (MARQUIS) $1,271,544
7. The Phantom Of The Opera – (MAJESTIC) $1,262,881
8. Newsies – (NEDERLANDER) $963,625
9. Mamma Mia! – (WINTER GARDEN) $947,575
10. Jersey Boys – (AUGUST WILSON) $942,780
{Via BroadwayWorld.com}
Peace Center SC Added More Tickets for Lion King Run June 12 to July 8
According to Peace Center President Megan Riegel, Reconfiguration of Peace Center SC concert hall makes room for more seats. To accommodate the animal parade in Disney’s blockbuster musical “The Lion King,” seats will have to be removed from the Peace Center’s Concert Hall.
Lion King Peace Center SC
With an overwhelming demand for tickets – the Peace Center reviewed the seating map with the show’s production team and were able to identify other areas where seats could be placed. The result is that 1,600 additional tickets will be available for the Lion King Musical show’s four-week run at Peace Center from June 12 through July 8.
“In an effort to accommodate the community’s tremendous enthusiasm for The Lion King, structural modifications are being implemented to the Peace Center so that additional seat locations can be created,” Peace Center President Megan Riegel said. The Peace Center expects “The Lion King” to be its biggest Broadway show ever.
Blockbuster multi-week Broadway shows fill hotel rooms and pack restaurants with out-of-town and out-of-state guests paying accommodations and local sales taxes that support other festivals and arts events.
“Wicked,” the last multi-week blockbuster Broadway show to come to the Peace Center, is a good example. “Wicked” had a 24-performance run in Greenville and more than 98 percent of the 48,864 available tickets were sold, generating more than $4 million in ticket sales alone.
Read the complete news {Via journalwatchdog.com}
Lion King Greenville SC Tickets sales is in full swing. Although ticket sales have been brisk, there are still good seats left. Lion King at Peace Center SC will perform through July 8, 2012. Book your Lion King Greenville SC tickets in advance, Use Code #SpringSavings at Checkout to Get $10 OFF on Orders of $350 or more!
The Lion King Musical Nashville, Tennessee Schedule – May 7 to June 2, 2013
The Lion King musical returning to Nashville Tennessee in the month of May 2013 for only 4-week run. Lion King Tennessee Performing Arts Center performances start on May 07, 2013 and continue through June 2, 2013.
Last in Nashville in 2006, TPAC President and CEO Kathleen O’Brien says patrons are always asking when it will be on the schedule again. “There are Broadway shows, and then there are Broadway events,” she says. “This is a Broadway event.”
“This is the first return engagement of Disney’s The Lion King since its record breaking debut here in 2006. People of all ages have embraced this production, and they want to experience it again or share it with a new generation,” O’Brien said. “Like last time, we will be modifying the seating in Andrew Jackson Hall to accommodate some of the most awe-inspiring, memorable scenes in the history of musical theatre. We’re glad to have it back for four weeks and, again, we expect to sell out. Buy your tickets in advance.”
The blockbuster Disney Theatrical Group musical, with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, actors as animals and groundbreaking puppets, tells the tale of a lion cub on his journey to be king.
Lion King Nashville TN Tickets are expected to sell out quickly. Lion King at Tennessee Performing Arts Center will perform through June 2, 2013. Enjoy this African romp with Simba, Naala, Timon and Pumba and all the majestic jungle animals. Book your Lion King Tennessee Performing Arts Center tickets in advance, Use Code #SpringSavings at Checkout to Get $10 OFF on Orders of $350 or more!
Lion King Will Roar in to the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre April 17, 2012
The Lion King Musical will roar in to the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre for a a four week limited engagement, The performances start with the 8:00 PM show on April 17, 2012 and continue through Sunday May 13, 2012.
The Lion King won six 1998 Tony Awards®: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical, making Taymor the first woman in theatrical history bestowed with the honor. “The Lion King” is the sevenths longest-running musical in Broadway history and one of only six to play for ten years or more, both on Broadway and the West End. It has been translated into seven languages and performed in fourteen countries on five continents.
Buy Lion King Orlando FL Tickets Online, Enjoy this African romp with Simba, Naala, Timon and Pumba and all the majestic jungle animals. Use Code #SpringSavings at Checkout to Get $10 OFF on Lion King Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre Ticket Orders of $350 or more!
Lion King Musical at the Mahalia Jackson Theater – Review
Lion King is currently playing on tour in New Orleans, LA at the Mahalia Jackson Theater and continue through Sunday April 15, 2012.
Many Broadway musicals are film adaptations, but the transition from movie to stage can be tricky when the source work is animated. But The Lion King works because it offers an inspired interpretation of the 1994 Disney film’s animal kingdom.
Elements that made The Lion King so popular — it’s the sixth longest-running show on Broadway — include costumes, puppetry and other mechanics used to animate the film’s environs and characters for the stage. Audiences get the extent of director Julie Taymor’s original vision. The show opener “The Circle of Life” introduces the full array of animals — lions, elephants, zebras and others — which emerges from the stage wings and walks in procession down the theater’s aisles (audiences should take their seats early: latecomers are held in the lobby until after that number). Cast members demonstrate exceptional grace, control and athleticism in operating these animals, especially the giraffes portrayed by actors on stilts, a life-sized cheetah puppet and birds whose operators mimic flight by darting down the aisles and around the stage.
Even the cast members whose roles don’t require as much apparatus are captivating. Rafiki (Buyi Zama), who is a monkey in the film but human in the stage version, functions as an enigmatic mystic figure. She commands attention from the beginning with that piercing Zulu verse that begins “Circle of Life.” She’s got a singing voice that can be simultaneously big and restrained, and she’s effective at both humorous and emotional moments. The child actors portraying young Simba (Adante Power) and Nala (Sade Phillip-Demorcy) have refreshingly childlike singing voices that they don’t push to sound more mature. J. Anthony Crane is perfectly diabolical as Scar, who has designs on his brother Mufasa’s (played powerfully by Dionne Randolph) position as king. Syndee Winters embodies the strength and beauty of the adult Nala.
The Lion King retains enough of its original elements to satisfy nostalgic viewers, but it strays enough from the source material to make it fresh and exciting.
Read the complete review by Lauren LaBorde – {Via BestOfNewOrleans.com}
Lion King musical will run through April 15, 2012 at The Mahalia Jackson Theater. Buy Lion King New Orleans LA Tickets Online, Use Code #SpringSavings at Checkout to Get $10 OFF on Orders of $350 or more!
Lion King Puppeteers and Actor Michael Reilly Visit Bethune Elementary Literary and Technology School
Lion King is currently running at the Mahalia Jackson Theater through April 15, 2012. Actor Mark David Kaplan, who provides the voice and movement for the Zazu puppet character in The Musical The Lion King, came to Bethune Elementary Literary and Technology School to give a demonstration of his character and talk about being an actor and the development of characters on Thursday, March 22, 2012. The show’s master puppeteer Michael Reilly was also on hand to answer questions.
Lion King Mahalia Jackson Theater Cast - Actor Michael Reilly
Lion King Cast - Puppeter Michael Reilly
Lion King Mahalia Jackson Theater Cast - Puppeter Michael Reilly
Photo {Via Times-Picayune – NOLA.com}
Lion King Runs at Mahalia Jackson Theater through April 15, 2012. Get $10 OFF on Lion King New Orleans LA Tickets Orders of $350or more by using code #SpringSavings at Checkout.
Lion King Broadway Box Office – Update for Week March 18, 2012
Lion King Broadway grossed $1,760,703 and had a 98.7% attendance rate, about 4.6% more than the previous week. The 29 shows on the boards grossed $22,236,274, about 16.42% more that of the previous week’s totals.
Below are the Top 12 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending March 18, 2012.
1. Wicked – (GERSHWIN) $1,942,288
2. The Lion King – (MINSKOFF) $1,760,703
3. Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark – (FOXWOODS) $1,578,215
4. The Book Of Mormon – (EUGENE O’NEILL) $1,494,024
5. Evita – (MARQUIS) $1,167,685
6. The Phantom Of The Opera – (MAJESTIC) $1,012,149
7. Jersey Boys – (AUGUST WILSON) $913,217
8. War Horse – (VIVIAN BEAUMONT) $886,640
9. Mary Poppins – (NEW AMSTERDAM) $881,144
10. How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying – (AL HIRSCHFELD) $812,618
11. Newsies – (NEDERLANDER) $735,991
12. Mamma Mia! – (WINTER GARDEN) $685,129
{Via BroadwayWorld.com}
Lion King Performance at the Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans – Video
Lion King roars into New Orleans, LA for one month run. The Tony Award-winning musical has moved in to the Mahalia Jackson Theatre for the Performing Arts with all the spectacle and theatrical magic that has made it one of Broadway’s biggest hits.
Lion King musical performances at Mahalia Jackson Theater continues through April 15. Though the musical version of “The Lion King” has appeared in more than 60 North American cities, this is its first stop in New Orleans LA. Get a video peek at an athletic dance performance that helps set the tone for Disney’s musical ‘The Lion King,’ now showing at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts.
Lion King New Orleans LA Tickets are selling fast. Get $10 OFF on Lion King Mahalia Jackson Theater Tickets Orders of $350or more by using code #SpringSavings at Checkout.
