Lion King Musical Tickets – Tour Dates 2026, News, Cast & Resources

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The Lion King has arrived in Montreal finally. Actually, it has been in preview mode since Tuesday night. But August 09, 2011 night it’s the much anticipated grand opening. Lion King at Montreal, QC Canada will play through September 04, 2011.

The Lion King Roars at Place des Arts

The arrival of The Lion King, for an unusual month-long run, may usher in a whole new era of musical theatre for the venue, recently abandoned by the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. 

The Lion King is one of those rare modern musicals that include widely popular songs. The combined musical talents of Elton John, Tim Rice and Lebo M, not to mention Jay Rifkin, Hans Zimmer and Taymor (musical credits for this show are complicated) add up to thrilling and memorable numbers (Hakuna Matata, Circle of Life). 

Also, this is one of the greatest puppet shows of all time, utilizing various styles and sizes, all in the service of a heartwarming story about a young lion cub named Simba. 

With this new availability, award-winning hits like The Lion King, directed by Julie Taymor, could arrive in Montreal less than a decade after their Broadway triumphs (The Lion King premiered on Broadway in 1997.) And perhaps they will get in the habit of staying longer than the standard six days. 

Compared to the Canadian production, which played the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto in 2000, the North American tour of The Lion King that opened Thursday night at Place des Arts is scaled-down to travel and cramped to fit a slightly narrowed stage. This hampers some of the dance numbers, particularly those involving tent-like costumes. 

Otherwise, the spectacle remains dazzling. The voices of the ensemble, as well as those of principal performers like Buyi Zama as the priestess Rafiki, send shivers down your spine. 

The Lion King means experiencing admiration for the genius of director Taymor, who has since had a rocky ride with Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. (It’s so much better to have Disney behind you than Bono.) Her ingenious segues make for a cinematically smooth, delicately balanced show that ravishes the eye with colourful costumes while it beguiles the ear. Richard Hudson’s set design plays with perspective, trusting the sky as backdrop. The greatest novelties, of course, are the more than 200 animal puppets (heckling hyenas, a slinking cheetah, leaping gazelles) with their complicated mechanisms, which require highly skilled manipulation. 

The child performers playing Young Simba and Young Nala are another wonder. These are not walk-on roles. 

Comic-relief characters like the yappy bird Zazu (Mark David Kaplan), and the sidekick duo of the smart-ass meerkat, Timon (played by Nick Cordileone) and Pumbaa (a flippant warthog, played by Ben Lipitz) offer a dash of vaudeville to this Hamlet-like tale of a princely young lion determined to avenge the death of his father (Dionne Randolph, as Mufasa). 

Jelani Remy is a magnificent adult Simba who pairs beautifully with Syndee Winters, as Nala, for Can You Feel the Love Tonight. 

The necessary element of absolute villainy is provided by J. Anthony Crane as wicked uncle Scar, who actually uses the phrase “Aye, there’s the rub,” underlining the Shakespearean influence. 

French surtitles mounted on either side of the stage appear sporadically, at odd moments. There’s a sly reference to the song Alouette, which works, and a switch to French for The Circle of Life reprise, which doesn’t. 

The fact that The Lion King adds an element of African ancestor worship to (rather British) principles of monarchy and male progenitor dominance within a cartoon-spawned American classic can easily be ignored, or discussed by adults after the show. Children of all ages and both genders will simply enjoy this coming-of-age story for what it is – if you don’t keep them up too long after their normal bedtime. 

Read the complete review {Via MontrealGazette.com} 

Show Time:
With intermission, the show lasts two and a half hours, so parents of small children should opt for matinees. 

The Lion King continues performances at Place des Arts until September 4. Hurry up to book the best Lion King Montreal Quebec Canada Tickets. Save $10 off on purchase of Lion King Place Des Arts Tickets for $350 or more by using the promo code AFF$10.

Disney’s The Lion King at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino wants to thank its guests for an incredible two and a half years on the Las Vegas Strip.

Lion King Las Vegas will play its final show Dec. 30. Don’t miss the chance to see the West Coast production of what Newsweek calls “a landmark event in entertainment.” Mandalay Bay’s production of The Lion King is virtually identical to the other companies seen around the globe and is staged with all of the same spectacular music, sets and costumes that have made it a worldwide phenomenon. Within nine weeks of its Las Vegas debut, Lion King broke the Mandalay Bay box office record and continued to break its own record four more times within two years.

The smash hit has been seen by more than 55 million people in 18 different productions worldwide since its 1997 premiere. The Lion King productions have grossed more than $4.3 billion to date and have cumulatively run 83 years.

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On the last Canadian stop of its latest North American tour, one of America’s most successful and longest-running musicals – The Lion King, adapted from the Disney animated movie of 1994 – makes its debut here Tuesday, August 09, 2011 for a four-week run at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier of Place des Arts.

Though slightly smaller than the 2000-2004 production seen by 2.9 million people over 1,560 performances at Toronto’s Princess of Wales Theatre, the touring musical is huge. In all, 110 people are involved: a cast of 48 (actors, dancers, singers and puppeteers), plus musicians, sound technicians, carpenters, electricians, wardrobe staff and more.

It’s the seventh-longest-running musical in Broadway history and one of only five Broadway and West End productions to play for 10 years or more. It’s won more than 70 theatrical awards around the globe, including six Tonys in 1998 (including best musical, as well as best direction, costumes, lighting, scenic design and choreography). And the original-cast recording snagged a Grammy in 1999 as best musical-show album.

Since its first staging in 1997, The Lion King has gone global. Translated into seven languages, it’s been seen by more than 54 million people in 14 countries on five continents and grossed more than $765 million. Besides the North American tour, it’s now being staged in six productions worldwide: on Broadway, in Las Vegas, in London’s West End, in Hamburg, Tokyo and Singapore. Starting in October, it will be seen in Madrid.

“Montrealers will love the show – it’s full of life,” said violinist Woonkuo Soon, who’s been the touring production’s concertmaster for the last five years. Originally from Singapore, the 42-year-old also plays in the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and lives part time in Montreal.

The Montreal cast of The Lion King includes Jelani Remy as Simba; Syndee Winters as Nala, his best friend and love interest; Nick Cordileone as Timon the meerkat and Ben Lipitz as his sidekick, Pumbaa the warthog; J. Anthony Crane as Scar; Dionne Randolph as King Mufasa; Buyi Zama as the wise baboon Rafiki; and Mark David Kaplan as Zazu the hornbill.

The Lion King runs through Tuesday to September 04 at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier of Place des Arts. Hurry up to book the best Lion King Place Des Arts Tickets. Save $10 off on purchase of Lion King Montreal Quebec Canada Tickets for $350 or more by using the promo code AFF$10.

The National Tour of Disney’s The Lion King will make a stop in Albuquerque at Popejoy Hall for a stunning 32 performances from October 2 thorught October 28, 2012.

Popejoy Presents is thrilled to announce their 2011-12 Broadway in New Mexico Series in Albuquerque, featuring the New Mexico premiere of the Broadway phenomenon Disney’s The Lion King in October 2012 at Popejoy Hall. More than 50 million people worldwide have come to discover the wonder, majesty, and truly one-of-a-kind experience that is The Lion King. It’s the Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical sensation that Newsweek calls “a landmark event in entertainment,” and The New York Times says, “There is simply nothing else like it.”

“The Popejoy Presents Broadway in New Mexico engagement of Disney’s The Lion King marks the 2nd season in a row that Albuquerque will present a Broadway mega-hit musical. The New Mexico audiences have been requesting Disney’s The Lion King for years! For this engagement alone, nearly 60,000 patrons are expected to attend,” stated Tom Tkach, Director of Popejoy Hall. Tkach went on to say, “With Wicked last season and Disney’s The Lion King this season, Albuquerque really does offer New Mexicans the very best in Broadway entertainment, right here at home!”

Experience the phenomenon of The Lion King at Albuquerque’s Popejoy Hall. Marvel at the breathtaking spectacle of animals brought to life by award-winning director Julie Taymor, whose visual images for this show you’ll remember forever. Thrill to the pulsating rhythms of the African Pridelands and an unforgettable score including Elton John and Tim Rice’s Oscar®-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “Circle of Life.” Let your imagination run wild at the Tony® Award-winning Broadway sensation Newsweek calls “a landmark event in entertainment.” New Mexico’s most eagerly awaited production ever will leap onto Popejoy’s stage this season.

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The Lion King is a spectacular theatrical adaptation of one of the most popular Disney films. The show was watched by more than 8 million people since it opened at the Lyceum Theatre in October 1999. Last year, the shows raised a record £ 32 million at the box office in London.

Directed by Tony winner Julie Taymor, The Lion King is a musical based on the 1994 Disney animated film of the same name with music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice along with the musical score created by Hans Zimmer with choral arrangements by Lebo M. The musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The show is produced by Disney Theatrical.

The musical debuted July 8, 1997, in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the Orpheum Theatre, and was an instant success before premiering on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theater on October 15, 1997 in previews with the official opening on November 13, 1997. On June 13, 2006, the Broadway production moved to the Minskoff Theatre to make way for the musical version of Mary Poppins, where it is still running after more than 5,350 performances. It is now Broadway’s seventh longest-running show in history. Check the complete schedule of Lion King Tour 2011.

The show debuted in the West End’s Lyceum Theatre on October 19, 1999 and is still running. The cast of the West End production were invited to perform at the Royal Variety Performance 2008 at the London Palladium on December 11, in the presence of senior members of the British Royal Family.

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The Lion King is currently performing on tour in Ottawa, ON Canada. At National Arts Centre Southam Hall from Sunday, July 14 to Sunday, August 7, 2011.

When Julie Taymor’s musical production of Disney’s The Lion King opened in 1997, it was immediately hailed as a theatrical game-changer. Taymor’s adaptation of the popular animated film used animal puppets, exquisite masks, African-inspired costumes and traditional South African choral music, creating a visually astonishing, emotionally stirring spectacle that, nearly 15 years later, has lost none of its freshness or power.

The show’s lifeblood is its music. There are all the well-known hit tunes from the film, of course—Circle of Life, Can you Feel the Love Tonight, Hakuna Matata. But if you’re not a fan of Disney pop (guilty as charged), you can console yourself with the marvelous supplemental music by South African composer Lebo M. At the risk of offending countless Elton fans, the show would have been even better if it had been scored entirely with Lebo’s rich vocal harmonies and uplifting rhythms.

As young Simba and Nala, Niles Fitch and Kailah McFadden held their own with plenty of charm and charisma (along with out-wrestling her pal, McFadden is the better singer of the two). Nick Cordileone and Ben Lipitz, playing comic-relief duo Timon and Pumbaa, were the most similar to their cartoon counterparts.

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The Lion King will be visiting Buffalo, NY in October 2011 for a four-week run. Disney’s popular show “The Lion King” will be starting performances at Shea’s Performing Arts Center from October 04 through October 30, 2011.

Lion King, The family friendly show still holds the record for Shea’s biggest box office success from its six-week stop at the theater in 2005. With a score by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice and innovative puppet and mask design by director Julie Taymor, the stage version of Disney’s 1995 animated film ranks as one of the most lucrative and longest-running shows in Broadway history.

The theater announced the return of “The Lion King,” along with the rest of the lineup for its upcoming season, at an event in the theater Tuesday night.

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Lion King Broadway musical tour sold $5.3 million in tickets and attracted nearly 70,000 people to 32 performances, Ken Neufeld, president and chief executive of the Victoria Theatre Association said Wednesday. The “Lion King’s” local economic impact was $15 million to $18 million, Neufeld said.

The four-week run of Disney’s “The Lion King” that ended Sunday at the Schuster Performing Arts Center “exceeded our expectations in every area,” he said.

On average, Broadway tours generate an economic impact of 3.5 times the gross ticket sales to a local metropolitan area’s economy, according to the Broadway League, a national trade association.

“Restaurants were full, parking garages were doing well, the bars were full after the shows,” Neufeld said. “It was fantastic.”

Uno’s Chicago Grill on North Main Street saw nearly 10,000 customers during “The Lion King’s” engagement, doubling its typical summer business, said Joe Kiley, general manager. “We would have done about 4,500 to 5,000 normally,” he said.

Read the complete story via {DaytonDailyNews}

Lion King is currently playing on tour in Ottawa, ON Canada. Buy Lion King Ottawa ON Canada Tickets Online. Use Code AFF$10 to Get $10 OFF on Orders over $350!

A magical, sensory onslaught is in store for audiences when the Lion King opens in Ottawa tonight, says one of the show’s key actors.

“I’m so excited for Ottawa to see it,” said Mark David Kaplan, who plays Zazu the Hornbill in the award-winning stage adaptation of Disney’s classic animated feature. Zazu, an African Hornbill originally voiced in the movie by funnyman Rowan Atkinson – is majordomo to King Mufasa, ruler of the lions.

The production immerses audiences with music, masks, costumes, puppets, actors and dance, all combined at once, said Kaplan. Rather than hiding behind screens or wearing dark clothing, Kaplan and the actors and puppeteers and their facial expressions are part of the performance too. The concept is apparent from opening number, The Circle of Life as the animals of the Serengeti gather to witness the birth of the Lion King’s son Simba.

“Rafiki starts out calling out to these two antelopes and the antelopes are both calling out to her in one of the South African dialects and then she calls out to these giraffes and these two giraffes come in from stage left and it’s these two very amazing dancers on stilts – I don’t want to give too much away,” said Kaplan, his excitement apparent in his voice.

“It’s about watching all of these things at the same time. It’s not just about watching the puppeteer, or the puppet independently. You can look things independently, but neither one works independently,” he said.

While many of the “puppets” are attached to the actors as a sort of hybrid costume, Kaplan’s puppet is operated with both of his hands and has a number of small moving parts that allow for a variety of expressions. Nevertheless, he says it is the combination of those expressions as well as his own facial expressions that really bring the character to life.

At times in the show, he says he’ll work almost directly with the children in the audience, looking them in eye, but at other times the kids stop interacting with him and are interacting with the puppet. While he says the bird can’t work with out him, he says the puppet can express things physically that as a human, he can really only think.

“He’s amazing,” Kaplan says of the puppet.

Kaplan said he’s been involved in the show off and on for eight years in different roles, but in Ottawa he’ll be rejoining it to play Zazu.

“Zazu is part of the glue that makes the show work,” he said of his role. The majordomo is charged with taking care of Simba in the first act of the show. Zazu is both a guardian, and a diplomat, he is also a confidant and at the same time flies above the action, gaining insights as he soars over the Serengeti.

The show runs until Aug. 7 at the National Arts Centre.

“You start with a great story like this that everybody knows, it’s a great introduction to live theatre,” he said. “The immediacy of live theatre is what makes the show work.”

{Via Metronews.ca}

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The puppet department is a big one back stage. Hundreds of costumes, masks and puppets are constantly refreshed before each performance so they look brand new. It’s a tough job and anything can go wrong, but that’s why Michael Rilley and his team of puppet magicians are on hand to make sure everything goes like it’s supposed to.

{Via WDTN}
Watch the exclusive video behind the scenes look at the magic behind Disney’ s The Lion King:

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