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.”
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