Lion King Musical Tickets – Tour Dates 2024, News, Cast & Resources

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The Lion King, the musical, is about to break a Broadway record — it’s expected to become the first show to gross more than $1 billion this week.

Based on the Disney movie, “The Lion King” opened on Broadway 16 years ago. But it’s not crossing the billion dollar threshold just because it’s been around it’s been so long. There are about four other musicals that have run longer.

David Rooney is a theater critic for The Hollywood Reporter. And I asked him, so how did “The Lion King” do it?

“The how is simple, it’s a good show,” says Rooney. “And it was an instant phenomenon.”

Rooney says unlike previous Disney efforts, the entertainment company didn’t just recreate the movie on the stage. Instead, they hired avant-garde director Julie Taymor, who used puppetry and other stage devices to capture the magic of theater.

And, he says, Disney has kept the marketing dollars flowing.

“A lot of shows that are doing that kind of business, think well we don’t need to spend major marketing money,” Rooney says.

The musical also has a built-in audience, says Blake Ross is the editor-in-chief of Playbill.

“’Lion King’ is a pretty good universal show for kids to go to,” Ross said.

And, she says, like a lot of recent animated movies by Disney, adults enjoy the the musical too.

News {Via Marketplace.org}

Disney’s The Lion King Broadway welcomes Jeffrey Kuhn, in the role of Zazu, and Tshidi Manye, who rejoins the production as Rafiki.

Jeffrey Kuhn makes his Lion King debut as the prim and proper hornbilled bird, Zazu. Jeffrey Kuhn has been seen in the Broadway productions of The 39 Steps, Spamalot, Wicked, Assassins, Ragtime, and Off-Broadway in John Guare’s 3 Kinds of Exile (Atlantic). Kuhn’s regional credits include An Enemy of the People (Centerstage), Next Fall (St. Louis Rep), Romeo & Juliet (Shakespeare Theatre), Sea of Tranquility (Old Globe), Love’s Labour’s Lost, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Antony & Cleopatra and many others (Stratford Festival), Barrington, Alliance, Pittsburgh Public, and Cincinnati Playhouse. Tour: The Who’s Tommy.

Tshidi Manye, Broadway’s longest-running Rafiki, returns to the Broadway production, having recently spent four months playing the role to critical acclaim on the North American Tour. Tshidi Manye toured Europe and Japan with M. Bongeni Ngema in the hit musical Sarafina. She made her Broadway debut in The Lion King in 2004. Other stage credits include Rafiki in the Toronto production, Daughter of Nebo by Hillary Bletcher, Mfowethu by Gibson Kente, and The Stick by Aubrey Sekhabi. Manye is honored to have performed with legendary artists such as Paul Simon, David Byrne, Hugh Masekela, Jabu Khanyile, and Vusi Mahlasela. Albums: Sisters of Joy, Wildflower.

The Lion King musical is the highest-grossing Broadway show in New York history and one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 21 global productions have been seen by more than 70 million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering 104 years.

Buy Lion King Minskoff Theatre Tickets Online to see the broadway hit musical.

The fifth longest-running show in Broadway history, Lion King Broadway Company Welcomes Aaron Nelson to Play Simba starting from Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at Minskoff Theatre.

Buy Lion King Minskoff Theatre Tickets!

Aaron Nelson to Play Simba from August 27

Aaron Nelson is the first Simba since Jason Raize created the role nearly sixteen years ago to play Broadway without having previously been a member of another Lion King company.

Aaron Nelson is making his Broadway debut as a brand new member to The Lion King family. A proud Chicagoan, Aaron received his BA in Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago. His regional theater credits include columbinus 2.0 (American Theater Company), Rent (American Theater Company), and Dreamgirls (Theater 47). He made his television debut as “Kyle” in NBC’s “Chicago Fire.”

In its 16th year, The Lion King remains ascendant; it is the highest-grossing Broadway show in New York history and one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 21 global productions have been seen by more than 70 million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering 104 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), The Lion King is only the second show in history to generate five productions worldwide running 10 or more years.

Buy Lion King Broadway Tickets Online at discounted prices to see the new Simba Aaron Nelson at Minskoff Theatre.

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.”

Lion King Broadway Musical Lead the list with grosses $1,779,324 and had an attendance rate of 96.3%, about 3.6% less than that of the previous week. The 23 shows on the boards grossed $18,315,911, dropping around 4.03% from the previous week’s totals.

Below are the Top 14 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending February 24, 2013.

1. The Lion King – (MINSKOFF) $1,779,324
2. Wicked – (GERSHWIN) $1,657,584
3. The Book Of Mormon – (EUGENE O’NEILL) $1,607,985
4. Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark – (FOXWOODS) $1,212,082
5. Cinderella – (BROADWAY) $1,045,064
6. Mary Poppins – (NEW AMSTERDAM) $1,022,585
7. Annie – (PALACE) $972,128
8. Once – (JACOBS) $969,147
9. The Phantom Of The Opera – (MAJESTIC) $950,908
10. Newsies – (NEDERLANDER) $926,915
11. Jersey Boys – (AUGUST WILSON) $844,357
12. Cat On A Hot Tin Roof – (RICHARD RODGERS) $725,106
13. Nice Work If You Can Get It – (IMPERIAL) $699,893
14. Mamma Mia! – (WINTER GARDEN) $680,908

{Via BroadwayWorld.com}

Disney’s Tony Award-winning musical The Lion King celebrated its 15th Anniversary performance on Sunday, November 18, with a special multi-lingual rendition of the show’s iconic anthem “Circle of Life,” sung by six “Rafikis” from around the world. Julie Taymor, Lebo M., and Six Rafikis Mark The Lion King’s 15th Anniversary on Broadway – The Photo Gallery by David Gordon at TheaterMania.com

Most of the musical’s original creative team, including Tony Award-winning director/co-costume designer Julie Taymor and vocal arranger/composer Lebohang “Lebo M.” Morake, took the stage after curtain-call for a celebratory bow. As confetti canons fired, they lead the packed house in a musical encore (joined by multi-lingual monkeys).

Six Rafikis at The Lion King’s 15th Anniversary

Three Rafikis and Julie Taymor

Director Julie Taymor with Cast Members

Composer Lebohang “Lebo M” Morake

Thank you to the New York pride for the last 15 years

The Lion King Original Creative Team On Stage

The current cast of The Lion King features Patrick R. Brown (Scar), Alton Fitzgerald White (Mufasa), Tshidi Manye (Rafiki), Jeff Binder (Zazu), Benn Jeffrey (Pumbaa), Fred Berman (Timon), Andile Gumbi (Simba), and Chantel Riley (Nala).

Check the complete gallery {Via TheaterMania.com}

The musical currently plays Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre. Buy Lion King Broadway Tickets Online, SAVE $10 on orders of $350 or more by using the code AFF$10.

Disney’s Tony-winning musical The Lion King celebrates 15 magical years on Broadway. The landmark production, which combined cutting edge technology with inventive new uses for masks and puppets, opened at the newly refurbished New Amsterdam Theatre on November 13, 1997. A decade and a half later, The Lion King continues to be one of the hottest tickets in town at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre.

In honor of its anniversary, Broadway.com shares 15 fascinating facts about the show everyone loves.

1. Julie Taymor became the first woman to win a Tony Award for Direction of a Musical for her work on The Lion King and took home a second Tony for the show’s costumes.

2. Before giving a Tony-nominated performance as Mufasa, Samuel E. Wright provided the voice of Sebastian the Crab in Disney’s film The Little Mermaid and debuted the Oscar-winning song “Under the Sea.”

3. The character of Rafiki was changed from an old man in the film to a woman in the musical in order to provide a leading role for a female actress. Good call: Tsidii Le Loka received a Tony nomination for her performance.

4. The Broadway production has played through three Presidential administrations, four mayoral elections and the opening and closing of 536 Broadway shows.

5. The Rhinos in the musical wear Vans sneakers.

6. With a cumulative gross in excess of $5 billion, The Lion King has earned more than the Lord of the Rings film trilogy combined, more than the six Star Wars films combined and more than Avatar and Titanic combined.

7. Pumbaa’s costume weighs 45 pounds and is worn like a backpack.

8. The box office clout of The Lion King shows no signs of waning: 125,000 more tickets were sold in its 15th year than in the 14th, and 50,000 more tickets were sold than in the 10th year of the run.

9. Dancers in black costumes, gloves and hats manipulate pieces of Mufasa’s face on poles to create the scene in which he appears to Simba under the stars.

10. The Lion King’s 21 productions have played in 98 cities in 16 countries on every continent except Antarctica.

11. Pride Rock can rotate in either direction and is segmented into three parts, which go up and down separately (but in order).

12. Though The Lion King lost the 1998 Tony for Best Score to Ragtime, three of Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs had already been nominated for the Oscar. “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” won Best Song in 1995 over “The Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata.”

13. The Lion King orchestra is comprised of 23 musicians: 17 in the pit, two percussionists in the boxes and four brass instrumentalists who play down the hall because they don’t fit into the pit.

14. Despite being small, Zazu the bird is actually the most complicated puppet in the show.

15. In order to get into costume, the actor playing the giraffe sits at the top of a six-foot ladder and has a dresser help attach his headpiece and stilts to his feet and hands.

The multiple Tony Award-winning musical The Lion King will celebrate 15 years on Broadway Nov. 13 at the Minskoff Theatre. To mark the milestone Broadway.com will roll out a series of Character Study videos featuring the musical’s leading actors.

Lion King Broadway company is currently headed by Patrick R. Brown as Scar, Alton Fitzgerald White as Mufasa and Tshidi Manye as Rafiki.

Based on the popular Disney film, The Lion King opened on Broadway on November 13, 1997 at the New Amsterdam Theatre and won six Tony Awards in 1998 including Best Musical. Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in history to win the Tony for Best Direction of a Musical. The show has spawned 19 productions around the world and has been translated into seven different languages. The Lion King is the fifth longest-running show in Broadway history.

The musical currently plays Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre. Buy Lion King Broadway Tickets Online, Save $10 on orders of $350 or more.

Lion King Broadway Musical grossed $1,944,704 and had an attendance rate of 100.0%, same as that of the previous week. The 30 shows on the boards grossed $23,877,257, slipping around 0.33% from the previous week’s totals.

Below are the Top 12 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending 07/01/2012.

1. Wicked – (GERSHWIN) $2,033,004
2. The Lion King – (MINSKOFF) $1,944,704
3. The Book Of Mormon – (EUGENE O’NEILL) $1,615,956
4. Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark – (FOXWOODS) $1,608,683
5. Evita – (MARQUIS) $1,191,200
6. Newsies – (NEDERLANDER) $1,048,090
7. Once – (JACOBS) $1,039,207
8. Mary Poppins – (NEW AMSTERDAM) $929,166
9. The Phantom Of The Opera – (MAJESTIC) $889,043
10. Jersey Boys – (AUGUST WILSON) $887,165
11. Nice Work If You Can Get It – (IMPERIAL) $804,816
12. Mamma Mia! – (WINTER GARDEN) $750,421

{Via BroadwayWorld.com}

Lion King Musical Broadway grossed $1,953,376 and had a 100.0% attendance rate, same as that of the previous week. The 32 shows on the boards grossed $24,987,783, improving around 2.90% from the previous week’s totals.

Below are the Top 14 Grosses from BroadwayWorld.com for the week ending June 24, 2012.

1. Wicked – (GERSHWIN) $2,038,405
2. The Lion King – (MINSKOFF) $1,953,376
3. Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark – (FOXWOODS) $1,609,734
4. The Book Of Mormon – (EUGENE O’NEILL) $1,602,661
5. Evita – (MARQUIS) $1,219,699
6. Newsies – (NEDERLANDER) $1,034,393
7. Once – (JACOBS) $1,008,136
8. Nice Work If You Can Get It – (IMPERIAL) $998,578
9. Jersey Boys – (AUGUST WILSON) $947,229
10. Mary Poppins – (NEW AMSTERDAM) $902,417
11. The Phantom Of The Opera – (MAJESTIC) $890,564
12. Priscilla Queen Of The Desert – (PALACE) $727,110
13. Gore Vidal’s The Best Man – (SCHOENFELD) $720,259
14. Mamma Mia! – (WINTER GARDEN) $682,931

{Via BroadwayWorld.com}