The Lion King Celebrates 10 Years on Tour On Friday April 27, 2012
The Lion King musical will celebrate 10 triumphant years on tour on Friday, April 27 in Orlando. Since launching in April 2002 in Denver, CO, The Lion King North American tour has played nearly 6,000 performances during 112 engagements in 74 cities. The record-breaking tour has been seen by more than 14 million theatergoers and grossed over $928 million to date.
With this milestone, The Lion King becomes only the second show in theatrical history to produce five productions running 10 or more years. Already in 2012, The Lion King North American tour has shattered box office records in Baltimore MD, Richmond VA and just recently in New Orleans, LA where it became the highest-grossing theatrical production in the city’s history. The award-winning musical is currently playing a return engagement in Orlando at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center through May 13, 2012.
“It is profoundly gratifying to know that since launching in Denver at the Buell Theatre in April 2002, The Lion King tour has been instrumental in bringing new audiences to the theatre across North America for the past 10 years,” said Jack Eldon, Vice President, Domestic, Disney Theatrical Productions. “We are overwhelmed by the enduring response to the show and are enormously thankful to our audiences for their continued enthusiasm and support. We look forward to sharing this theatrical phenomenon with more cities in the coming years.” Even after 10 years The Lion King continues to visit new North American cities, premiering in 2012 in Miami FL, Greenville SC, Wichita KS and Albuquerque, NM.
In its 15th year, The Lion King remains ascendant, recently becoming 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), The Lion King is the sixth longest-running musical in Broadway history and only the second show to produce five productions running 10 or more years. Translated into seven different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Mandarin, Spanish), the show has been performed in 15 different countries on five continents. Continuing to reign as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world, The Lion King can currently be seen on Broadway, on stages across North America, on tour in Japan, and in Tokyo, London’s West End, Hamburg and Madrid. A UK tour launches in August of this year.
On stage, Taymor’s creative vision blends elements of African art and Broadway artisanship to depict anthropomorphic animal characters. Taymor, along with designer Michael Curry, has created hundreds of masks and puppets for The Lion King. The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed The Lion King animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay.
The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s music from The Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer; and music from “Rhythm of the Pride Lands,” an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer. The resulting sound of The Lion King is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award®-winning song “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” to the haunting ballad “Shadowland.”
Read the complete news {Via BroadwayWorld.com}
Check Lion King Tour 2012, 2013 Schedule.
