{"id":293,"date":"2011-01-28T02:53:11","date_gmt":"2011-01-28T02:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lionkingbroadwayticketsonline.com\/blog\/?p=293"},"modified":"2011-01-28T02:53:11","modified_gmt":"2011-01-28T02:53:11","slug":"lion-king-coming-to-providence-performing-arts-center-feb-01","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.lionkingbroadwayticketsonline.com\/blog\/lion-king-coming-to-providence-performing-arts-center-feb-01\/","title":{"rendered":"Lion King coming to Providence Performing Arts Center Feb 01"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lion King returns to Providence Performing Arts Center<\/a> next week. Lion King show will be in town till Sunday, 20 February, 2011.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And if Providence<\/a> is anything like the rest of the country, the show will do very well. For, almost 14 years after \u201cThe Lion King\u201d opened on Broadway, it\u2019s still breaking box office records, said Tom Schumacher, head of Disney Theatrical Productions. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s crazy,\u201d said Schumacher, \u201cbut it speaks to the power of the show.\u201d <\/p>\n

Actually, Schumacher has been involved with \u201cLion King\u201d in some capacity for the past 20 years. He got involved with the development of the 1994 film back in 1990, when the project was known as \u201cKing of the Beasts.\u201d The animated film was, of course, a huge success, which paved the way for a musical that to its credit did not look like a cartoon brought to the stage. That was largely due to the vision of director Julie Taymor, who felt, as Schumacher said, that the film should \u201cbe inherently filmic, and the musical should be inherently theatrical.\u201d <\/p>\n

And there is no more exciting 15 minutes in theater than when the \u201canimals\u201d in the show come parading down the aisles of the theater. <\/p>\n

\u201cShe never hides the actor,\u201d said Schumacher of Taymor. \u201cThis is a story about animals, but it\u2019s really about us.\u201d <\/p>\n

Those who have seen the show know that the big idea behind it is the notion of the \u201ccircle of life.\u201d The musical opens with the birth of Simba, the lion cub who is destined to rule Pride Rock. We watch him develop through tough times, and grow to an adult, when he and Nala have their own son. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an event,\u201d said Schumacher. \u201cIt\u2019s cathartic.\u201d <\/p>\n

Another big plus for the show is the catchy score that mixes pop ballads from Elton John with the pulsing choral numbers of South African composer Lebo M. <\/p>\n

Even though it is based on a popular kids\u2019 movie, the musical is not for small fry, said Schumacher. The show\u2019s too long, and too sophisticated for a 5-year-old, he said, but 8 or 9 is fine. And for them \u201cLion King\u201d provides some memories. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe Lion King\u201d opens Tuesday, February 01 and runs through Sunday, February 20 at the Providence Performing Arts Center<\/a>, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. <\/em><\/p>\n

Get $10 OFF on Lion King Providence RI Ticket<\/a> Orders Over $350! Use Code AFF$10.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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