DISNEY'S THE LION KING
SETS NEW HOUSE AND PRODUCTION RECORDS
AT BROADWAY'S MINSKOFF THEATRE,
THANKSGIVING WEEK 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011 – Disney's landmark musical event, THE LION KING, set a new house record at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre by grossing $2,079,616
during the sold-out eight-performance Thanksgiving week ending November
27, 2011. This figure also marked the highest single week gross in the
show's 14 year run. The previous records were set week ending 01/02/2011 when THE LION KING grossed $1,993,370.
As it enters its 15th
year, THE LION KING remains ascendant, continuing to reign as a
cultural phenomenon and one of the most popular stage musicals in the
world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 19 global
productions have been seen by more than 63 million people, and grossed
over $4.7 billion to date. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions
(under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is the seventh
longest-running musical in Broadway history and one of only six
productions in theatre history to play for ten years or more both on
Broadway and in the West End. Translated into seven different languages
(Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Mandarin, Spanish), the show
has been performed in 14 different countries on five continents. THE
LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway, on stages across North
America, and in Las Vegas, Tokyo, London's West End, Hamburg and
Madrid.
THE
LION KING won six 1998 Tony Awards®: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design
(Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting
Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best
Direction of a Musical, making Taymor the first woman in theatrical
history bestowed with the honor. THE LION KING has also earned more
than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle
Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album,
the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the
1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume
Design.
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. Other members of the
creative team include: Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael
Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director),
Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music
supervisor). Anne Quart serves as associate producer.
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."
THE LION KING performs at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street, NYC). For tickets, show information and performance schedules, call Ticketmaster's Disney on Broadway hotline at 866-870-2717, or visit LionKing.com.
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