The Lion King Roars Into Albuquerque 10/2-28

Popejoy Presents is thrilled to announce their 2011-12 Broadway in New Mexico Series in Albuquerque, featuring the New Mexico premiere of the Broadway phenomenon Disney's The Lion King in October 2012 at Popejoy Hall. More than 50 million people worldwide have come to discover the wonder, majesty, and truly one-of-a-kind experience that is The Lion King. It's the Tony® Award-winning Broadway musical sensation that Newsweek calls "a landmark event in entertainment," and The New York Times says, "There is simply nothing else like it."
The 2011-12 Broadway in New Mexico Series at Popejoy Hall in Albuquerque includes exciting family-friendly shows and events in addition to classic Broadway musical hits. The Broadway in New Mexico season also includes Disney and Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, My Fair Lady, and The New Mel Brooks Musical, Young Frankenstein. Broadway in New Mexico season ticket holders can also add on Albuquerque performances of The New 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables, Blue Man Group, and RAIN, A Tribute to the Beatles.

The National Tour of Disney's The Lion King will make a stop in Albuquerque at Popejoy Hall for a stunning 32 performances, October 2 - 28, 2012.

"The Popejoy Presents Broadway in New Mexico engagement of Disney's The Lion King marks the 2nd season in a row that Albuquerque will present a Broadway mega-hit musical. The New Mexico audiences have been requesting Disney's The Lion King for years! For this engagement alone, nearly 60,000 patrons are expected to attend," stated Tom Tkach, Director of Popejoy Hall. Tkach went on to say, "With WICKED last season and Disney's The Lion King this season, Albuquerque really does offer New Mexicans the very best in Broadway entertainment, right here at home!"
In addition to the stellar Broadway in New Mexico series, for its 45th season, Popejoy Presents will bring 24 other events covering a range of genres such as concerts, performing arts extravaganzas, comedy shows, Shakespeare theater, musical theater, dance performances, and much more. The 2011-2012 Popejoy Presents season begins October 28th, 2011 and extends into October of 2012.

Popejoy Presents season ticket offerings are divided into two categories: Broadway in New Mexico and the Ovation Series. To subscribe, one must purchase a minimum of the five-show Broadway in New Mexico package or any four Ovation Series shows. Broadway in New Mexico Bonuses, The 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables and Blue Man Group can be added to any subscription.

The Ovation Series includes Peking Acrobats, back once again by popular demand; Macbeth, Shakespeare's classic; the Emmy Award winning, BLAST; the always extraordinary, The Manhattan Transfer and Joan Rivers - My Life in Show Business: 135 Years and Counting. Other notable shows include The Celtic Tenors, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Forever Tango, seasonal favorite Mariachi Christmas and a great holiday special, A Charlie Brown Christmas with David Benoit.
Broadway in New Mexico and Ovation Series season tickets for Popejoy Hall are available online and via mail. To request a brochure, call 505-277-8010 or simply subscribe online at www.popejoypresents.com.

Show Descriptions for the Popejoy Presents 2011-2012 Season in Albuquerque:
Blue Man Group
October 28-30, 2011, 5 performances at Popejoy Hall
The Albuquerque Blue Man Group performances will thrill New Mexicans with its high-octane theatrical experience. Escape the ordinary and surround yourself in an explosion of comedy, music, and technology. If you've never seen Blue Man Group, it's a must-see. If you're already a fan, don't miss it!
Kings of Salsa
Sunday, November 13, 2011, 3pm at Popejoy Hall
Kings of Salsa, a stunning new show, pays homage to the great Cuban performers and dance styles from this intoxicating island with a cool contemporary modern twist showing young Cuba today. Choreographed by Roclan Gonzalez Chavez, the show features salsa, mambo, rumba, and cha cha, all danced to perfection. This electrifying mix of performers and choreographic styles makes Kings of Salsa in Albuquerque a show not to be missed.
BLAST!
Saturday, November 19, 2011, 8pm at Popejoy Hall
BLAST, 2001 Winner of the Tony® Award for Best Special Theatrical Event and 2001 Emmy Award for Best Choreography, offers a unique blend of talents: part marching band, part color guard and part jam session, with perfectly synchronized choreography and flawless dance. Its marriage of percussion and brass with over 60 young performers is electrifying. BLAST in Albuquerque will be full of power, passion, and precision, while capturing the outdoor pageantry of drum corps on the stage -- it's like nothing you've ever seen.
Joan Rivers - "My Life in Show Business: 135 Years and Counting"
Sunday, November 20, 2011, 3pm at Popejoy Hall
Joan Rivers is a force of nature, and one of the hardest working celebrities in the world: comedienne, bestselling author, Tony-nominated actress, playwright, screenwriter, motion picture director, columnist, lecturer, syndicated radio host, Emmy Award-winning television talk-show host, jewelry designer, red-carpet fashion laureate, and businesswoman. In this special Albuquerque event, Joan Rivers gives her audience a frank, touching, and hilarious look at her life and the challenges she has met during almost 50 years in show business.
A Charlie Brown Christmas with David Benoit and special guest Ethan Bortnick
Thursday, December 8, 2012, 7:30pm at Popejoy Hall
Grammy-nominated pianist David Benoit and his quartet play music made famous by Vince Guaraldi on Charlie Brown Christmas specials. Benoit electrified the jazz world when he released "The Peanuts Theme" which hit #1 on jazz radio. He performed The Peanuts Piano Concerto in tribute to Charles Schulz and the music of Guaraldi. Experience the magic of a beloved holiday classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas in Albuquerque, performed by an artist who keeps Guaraldi's music alive and ever evolving. Joining Benoit will be special guest, piano prodigy Ethan Bortnick.
Mariachi Christmas
Sunday, December 11, 2012, 3pm at Popejoy Hall
Our rich tradition continues! Stomping feet, thrilling horns, swirling dresses and lively violins fill the air as, now in its 13th year, Mariachi Christmas returns to Albuquerque's Popejoy Hall to ring in the holiday season. This year, Mariachi Aztlán joins Ballet Folklórico Paso del Norte in the celebration. Mariachi Aztlán has traveled throughout Mexico and the Americas as ambassadors representing the beauty of Hispanic music and cultural traditions, and creating a bridge of cultural understanding between our two countries.
An Irish Homecoming
Sunday, December 18, 2012, 3pm at Popejoy Hall
For nearly two decades, the name of a traditional Irish jig has become equally well known as the name for one of the most engaging ensembles in Irish music: Cherish the Ladies. The group won recognition as the first and only all-woman traditional Irish band, but soon established themselves as an Irish music sensation. Maura O'Connell joins Cherish the Ladies along with an all-star dance ensemble featuring champion dancers and former dance ensemble members of Riverdance and The Chieftains, making An Irish Homecoming in Albuquerque a show not to be missed!
Cab Calloway Orchestra with AlIce Tan Ridley
Sunday, January 15, 2012, 3pm at Popejoy Hall
Unforgettable: the soloist singing, the band playing all out, those spicy brass harmonies, the whole room bouncing, everybody singing "HI DE HO!" It must be The Cab Calloway Orchestra, under the baton of Cab's grandson, Calloway Brooks. Using original orchestrations, coupled with musicians who have played with this band for decades, the Cab Calloway Orchestra takes flight. Joining the Cab Calloway Orchestra in Albuquerque is AlIce Tan Ridley, best known for appearances on America's Got Talent.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific
January 20-22, 2012, 5 performances at Popejoy Hall
"A Flawless Production!" hails The New York Times for Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific. This breathtaking new production is based on the 2008 Tony Award®-winning Lincoln Center Theater production, directed by Bartlett Sher. Set on a tropical island during World War II, the musical tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. The beloved score included "Some Enchanted Evening," "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair" and "There Is Nothing Like a Dame." Don't miss a Broadway musical classic in Albuquerque when South Pacific takes the stage at Popejoy Hall!
Forever Tango with Cheryl Burke
Thursday, January 26, 2012 at Popejoy Hall
Cheryl Burke (Dancing with the Stars) joins the cast of Luis Bravo's Forever Tango in Albuquerque for an unforgettable evening. Sensuous and sophisticated, tango inhabits a world where the flick of a leg, the tug of a hand, the tap of a foot and the arch of an eyebrow says everything. Fourteen dancers and a full orchestra mesmerize in this stunning performance of classic tango.
Peking Acrobats
Sunday, January 29, 2012, 3pm at Popejoy Hall
Back by popular demand in Albuquerque, Peking Acrobats return to Popejoy Hall for the third consecutive year. The group has amazed audiences worldwide with their awe-inspiring acrobatics. These gymnasts, jugglers, cyclists, and tumblers bring an amazing mixture of entertainment and wonder. Accompanied by a live orchestra, the performance by the Peking Acrobats is for every member of your family.
Sleeping Beauty
Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 7:30pm at Popejoy Hall
With soaring leaps, daring lifts, sharply accented spinning turns and high extensions, the ballet of Sleeping Beauty gives the fairy tale a lavish stage treatment. Choreographed by Marius Petipa to Tchaikovsky's music, Sleeping Beauty is often considered the foundation of classic ballet repertory, a supreme demonstration of Petipa's style including steel point work. The Moscow Festival Ballet will perform Sleeping Beauty in Albuquerque with beauty and grace in its time-honored tradition.
My Fair Lady
February 1-12, 2012, 5 performances at Popejoy Hall
Don't miss "The World's Greatest Musical" when My Fair Lady comes to Albuquerque. Big League Productions Inc. presents a sparkling new production of the musical by which all others are measured. Based on Shaw's Pygmalion, with book, music and lyrics by Lerner and Loewe, My Fair Lady is triumphant. With "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?," "The Rain in Spain," "I Could Have Danced All Night," "On the Street Where You Live" and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," it's no wonder everyone -- not just Henry Higgins -- falls in love with Eliza Doolittle. The original Broadway production set records for the longest run of any musical in history. It was followed by a hit London production, a popular film version starring Audrey Hepburn -- which won eight Academy Awards -- and numerous revivals. It has been called "the perfect musical."
Masters of Motown
Saturday, February 18, 2012, 8pm at Popejoy Hall
A celebration of the artists to come out of Detroit, better known as Motown, this performance features stylishly costumed fully-choreographed tributes to both male and female groups of the time backed by a live band playing all your favorite tunes. Masters of Motown in Albuquerque will perform hits from The Temptations, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & Supremes, the Jackson Five and many more.
Tao -- Art of the Drum
Sunday, February 19, 2012, 3pm at Popejoy Hall
Athletic bodies and contemporary costumes meet explosive Taiko drumming and innovative choreography full of extraordinary precision, energy, and stamina. The stars of TAO live and train in the mountains of Japan, reaching the highest level of virtuosity after years of intensive study. Each performer brings nontraditional flair to the group: one was a hard rock musician, another was a gymnast, and yet another was a composer. Tao -- Art of the Drum in Albuquerque will offer a young and vibrantly modern take on a traditional art form.
Damn Yankees
Friday, February 24, 2012, 8pm at Popejoy Hall
Damn Yankees is a classic musical comedy coming to Albuquerque that follows a salesman who sells his soul to the devil to help his favorite team beat the New York Yankees. He becomes a young sensation who transforms the hapless Washington Senators, only to realize the true worth of life (and wife) he left behind. The score features showstoppers like "Whatever Lola Wants," "Heart" and "Two Lost Souls." Winner of nine Tony® Awards, Damn Yankees has been a favorite for decades and is full of heart.
One Night of Queen
Thursday, March 1, 2012, 7:30pm at Popejoy Hall
The music of Queen comes alive in One Night of Queen starring Garry Mullen & The Works. The performance recreates and pays tribute to the greatest live band of all time, Queen. Relive all your Queen favorites such as "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Are the Champions," "Somebody to Love" and many more. One Night of Queen is not to be missed by Queen fans in New Mexico!
The New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein
March 2-4, 2012, 5 performances at Popejoy Hall
The classic Mel Brooks movie is ALIVE... and Young Frankenstein is coming to Albuquerque! Enjoy a monstrously good time at this spectacular new production, winner of the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award and the Broadway.com Audience Award for Best Musical! Don't miss all your favorite moments from the classic film, plus brand-new show-stopping numbers, including "Transylvania Mania" and "He Vas My Boyfriend." Follow bright young Dr. Frankenstein (that's Fronkensteen) as he attempts to create a monster -- but not without scary and hilarious complications. The brains behind the laughter is mad genius and three-time Tony® winner Mel Brooks himself -- who wrote the music and lyrics and co-wrote the book -- along with five-time Tony-winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman and three-time Tony-winning writer, Thomas Meehan.
"Tschaikowski", St. Petersburg State Orchestra
Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 8pm at Popejoy Hall
Roman Leontiev, Music Director and Chief Conductor / Alexandre Pirojenko, Piano Soloist / Mikhail Krutik, Violin Soloist
The "Tschaikowski," St. Petersburg State Orchestra was founded in the years following World War II, working in different musical genres and receiving broad acknowledgement and popularity throughout Russia. Their repertoire includes baroque compositions by Vivaldi, Bach and Handel to contemporary music, as well as the works of famous Russian Romantic composers such as Tschaikowski and Rachmaninoff. The "Tschaikowski," St. Petersburg State Orchestra will be in Albuquerque next year, but tours all over the world enjoying success in Europe, China and Japan.
Red Star- Red Army Chorus and Dance Ensemble
Saturday, March 10, 2012, 8pm at Popejoy Hall
The Red Star Red Army company of 70 singers, dancers and musicians dazzle the crowds wherever they perform. The incomparable Red Star Red Army Chorus and Dance Ensemble lives up to its lofty billing in a brilliant performance. The program takes you on a journey of Russian music and traditional folk songs, interspersed with wonderful dances of amazing virtuosity. With vocal soloists who are opera singers and a corps of exceptional dancers, the Red Star Red Army show in Albuquerque will be a dazzling treat for your eyes and ears!
An Evening with John Waters
Sunday, March 11, 2012, 3pm at Popejoy Hall
John Waters, known for trash epics such as Pink Flamingos, Female Trouble, Cry Baby, Hairspray and many more is coming to Albuquerque's Popejoy Hall. Waters' rapid-fire one-man, spoken word "vaudeville" act celebrates the film career and joyously appalling taste of the man William Burroughs once called "The Pope of Trash." He focuses his talk on his early negative artistic influences, his fascination with true crime, exploitation films, fashion lunacy, extremes of the art world, Catholicism, sexual deviancy and a love of reading.
Celtic Tenors
Friday, March 16, 2012, 8pm at Popejoy Hall
The Celtic Tenors have become the most successful classical crossover artists ever to emerge from Ireland. Their live show is an experience overflowing with vitality and variety from start to finish. The unique voices, charm and wit of Daryl, James and Matthew, combined with talented young Musical Director Colm Henry, combine an emotive journey with a thoroughly uplifting experience. The voices and personalities of the Celtic Tenors in Albuquerque will shine through alongside their undeniable Irish charm.
Macbeth
Sunday, March 18, 2012, 8pm at Popejoy Hall
The always-original Aquila Theatre Company brings Shakespeare's classic tale of ambition, paranoia and power to the stage in Macbeth at Albuquerque's Popejoy Hall. The Scottish thane, Macbeth, full of ambition, sets out to be King, and with the assistance of his wife, Lady Macbeth. The two embark on a journey of blood and violence to claim the crown but that journey soon claims them.
RAIN -- A Tribute to the Beatles
Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 7:30pm at Popejoy Hall
The internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert, RAIN returns to Albuquerque by popular demand, direct from Broadway! As "the next best thing to seeing The Beatles!" (Associated Press), RAIN performs the full range of Beatles' discography live onstage, including the most complex, challenging songs The Beatles recorded but never performed live. RAIN has mastered every song and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance as infectious as it is transporting. From early hits to later classics ("I Want To Hold Your Hand," "Hard Day's Night," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," "Let It Be"), this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love and a little help from your friends!
The Original Tribute to The Blues Brothers^TM
Sunday, March 25, 2012, 3pm at Popejoy Hall
This legendary show sells out all over Europe, but Jake and Elwood know home is where the heart is. The boys are joined by the sassy Bluettes, three amazing ladies with voices to knock you clean off your perch. All your favorite songs are here: "Everybody," "Think," "Respect," "Gimme Some Loving" and loads more!!! Don your sunglasses, grab your pork pie hat, and buff those dancing shoes for The Original Tribute to The Blues Brothers^TM in Albuquerque -- the best music, best moves and best comedy you'll see this side of Chicago.
Manhattan Transfer
Saturday, April 7, 2012, 8pm at Popejoy Hall
From their very first album in 1975, the Manhattan Transfer has excited listeners. By blending jazz and pop with other musical styles, they have earned many Grammy Awards and millions of dedicated fans. Their commitment to exploring all the places their voices can go have constantly taken them to new places and earned them wider respect for their musical gifts. Come see Tim Hauser, Janis Siegel, Cheryl Bentyne and Alan Paul, the always new, always extraordinary Manhattan Transfer in Albuquerque.
DanceBrazil
Saturday, April 28, 2012, 8pm at Popejoy Hall
For over 30 years, they have thrilled audiences around the world with dazzling artistry, inspired by the cultural tapestry of Brazil, and now DanceBrazil is coming to Albuquerque! Whether in the streets or on stage in the most prestigious theaters, the dancers and musicians of DanceBrazil never fail to enthrall audiences with the company's unique fusion of Afro-Brazilian movement, contemporary dance and Capoeira, the traditional dance/martial arts form that and evolved in colonial Brazil as a means of fighting enslavement.
Sweet Honey in the Rock
Saturday, May 5, 2012, 8pm at Popejoy Hall
Sweet Honey in the Rock has built a distinguished legacy over the past three decades as one of the most celebrated ambassadors of á cappella music. An all-female vocal ensemble, the women of Sweet Honey in the Rock are strongly committed to creating music from the rich textures of African-American legacy and traditions. The group's repertoire speaks from the music of the Black church, the calls of the civil rights movement and songs of the struggle for justice everywhere. Don't miss Sweet Honey in the Rock live in Albuquerque!
Say Goodnight Gracie
Sunday, May 6, 2012, 3pm at Popejoy Hall
Spend a hilarious, heart-warming evening in the company of the world's funniest centenarian as Say Goonight Gracie comes to Albuquerque. George Burns, who spanned over 90 years of American entertainment history, is alive and kicking again -- and singing and dancing! Alan Safier brings George Burns to life in this tender, life-affirming, Tony-nominated comedy based on the real love story of George Burns and his wife Gracie Allen.
Disney & Cameron Mackintosh's Mary Poppins
May 10-13, 2012, 7 performances at Popejoy Hall
Mary Poppins is bringing its own brand of Broadway magic to theaters across the country, which has Variety raving, "This is the rare touring production that over-delivers at every level!" Featuring the irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time, plus brand-new breathtaking dance numbers and spectacular stagecraft, Mary Poppins is everything you could ever want in a hit Broadway show! So get swept up in the fun of this high-Flying Musical the New York Post gives 4 out of 5 stars and calls "a perfect piece of musical theater" when Mary Poppins comes to Albuquerque!
Les Misérables, The New 25th Anniversary Production
June 5-10, 2012, 8 performances at Popejoy Hall
Cameron Mackintosh presents a brand new 25th anniversary production of Boublil & Schönberg's legendary musical, Les Misérables in Albuquerque, with glorious new staging and dazzlingly reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. This new production has been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking box office records wherever it goes. The New York Times calls this Les Misérables "an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish." The London Times hails the new show "a five star hit, astonishingly powerful."

Disney's The Lion King
October 2-28, 2012, 32 performances at Popejoy Hall
Experience the phenomenon of The Lion King at Albuquerque's Popejoy Hall. Marvel at the breathtaking spectacle of animals brought to life by award-winning director Julie Taymor, whose visual images for this show you'll remember forever. Thrill to the pulsating rhythms of the African Pridelands and an unforgettable score including Elton John and Tim Rice's Oscar®-winning song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and "Circle of Life." Let your imagination run wild at the Tony® Award-winning Broadway sensation Newsweek calls "a landmark event in entertainment." New Mexico's most eagerly awaited production ever will leap onto Popejoy's stage this season.