THE LION KING Sells Out Dallas Engagement

Disney's THE LION KING continues to reign across North America with a sold-out engagement in Dallas, which concluded on Sunday, October 20 at The Music Hall at Fair Park. The triumphant three-week return grossed over $4.9 million at the box office and entertained more than 79,000 patrons during 24 performances. The award-winning musical returned to Dallas following a six-week sold-out premiere in 2002 and a successful five-week return in 2007 at The Music Hall.

It is estimated that the Dallas engagement of THE LION KING generated a $17 million economic benefit to the city from travel, hotels, restaurants, parking and other businesses patronized by both theatergoers and production staff. This figure is based upon a Touring Broadway League report which found that, on average, Broadway tours contribute an economic impact 3.5 times the gross ticket sales to the local metropolitan area's economy.

President and Managing Director of Dallas Summer Musicals Michael Jenkins said, "Dallas Summer Musicals was privileged to present Disney's THE LION KING at the Music Hall at Fair Park for the third time this October. Once again we had sell-out crowds applaud this spectacular musical that appeals to everyone in the family. DSM has a long relationship with our friends at Disney Theatricals and the show's talented cast and crew. It's a wonderful moment to see everyone in the audience, no matter their age, experience the wonder of being transported into THE LION KING's magical realm."

"We were delighted to return to the great city of Dallas, where THE LION KING has always been so warmly welcomed and embraced," said Jack Eldon, Vice President, Domestic Distribution, Disney Theatrical Productions. "We are overwhelmed by the enduring response to this theatrical phenomenon and thank the Dallas community and our partners at Dallas Summer Musicals for another incredible engagement."

The North American touring productions of THE LION KING have been seen by more than 15 million theatergoers and grossed over $1 billion to date. After 11 years on the road, THE LION KING continues to celebrate unparalleled achievements and delight new audiences throughout North America. The current schedule is listed below.

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. Translated into seven different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Mandarin, Spanish and Portuguese), productions of THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway and on tour across North America, in Tokyo and on tour in Japan, in London's West End and on tour throughout the UK, and in Hamburg, Madrid and Sao Paolo. To date, THE LION KING has played 98 cities in 16 countries on every continent except Antarctica.

Among the most successful titles in entertainment history, with a cumulative gross in excess of $5 billion, the stage production of THE LION KING has already earned more than the biggest hit films in movie history: more than the Lord of the Rings trilogy combined, more than the six Star Wars films combined, and more than Avatar and Titanic, the two highest-grossing films in movie history, combined.

The award-winning musical will celebrate a new milestone in December 2013 when it returns to Australia, making it the tenth concurrent worldwide production of THE LION KING, the highest number of productions running at any one time in the show's history.

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. 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.

The show's director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor continues to play an integral part in the show's ongoing success. The first woman to win a Tony Award for Direction of a Musical, Taymor has in recent years supervised new productions of the show in Las Vegas, Madrid and the UK tour and just completed casting the Brazilian production in Sao Paolo.

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 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: Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor) and Doc Zorthian (production supervisor). Anne Quart serves as associate producer.

For more information worldwide, visit LionKing.com.

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE THROUGH AUGUST 2014:

Tempe - ASU Gammage Auditorium
October 22 - November 17, 2013

Los Angeles - Pantages Theatre
November 20, 2013 - January 12, 2014

Honolulu - Blaisdell Concert Hall
January 14 - March 9, 2014

Seattle - Paramount Theatre
March 12 - April 6, 2014

Atlanta - The Fox Theatre
April 10 - 27, 2014

Toronto - Princess of Wales Theatre
April 30 - June 15, 2014

Washington, D.C. - Kennedy Center Opera House
June 17 - August 17, 2014

 

---

Join Team BroadwayWorld

Are you an avid theatergoer? We're looking for people like you to share your thoughts and insights with our readers. Team BroadwayWorld members get access to shows to review, conduct interviews with artists, and the opportunity to meet and network with fellow theatre lovers and arts workers.

Interested? Learn more here.

---