THE LION KING North American Tour Opens Tonight in Omaha

The Omaha return of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Thursday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Orpheum Theater for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, April 7. In Omaha, THE LION KING plays Tuesdays through Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Matinee performances are Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. There will also be a special matinee at 2:00 pm. on Thursday, April 4. "Omahans are welcoming back this wonderful show in a big way," Joan Squires, President of Omaha Performing Arts said. "Thus far sales have exceeded our expectations but there are still good seats available," she added. "We have seats throughout the run of the show but especially in the later weeks, so check with our box office for best available seating."

Tickets to THE LION KING are available at Ticket Omaha, the official box office for the Orpheum Theater and the Holland Performing Arts Center. Tickets can be purchased online at TicketOmaha.com, by phone at 402.345.0606, or at the Ticket Omaha office in the Holland Performing Arts Center, 12th and Douglas Streets. Orders for groups of fifteen (15) or more may be placed by calling 402.661.8516 or toll-free at 866.434.8587. Ticket prices for the return engagement start as low as $35. Premium Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available.

THE LION KING began as a 1994 animated feature-length film developed and produced by the Walt Disney Company. The story, a coming of age parable set among animals indigenous to its setting, the African savanna, tells the tale of Simba, the lion cub who rises to be the King of the jungle.

The production features Timothy Carter as "Scar", Dionne Randolph as "Mufasa", Nteliseng Nkhela as "Rafiki", Mark David Kaplan as "Zazu", Ben Lipitz as "Pumbaa", Nick Cordileone as "Timon", Jelani Remy as "Simba", Syndee Winters as "Nala", Keith Bennett as "Banzai", Rashada Dawan as "Shenzi" and Robbie Swift as "Ed."

The role of "Young Simba" is alternated between Zavion J. Hill and Adante Power and the role of "Young Nala" is alternated between Sade Phillip-Demorcy and Kailah McFadden.

The North American touring productions of THE LION KING have been seen by more than 14 million theatergoers and grossed over $983 million to date. Having already played more than 70 cities across North America, THE LION KING now proudly makes its Omaha return at the Orpheum Theater. The current schedule is listed below.

ABOUT THE LION KING

Among the most successful titles in entertainment history, with a cumulative gross in excess of $5 billion, the title 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 #1 and #2 highest-grossing films in movie history, combined.

With eight productions currently playing around the world, it will make its South American and Portuguese language debut when it begins performances in Sao Paolo, Brazil in March 2013. With that production, THE LION KING's 21 productions will have played in 98 cities in 16 countries on every continent except Antarctica.

As it enters its 16th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant, and one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 20 global productions have been seen by more than 68 million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering 96 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), 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 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. 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.

The Omaha engagement of Disney's THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with Omaha Performing Arts and Broadway Across America and is part of the Omaha Performing Arts Broadway series.