Disney's THE LION KING Opens Tonight at Benedum Center

The Pittsburgh return of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Friday, September 6 at 8:00 p.m., at the Benedum Center, for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, September 29, 2013. "Sales for Pittsburgh's third return engagement of Disney's THE LION KING are brisk, but tickets can still be purchased, with weeknights having the best availability. By the end of the four-week, 32-performance run of the blockbuster engagement, we expect to host over 80,000 people at the Benedum Center-many who will be dining out, shopping, and booking hotel stays. All together, the economic impact for Downtown Pittsburgh and the Cultural District is expected to be significant," comments Marc Fleming, Vice President of Marketing and Communications-Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

The award-winning musical's sold-out six-week premiere engagement in 2004 was followed by a sold-out return run in 2008 at the Benedum Center.

Disney's THE LION KING is part of the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Broadway Across America and Pittsburgh Symphony.

In Pittsburgh THE LION KING will play Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Friday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. There will be a 1:00 p.m. matinee performance on Thursday, September 26. Tickets are on sale (starting at $30) in person at Theater Square Box Office, 655 Penn Avenue, online at www.TrustArts.org or by calling (412) 456-4800.

VIP Ticket Packages are also available and include a prime seat location, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive THE LION KING merchandise item. Orders for groups of fifteen (15) or more may be placed by calling (412) 471-6930; email at groupsales@TrustArts.org or www.TrustArts.org/groupsales.

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 Patrick R. Brown as "Scar", L. Steven Taylor as "Mufasa", Brown Lindiwe Mkhize as "Rafiki", Andrew Gorell as "Zazu", Ben Lipitz as "Pumbaa", Nick Cordileone as "Timon", Jelani Remy as "Simba", Nia Holloway as "Nala", Keith Bennett as "Banzai", Rashada Dawan as "Shenzi" and Robbie Swift as "Ed."

The role of "Young Simba" is alternated between Jordan Hall and Nathaniel McIntyre and the role of "Young Nala" is alternated between Nya Carter and Zyasia Page.

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 proudly returns to Pittsburgh's Benedum Center. The current tour schedule is listed below.

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE THROUGH AUGUST 2014:

Pittsburgh - Benedum Center
September 3 - 29, 2013

Dallas - Music Hall at Fair Park
October 2 - 20, 2013

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 11 - 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