THE LION KING Celebrates 10th Anniversary in the West End, 10/18

Disney's THE LION KING will celebrate its 10th Anniversary with a gala performance at London's Lyceum Theatre on Sunday 18th October 2009. Former cast members along with the show's award-winning creative team will gather with a host of celebrities and friends to celebrate 10 triumphant years in the West End.

In the decade since its star-studded premiere in 1999 THE LION KING has been seen by over 8 million people in London at over 4200 performances, which represents an average attendance of 93%. In that time the show has achieved a total gross box office in excess of £289 million. This acclaimed musical now ranks among the top ten longest-running shows in West End history and remains one of the most sought-after tickets in the West End.

"It's profoundly gratifying to see that British audiences continue to embrace THE LION KING in such an extraordinary way," said Thomas Schumacher, producer and president of Disney Theatrical Productions. "I am tremendously proud of our entire creative team as well as our cast and crew in the West End who bring Julie Taymor's glorious production to life each and every time the curtain rises."
"Over the past 10 years, more than 220 performers from all over the world have been part of the incredible company in London, each bringing their own unique talents, energy and joy to help tell this universal story" said Director Julie Taymor. "The thing that moves me most about the success of THE LION KING is the fact that it truly transcends the barriers between culture and between races and is able to tell a story in a style that speaks to everyone equally"

Julie Taymor's internationally acclaimed stage adaptation of Disney's 1994 animated film premiered on Broadway in November 1997, winning the Tony Award® for ‘Best Musical' and since that time, the show has been seen by almost 50 million people in cities around the world. In addition to the record-breaking productions in London and New York, THE LION KING can currently be seen in Paris, Tokyo, Hamburg, Las Vegas and on tours of both the US and Japan, with a new production opening in Singapore in 2010.

The score features Elton John and Tim Rice's music from the animated film along with three original 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 an album inspired by the animated film, "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer. The resulting sound of THE LION KING score is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, embracing the Academy award-winning "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" and the haunting "Shadowlands."

Julie Taymor, along with Michael Curry, has created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING. Scenic design is by Richard Hudson; Lighting design is by Donald Holder; Costume design is by Julie Taymor. Choreography is by Garth Fagan. The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated feature and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay of THE LION KING.

Other members of the creative team include: Steve Canyon Kennedy, sound design; Michael Ward, hair and makeup design; Jay Binder, casting; Joseph Church, music director; Robert Elhai, David Metzger and Bruce Fowler, orchestrators.

THE LION KING plays Tuesday to Saturday at 7.30pm with matinee performances on Wednesday and Saturday at 2.00pm and Sunday at 3.00pm.

THE LION KING FACTS

In London, THE LION KING has...
· Been seen by over 8 million people
· Played over 4200 performances
· Played to an average attendance of 93% over ten years
· Grossed over £289M (Approx US $457M)
· Welcomed over 400,000 school children as part of THE LION KING education programme
· Had over 225 adult cast members from 22 countries
· Had 64 children playing the roles of Young Simba and Young Nala, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in entertainment including Luke Youngblood (The ‘Harry Potter' series), Vanessa White (from The Saturdays) and Jade Ewan (winner of BBC's ‘Your Country Needs You' Eurovision competition and now member of Sugababes)
· Established THE LION KING ‘Cub School' in 2009 to train young performers for the show. The first graduates from the programme joined the production in September 2009

Worldwide THE LION KING has...
· Been seen by over 50 million people worldwide
· Grossed over £2.2B worldwide (Approx US $3.6B)
· Played in 13 different counties
· Visited almost 100 cities around the world
· Been translated into 5 different languages
· Won over 70 major international theatre awards
· Become the 9th longest running show in Broadway history
· Productions currently playing in London, New York, Las Vegas, on tour in North America, Tokyo, Hamburg, and Paris

THE LION KING is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions. Disney Theatrical Group operates under the direction of Thomas Schumacher and is among the world's most successful commercial theatre enterprises. Through Disney Theatrical Productions and Disney Live Family Entertainment, DTG produces and licenses live entertainment events that reach a global annual audience of more than 20 million people in more than 40 countries. Under the Disney Theatrical Productions banner, the group produces and licenses Broadway musicals around the world, including BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE LION KING, Elton John & Tim Rice's AIDA, TARZAN® and MARY POPPINS, a co-production by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh and THE LITTLE MERMAID. Through Disney Live Family Entertainment, DTG delivers live entertainment around the world through its license to Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney on Ice and Disney Live. In addition, DTG licenses musical titles for local school and community theatre productions through Music Theatre International.