THE LION KING Opens At Hippodrome Theatre 12/9

The Baltimore return of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Friday, December 9 at 7:30 pm at the Hippodrome Theatre for a limited engagement of five weeks through Sunday, January 8, 2012. The show's 14-week premiere engagement in 2005 played a sold-out run at the Hippodrome Theatre. "Thus far sales have exceeded our expectations, but there are still great seats available," said Jeff Daniel, President, France-Merrick Performing Arts Center.

Tickets to THE LION KING are still available at the Hippodrome Theatre Box Office and Ticketmaster Outlets, by calling Ticketmaster at 410-547-SEAT or via the Internet at Broadwayacrossamerica.com. Ticket prices for the engagement start as low as $25.00 (plus applicable fees.). Premium Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available. Special holiday performance schedule includes December 24 and December 31 evening performances at 6:30 pm. Below is a complete listing of performance dates and times.

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 sardonic and deviously cunning "Scar" is played by J. Anthony Crane. Dionne Randolph is "Mufasa," the great warrior and ruler of the Pridelands. Buyi Zama is the wise baboon shaman "Rafiki." Mark David Kaplan portrays the prim and proper hornbilled bird "Zazu." Ben Lipitz is the carefree warthog "Pumbaa" and Nick Cordileone is the wisecracking meerkat "Timon." Mufasa's son, "Simba," the lion prince born to be king, is played by Jelani Remy and Syndee Winters is the loyal lioness "Nala."

The three evil hyenas are played by Omari Tau ("Banzai"), Monica L. Patton ("Shenzi") and Ben Roseberry ("Ed"). The role of "Young Simba" is alternated between Niles Fitch and Zavion J. Hill and the role of "Young Nala" is alternated between Sade Phillip-Demorcy and Kailah McFadden.
The North American touring production of THE LION KING has been seen by over 13.5 million theatergoers and grossed over $875 million to date. Having already played more than 60 cities across North America, THE LION KING now proudly makes its Baltimore return at the Hippodrome Theatre. The current schedule is listed below.

ABOUT THE LION KING

As it approaches its 15th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant, continuing to reign as a cultural phenomenon and one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 19 global productions have been seen by more than 63 million people, and grossed over $4.7 billion to date. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is the seventh longest-running musical in Broadway history and one of only six productions in theatre history to play for ten years or more, both on Broadway and in the West End. Translated into seven different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Mandarin, Spanish), the show has been performed in 14 different countries on five continents. THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway, on stages across North America, and in Las Vegas, London's West End, Hamburg, Madrid and Tokyo.

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, making Taymor the first woman in theatrical history bestowed with the honor. 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.

On stage, Taymor's creative vision blends elements of African art and Broadway artisanship to depict anthropomorphic animal characters. Taymor, along with designer Michael Curry, has created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING. 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: Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor). Anne Quart serves as associate producer.

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."

Performance Schedule

Week 1 December 7 through December 11

Wednesday and Friday 7:30 pm

Thursday and Saturday 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm

Sunday 1:00 pm & 6:30 pm

Week 2 December 13 through December 18

Tuesday-Friday 7:30 pm

Saturday 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm

Sunday 1:00 pm & 6:30 pm

Week 3 December 20 through December 24

Tuesday-Thursday 7:30 pm

Friday 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm

Saturday 1:00 pm & 6:30 pm

Note: There are no performances on December 25

Week 4 December 26 through December 31

Monday, Thursday & Friday 7:30 pm

Tuesday & Wednesday 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm

Saturday 1:00 pm & 6:30 pm

Note: There are no performances on January 1

Week 5 January 3 through January 8

Tuesday-Friday 7:30 pm

Saturday 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm

Sunday 1:00 pm & 6:30 pm

Note: Great seats are still available on the evenings of December 24 and December 31.

For more information worldwide, visit, LionKing.com

The Baltimore engagement of Disney's THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with Broadway Across America and is a subscription offering of the Hippodrome Broadway Series.

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