THE LION KING Opens Tonight In Rochester NY

The Rochester return of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Thursday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Auditorium Theatre for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, April 17. In Rochester, THE LION KING plays Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 1pm and 6:30pm (April 17 has only one matinee performance). There will also be a 1:00pm matinee on Thursday, April 14.

"We are thrilled to have THE LION KING back in Rochester, the home of Tony® Award-Winning Choreographer Garth Fagan", said RBTL Presenter Albert Nocciolino. "Sales have been terrific but there are still great seat available through April 17th." The show's six-week premiere engagement in 2006 played a sold-out run at Auditorium Theatre.

Tickets to THE LION KING are available at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office and Ticketmaster, by calling (800)745-3000, Monday-Friday: 10am-5pm Saturday: 10am-2pm, or via the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices for the engagement start as low as $22.50. 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.
On stage, Director Julie Taymor's creative vision blends elements of African art and Broadway artisanship to depict anthropomorphic animal characters. The sardonic and deviously cunning "Scar" is played by J. Anthony Crane. Dionne Randolph is "Mufasa," the great warrior and ruler of the Pridelands. Brenda Mhlongo is the wise baboon shaman "Rafiki." Tony Freeman 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 Adam Jacobs 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 Dusan Brown and Jerome Stephens, Jr. and the role of "Young Nala" is alternated between Monique Lee and Madai Monica Williams.

The North American touring production of THE LION KING has been seen by over 13.2 million theatergoers and grossed over $867 million to date. Having already played more than 60 cities across North America, THE LION KING now proudly returns to Rochester at the Auditorium Theatre. The current schedule is listed below. Visit LionKingonTour.com.

ABOUT THE LION KING

As it begins its 14th 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 1997 Broadway premiere, 18 global productions have been seen by more than 55 million people, grossed over $4.3 billion to date and have cumulatively run 83 years. 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 five 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 (its flagship production), on stages across North America, and in Las Vegas, London's West End, Hamburg, Tokyo and Singapore. In October 2011, the first Spanish production will bow in 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, 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."
For more information worldwide, visit, LionKing.com

The Rochester engagement of Disney's THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with the Rochester Broadway Theatre League and is a subscription offering of the 2010-2011 M&T Bank Broadway Season.

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2011:
Rochester - Auditorium Theatre

March 22 - April 17, 2011

Toronto - Princess of Wales Theatre

April 19 - June 12, 2011

Dayton - Schuster Center

June 14 - July 10, 2011

Ottawa - National Arts Center

July 14-August 7, 2011

Montreal - Place des Arts

August 9 - September 4, 2011