THE LION KING Generates Millions for Local Economy After Dayton Run

Disney's The Lion King concluded its second triumphant engagement in Dayton on Sunday, July 3 at the Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center. The four-week return grossed over $5 million at the box office and entertained nearly 68,000 patrons during 32 performances. The award-winning musical's four-week premiere engagement in 2011 played a record-breaking run at The Schuster Center.

It is estimated that the Dayton engagement of The Lion King generated an economic benefit of more than $17 million to the city from travel, hotels, restaurants, parking and other businesses patronized by both theatergoers and production staff. This figure is based upon a Touring Broadway League report which found that, on average, Broadway tours contribute an economic impact 3.4 times the gross ticket sales to the local metropolitan area's economy.

"On behalf of all of us at Victoria Theater Association, I would like to thank our patrons for embracing this production of Disney's The Lion King in such overwhelming numbers," stated Ken Neufeld, President & CEO of Victoria Theatre Association. "The engagement was a perfect showcase for the beautiful Benjamin & Marian Schuster Performing Arts Center's Mead Theatre and this wonderful production. Our sincere thanks to the wonderful LION KING company and crew that shared their talents with our Miami Valley audience."

"We were thrilled to return to Dayton and to once again share the experience of this groundbreaking production with so many first-time and regular theatergoers," said Jack Eldon, Vice President, Domestic, Disney Theatrical Productions. "We are overwhelmed by the enduring response to the show and thank the Dayton community and our partners at The Victoria Theatre Association for another sensational engagement."

The North American touring productions of The Lion King have been seen by more than 17 million theatergoers and grossed over $1.2 billion to date. After 14 years on the road, The Lion King continues to play to standing room only houses throughout North America. The current tour route is listed below.

In its 19th year, The Lion King continues ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 23 global productions have been seen by more than 85 million people. 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 eight different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese), productions of The Lion King can currently be seen on Broadway; London's West End; Hamburg; Tokyo; Madrid; Mexico City; Shanghai and on tour across North America and Japan, for a total of nine productions running concurrently across the globe. Having played over 100 cities in 20 countries on every continent except Antarctica, The Lion King's worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.

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 around the world.

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.

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