Disney’s THE LION KING in LV Welcomes Walter V. Long Elementary

Disney's THE LION KING at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino welcomed energetic students and teachers from Walter V. Long Elementary to its matinee performance yesterday. In honor of THE LION KING's 1,000th performance, fifth grader Daniel Hernandez earned his school 1,000 tickets to the show when he submitted the winning essay to the Clark County School District's contest "Why My School Should Go to THE LION KING."

The students arrived to the beautiful Mandalay Bay Theatre wide-eyed and anxious for the show to begin. For many of the children, this was their first experience seeing a live musical production, and the teachers could not be more thrilled for the students to have this rare opportunity to see THE LION KING before ending its run at Mandalay Bay Dec. 30.

After the show, the students were patiently waiting in their seats for their teachers' instruction when cast members Cornelius Jones Jr. ("Simba"), Samantha Ware ("Nala"), Zaire Adams ("Young Simba") and Nia Harris ("Young Nala") surprised the kids by coming out from backstage into the audience. The students went wild with cheers as Jones and Ware waved and gave hugs to several children. Hernandez, donning a LION KING T-shirt and LION KING temporary tattoo, came down from his seat to meet the cast members. When Ware asked Hernandez how he enjoyed the show, he replied, "It was great!" Hernandez's teacher Danielle Rayos added, "He was transfixed the entire performance."

As the giddy students exited the theater, they were handed souvenir LION KING caps. The children excitingly sported the caps as they made their way to their school buses. The 1,000 students and teachers from Walter V. Long Elementary are seeing THE LION KING over two matinee performances, and the remaining children will see the show Saturday, Nov. 19. THE LION KING celebrated its 1,000th performance on Thursday, Nov. 3.

THE LION KING is thanking its Las Vegas supporters for an incredible two and a half years on The Strip with a special 2-for-1 ticket offer. This extraordinary offer affords Nevada residents the chance to enjoy the world's No. 1 musical at Mandalay Bay Theatre at an unbeatable price through Dec. 18. To purchase tickets, call 702-632-7580 or visit the Mandalay Bay Box Office and mention the code "PRIDE" with valid Nevada ID. Blackout dates are Nov. 23 - 27.

Photo Credit: Bryan Haraway