The Lion King will Begin 8-Week LA Run in November

The long-awaited return engagement of Disney's The Lion King will begin in LA on November 16 for a limited eight-week engagement at the Pantages Theatre, where The Lion King previously had a record-breaking two and a half year run.  The opening night is set for Saturday, November 18.  Tickets are now on sale.

The production coming to Los Angeles is currently one of eight productions running worldwide along with New York, a second United States National Tour, London, Hamburg, Tokyo, Scheveningen, and Melbourne.  A limited special engagement is scheduled to open this July in Shanghai.

Now in its ninth sold-out year in New York, the musical is the winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, eight Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, the New York Drama Critics award for Best Musical, the Evening Standard Award for the Theatrical Event of the Year, two Olivier Awards, a Theatre World Award, the Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography, two Drama League Awards and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in Broadway history to win the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical.  Taymor, along with Michael Curry, created hundreds of masks and puppets for The Lion King.  Choreography is by Garth Fagan, scenic design is by Richard Hudson, costume design is by Julie Taymor and lighting design is by Donald Holder. The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated film and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay for The Lion King.  The score features Elton John and Tim Rice's music from the 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.

The show will play Tuesday through Friday evenings at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 pm and 8 pm and Sundays at 1 pm and 6:30 pm.  No performance on Thur. 11/23 (Thanksgiving).  Special 2 pm matinees added Wed. 11/22, Fri. 11/24, Wed. 12/6 (Actors' Fund Performance), Thur. 12/21, and Thur. 12/28. Ticket prices range from $12.50 to $87; VIP Ticket Packages are also available which feature prime seating, priority reserved parking, and a souvenir program from The Lion King.

Tickets are available at the Pantages Theatre Box Office, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028, and through Ticketmaster - online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at Ticketmaster at 213-365-3500, and all Ticketmaster outlets.

Orders for groups of fifteen (15) or more may be placed by calling 866-755-3075.

The Los Angeles engagement of The Lion King is a subscription offering of the Broadway L.A. Series.

Photos by Joan Marcus