David Kaplan News

Translating an animated feature to the musical stage is a daunting challenge. Really, any film, even with actors who are drawn onto cells, usually makes a rocky transition. That's what makes THE LION KING so disarming and dazzling in its conception and execution. The techniques and ideas pioneered here in the Tony Award-winning show have since been used elsewhere, but they still manage to excite and enthrall an audience, and that's a credit to all the skilled technicians and actors who make these characters come to life. The current production playing the Fox is a magical ride that must be taken, and it's easily an "E" ticket (if you remember those days at the Disney fun parks).

During the last decade there has been a dramatic reassessment of Williams by scholars, critics and artists with new attitudes toward art, women, and sexual identity. In celebration of his centennial last year, groundbreaking productions of Williams' plays around the world, including the later work, accelerated the momentum of a new appreciation of this great playwright. Since its inception in 2006, the Tennessee Williams Theater Festival has been in the forefront of this movement to reassess Williams' stature. The Festival has presented nine world premieres of plays by Tennessee Williams. Now in its seventh year, the Festival is expanding its efforts to enrich the experience of Williams' work onstage through two initiatives: the TW Institute and Williams 101.

The St. Louis return of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Thursday, August 16 at 8pm at the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a limited engagement of three weeks through Sunday, September 2.

Mitch Douglas, Tennessee Williams' last literary agent at ICM, will join the Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival in an informal conversation with Festival Curator David Kaplan over Coffee during the four-day festival taking place September 20-23, 2012.

Having increased primetime ratings year-to-date by 33% percent, VH1 is keeping the momentum going with new original programs that reflect the interests of its 'adultster' audience - adults who are 'balancing new responsibilities with their desires to stay current with what's happening in music and pop culture.'

THE LION KING definitely roared into Houston.

The Houston return of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Thursday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hobby Center for a limited engagement of five weeks through Sunday, August 12. THE LION KING's sold-out eight-week Houston premiere engagement in 2002 at Jones Hall was followed by a sold-out six-week return engagement in 2006 at the Hobby Center.

Casting has been announced for the St. Louis engagement of Disney's THE LION KING. St. Louis's most eagerly awaited stage production ever will leap onto the Fox Theatre stage from Wednesday, August 15 to Sunday September 2. The press opening night is Thursday, August 16 at 8:00pm.

The Greenville premiere of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight, Thursday, June 14 at 7:30pm at the Peace Center for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, July 8. In Greenville, THE LION KING plays Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30pm, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm, Sunday evenings at 6:30pm, Saturday matinees at 2:00pm and Sunday matinees at 1:00pm. There will be a 7:30pm performance on Monday, July 2 and a 2:00pm matinee performance on Thursday, July 5. There will not be a performance on Wednesday, July 4.

Casting has been announced for the Houston engagement of Disney's THE LION KING. Houston's most eagerly awaited stage production ever will leap onto the Hobby Center stage from Tuesday, July 10 to Sunday, August 12. THE LION KING's sold-out eight-week Houston premiere engagement in 2002 at Jones Hall was followed by a sold-out six-week return engagement in 2006 at the Hobby Center.

The 7th Provincetown Tennessee Williams Festival announced that this year's program of "Tennessee Williams and Music" will present the pleasures of music in the drama of America's great playwright. The seaside village of Provincetown will be alive with the sounds of blues, Mariachi, Dixieland, American Pop, Art Song and African drums. Theater artists from around the globe will converge on this art colony where Williams worked over several summers in the 1940s, performing his classics, his little known works and new works that he has inspired.

In its 15th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant, recently becoming the highest-grossing Broadway show in history. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 19 productions around the globe have been seen by more than 64 million people, grossed over $4.8 billion and, cumulatively, run a staggering 91 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is the sixth longest running musical in Broadway history and only the second show to produce five productions running 10 or more years.

The Provincetown Tennessee Williams Theater Festival will announce the program for this year's theme, Tennessee Williams and Music, at its first gala fundraising dinner tonight, June 2, 2012. Guests will be treated to a sneak preview of one of this year's productions, "Autumn Song," an exclusive auction and art exhibition of white-line woodcuts by Bill Evaul, and a special appearance by entertainer Zoe Lewis.

On Sunday, May 27, Miami Heat basketball player Dwyane Wade and actress Gabrielle Union attended a performance of Disney's The Lion King at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. See a photo of the pair with Sydnee Winters (Nala) and Jelani Remi (Simba) below!

In its 15th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant, recently becoming the highest-grossing Broadway show in history. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 19 productions around the globe have been seen by more than 64 million people, grossed over $4.8 billion and, cumulatively, run a staggering 91 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is the sixth longest running musical in Broadway history and only the second show to produce five productions running 10 or more years.

The Miami premiere of Disney's THE LION KING opens tonight at 8 p.m. at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, June 10. THE LION KING plays Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Matinee performances are Saturdays at 2 p.m., Sundays at 1 p.m. with an additional performance on Friday, June 8 at 2 p.m.

In its 15th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant, recently becoming the highest-grossing Broadway show in history. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 19 productions around the globe have been seen by more than 64 million people, grossed over $4.8 billion and, cumulatively, run a staggering 91 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is the sixth longest running musical in Broadway history and only the second show to produce five productions running 10 or more years.

ACME, the American Contemporary Music Ensemble, has announced its June 2012 album release and continues the third of its New York concerts tonight at 8 pm, May 14. ACME performs Timothy Andres' I Found it by the Sea as part of the 2012 Look & Listen Festival, held at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery (144 W. 14th St., 2nd Floor, NYC).

ACME, the American Contemporary Music Ensemble, announces three New York concerts in May and an album release in June 2012. At 8 pm both tonight, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 the group will take the stage at The Kitchen (512 W. 19th St., NYC) for two performances of the music of William Brittelle and Mick Barr. At 8 pm on Monday, May 14, ACME performs Timothy Andres' I Found it by the Sea as part of the 2012 Look & Listen Festival, held at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery (144 W. 14th St., 2nd Floor, NYC).