Tickets to Disney's THE LION KING at the Academy of Music on Sale Tomorrow

Theatrical Productions and Broadway Philadelphia announced today that tickets for the long-awaited return engagement of Disney's THE LION KING will go on sale to the public on Friday, February 6 at 10:00 a.m. Philadelphia's most eagerly awaited return will once again leap onto the Academy of Music stage on May 20 for a limited engagement of four weeks through June 14.The press opening night is Thursday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. Broadway Philadelphia is presented collaboratively by the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Shubert Organization.

In Philadelphia, THE LION KING will play Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m., matinees Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and Sundays at 1:00 p.m. Additional weekday matinees are scheduled for Thursday, May 21 and Thursday, June 11, both at 2:00 p.m. Premium Ticket Packages, which include a prime seat location, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available. Beginning Friday, February 6, tickets ranging in price from $28.50 to $159.50 will be available at the Kimmel Center Box Office, Broad & Spruce Sts. (open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Sts. (open during performances only), online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway, or by calling 215-731-3333. Orders for groups of twenty (20) or more may be placed by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947.

Ticket buyers are reminded that the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music are the only official retail ticket outlets for all performances at the Academy of Music. Ticket buyers who purchase tickets from a ticket broker or any third party should be aware that the Kimmel Center/Academy of Music is unable to reprint or replace lost or stolen tickets and is unable to contact patrons with information regarding time changes or other pertinent updates regarding the performance.

The North American touring productions of THE LION KING have been seen by more than 15 million theatergoers and grossed over $1 billion to date. Having already played more than 70 cities across North America, THE LION KING now proudly returns to Philadelphia at the Academy of Music.

In its 18th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 22 global productions have been seen by more than 75 million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering 112 years. 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 seven different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese), productions of THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway, London's West End, Hamburg, Tokyo, Madrid, Sydney, Australia and on tour across North America, the U.K., and Japan. Having played 19 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."