The Lion King Triumphantly Returns to Pittsburgh

THE WAIT IS OVER!
 Disney’s THE LION KING
Triumphantly RETURNS TO Pittsburgh, PA in 2013

Broadway’s Award-Winning Best Musical to Play Exclusive
Four Week Engagement at the Benedum Center
as Part of PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh’s 2013-2014 season
September 3 through 29, 2013

Pittsburgh, PA (November 8, 2012):  By popular demand, Disney’s THE LION KING will return to Pittsburgh for an exclusive 4-week engagement at the Benedum Center.  Performances begin Tuesday, September 3, 2013 and play through Sunday, September 29, 2013.  Opening night is set for Friday, September 6, 2013 at 8:00 p.m.  Single tickets for THE LION KING will go on sale to the general public on Monday, May 6, 2013.  THE LION KING’s sold-out six-week Pittsburgh premiere engagement in 2004 at the Benedum Center was followed by a sold-out six-week return engagement in 2008.  Disney’s THE LION KING is part of the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series, presented by The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Broadway Across America and Pittsburgh Symphony.

TICKET INFORMATION

Disney’s THE LION KING will be the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh opening production of the 2013-2014 season. Current PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh season ticket holders can renew their season tickets in early 2013 and stay in their current seats or be first in line for upgrades. For subscription information, call (412) 456-1390 or visitwww.TrustArts.org/broadway.

Group tickets (15) or more are on sale now by calling (412) 471-6930; email at groupsales@trustarts.org orwww.trustarts.org/groupsales.

Single tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, May 6, 2013. For more information, call 412-456-4800 or visitwww.trustarts.org. The complete PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh 2013-2014 season will be announced in early 2013.

ABOUT THE LION KING

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, 20 productions around the globe have been seen by more than 65 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 fifth longest-running musical in Broadway history and only the second show in history to generate five productions running 10 or more years.  Translated into eight different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese), the show has been performed in 15 different countries on five continents.  Continuing to reign as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world, THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway and on tour in North America, in London’s West End and on tour in the UK, in Hamburg, Madrid, Tokyo and on tour in Japan.

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, making Taymor the first woman in theatrical history bestowed with the honor.  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, the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design and seven 2012 Spanish Musical Theatre Awards, including Best Musical.  

On stage, Taymor’s creative vision blends elements of African art and Broadway artisanship to depict anthropomorphic animal characters.  Taymor, along with designer Michael Curry, has created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING.  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.

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.”

Other members of the creative team include:  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.

The North American touring productions of THE LION KING have been seen by more than 14 million theatergoers and grossed over $928 million to date.  Having already played more than 70 cities across North America, THE LION KING now proudly makes its Pittsburgh return at the Benedum Center.

For more information worldwide, visit LionKing.com.    

Photo Credit:  Joan Marcus   Copyright: Disney

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh