Public onsale announced for THE LION KING at PlayhouseSquare!

Cleveland, OH, Friday, March 1, 2013 - Disney Theatrical Productions and PlayhouseSquare 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, March 15, at 11 am. Cleveland’s most eagerly awaited return will once again leap onto the State Theatre stage on Tuesday, July 9, for a limited engagement of four weeks through Sunday, August 4. The opening night is Thursday, July 11 at 7:30 pm. The award-winning musical returns to Cleveland following an eight-week premiere engagement in 2003, and a successful six-week engagement in 2007 at the State Theatre.

In Cleveland THE LION KING will play Tuesday through Friday evenings at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 1:30 pm and 7:30 pm, and Sundays at 1 pm and 6:30 pm. There will also be a 1:30 pm matinee on Thursday, August 1. Premium Ticket Packages, which include a prime seat location, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available. Beginning Friday, March 15, tickets will be available at the PlayhouseSquare Ticket Office, by calling 216-241-6000 or online at PlayhouseSquare.org. Orders for groups of twenty (20) or more may be placed by calling 216-640-8600.

Ticket buyers are reminded that PlayhouseSquare is the only official retail ticket outlet for all performances on our stages. Tickets purchased from other ticket retailers such as secondary ticket agencies or brokers may be more expensive and may not be valid.

The North American touring productions of THE LION KING have been seen by more than 14 million theatergoers and grossed over $983 million to date. Having already played more than 70 cities across North America, THE LION KING now proudly makes its Cleveland return at PlayhouseSquare. The current schedule is listed below.

ABOUT THE LION KING
Among the most successful titles in entertainment history, with a cumulative gross in excess of $5 billion, the title has already earned more than the biggest hit films in movie history: more than the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy combined, more than the six STAR WARS films combined, and more than AVATAR and TITANIC, the #1 and #2 highest-grossing films in movie history, combined.

With eight productions currently playing around the world, it will make its South American and Portuguese language debut when it begins performances in Sao Paolo, Brazil in February 2013. With that production, THE LION KING’s 21 productions will have played in 98 cities in 16 countries on every continent except Antarctica.

As it enters its 16th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant, and one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 20 global productions have been seen by more than 66 million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering 96 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, Mandarin, Spanish and Portuguese), THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway and on tour across North America, in Tokyo and on tour in Japan, in London’s West End and on tour throughout the UK, and in Hamburg and Madrid.

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 in Las Vegas, Madrid and the UK tour and just completed casting the Brazilian production in Sao Paolo.

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.”

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. Other members of the creative team include: Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, 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.

For more information worldwide, visit LionKing.com.

The Cleveland engagement of THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with PlayhouseSquare and is part of the U.S. Bank Star Performance Series. To purchase tickets to the event and learn more about the show visit PlayhouseSquare.org.

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE THROUGH OCTOBER 2013:

Detroit – Opera House
February 13 - March 10, 2013

Omaha – Orpheum Theater
March 12 - April 7, 2013

Appleton – Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
April 9 - May 5, 2013

Nashville – Tennessee Performing Arts Center
May 7 - June 2, 2013

Tulsa – Tulsa Performing Arts Center
June 4 - June 30, 2013

Cleveland – State Theatre
July 9 – August, 4, 2013

Charlotte – Belk Theater
August 6 – September 1, 2013

Pittsburgh – Benedum Center
September 3 – 29, 2013

Dallas – Music Hall at Fair Park
October 2 – 20, 2013