June 5, 2013 Local Press Contact: Stephanie Keefer For Immediate Release [email protected] / 216-640-8654
CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR Disney’s THE LION KING BROADWAY’S AWARD-WINNING BEST MUSICAL
CLEVELAND’s LIMITED RETURN ENGAGEMENT PLAYS TUESDAY, JULY 9 TO SUNDAY, AUGUST 4 AT PLAYHOUSESQUARE
Cleveland, OH - Casting has been announced for the Cleveland return engagement of DISNEY’S THE LION KING. Cleveland’s most eagerly awaited stage production ever will leap onto the State Theatre stage from Tuesday, July 9 to Sunday, August 4. The press opening night is Thursday, July 11 at 7:30 PM. The award-winning musical returns to Cleveland following an eight- week sold-out premiere engagement in 2003, and a successful six-week engagement in 2007 at the State Theatre.
The production features Patrick R. Brown as “Scar”, L. Steven Taylor as “Mufasa”, Tshidi Manye as “Rafiki”, Andrew Gorell, a graduate of Case Western University’s MFA program, as “Zazu”, Ben Lipitz as “Pumbaa”, Nick Cordileone as “Timon”, Jelani Remy as “Simba”, Nia Holloway as “Nala”, Keith Bennett as “Banzai”, Rashada Dawan as “Shenzi” and Robbie Swift as “Ed.”
The role of “Young Simba” is alternated between Jordan Hall and Nathaniel McIntyre and the role of “Young Nala” is alternated between Nya Carter and Zyasia Page.
The production will also feature a Cleveland native, Paul B. Sadler, Jr. (Ensemble).
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. Tickets are currently 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.
The North American touring productions of THE LION KING have been seen by more than 15 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 In its 16th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant; it is the highest-grossing show in New York history and one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, 21 global productions have been seen by more than 70 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), productions of 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, Madrid and Sao Paolo. To date, THE LION KING has played 98 cities in 16 countries on every continent except Antarctica.
Among the most successful titles in entertainment history, with a cumulative gross in excess of $5 billion, the stage production of THE LION KING 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 two highest-grossing films in movie history, combined.
The award-winning musical will celebrate a new milestone in December 2013 when it returns to Australia, making it the tenth concurrent worldwide production of THE LION KING, the highest number of productions running at any one time in the show’s 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 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 DISNEY’S THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with PlayhouseSquare and is part of the U.S. Bank Star Performance Series.
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE THROUGH AUGUST 2014:
Tulsa – Tulsa Performing Arts Center June 4 – July 7, 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
Tempe – ASU Gammage Auditorium October 22 – November 17, 2013
Los Angeles – Pantages Theatre November 20, 2013 – January 12, 2014
Honolulu – Blaisdell Concert Hall January 14 – March 9, 2014 Seattle – Paramount Theatre March 11 – April 6, 2014
Atlanta – The Fox Theatre April 10 – 27, 2014
Toronto – Princess of Wales Theatre April 30 – June 15, 2014
Washington, D.C. – Kennedy Center Opera House June 17 – August 17, 2014
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PlayhouseSquare is a not-for-profit performing arts center whose mission is presenting and producing a wide variety of quality performing arts, advancing arts education and creating a destination that is a superior location for entertainment, business and residential living, thereby strengthening the economic vitality of the region.