FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, June 6, 2016
Disney’s THE LION KING North American Tour Celebrates Second Sold-Out Engagement in Madison at Overture Center for the Arts
MADISON, WI (Monday, June 6, 2016) – Disney's THE LION KING continues to reign across North America with a sold-out engagement in Madison, which concluded on Sunday, June 5 at The Overture Center for the Arts. The triumphant four-week return grossed over $5 million at the box office and entertained nearly 70,000 patrons during 32 performances. The award-winning musical’s four-week premiere engagement in 2010 played a sold-out run at The Overture Center.
It is estimated that the Madison engagement of THE LION KING generated a $16 million economic benefit to the city from travel, hotels, restaurants, parking and other businesses patronized by both theatergoers and production staff. This figure is based upon a Touring Broadway League report which found that, on average, Broadway tours contribute an economic impact 3.27 times the gross ticket sales to the local metropolitan area’s economy.
“In collaboration with our partners at Broadway Across America and Disney Theatrical Productions, Overture’s marketing department deployed a multi-platform marketing campaign that included traditional marketing as well as an intensive social media campaign,” said Ted DeDee, Overture Center President and CEO. “The results are phenomenal! In addition to reaching a significant number of Wisconsin counties, records indicate tickets were also sold to residents in 32 other states.”
“We were delighted to return to Madison and to once again share the experience of this groundbreaking production with so many first-time and regular theatergoers,” said Jack Eldon, Vice President, Domestic, Disney Theatrical Productions. “We are overwhelmed by the enduring response to the show and thank the Madison community and our partners at The Overture Center and Broadway Across America for another sensational sold out engagement.”
The North American touring productions of THE LION KING have been seen by more than 17 million theatergoers and grossed over $1.2 billion to date. After 14 years on the road, THE LION KING continues to play to standing room only houses throughout North America. The current tour route is listed below.
ABOUT THE LION KING In its 19th year, THE LION KING continues 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 85 million people. 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 eight different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French,
Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese), productions of THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway; London’s West End; Hamburg; Tokyo; Madrid; Mexico City; and on tour across North America and Japan, for a total of eight productions running concurrently across the globe. Having played over 100 cities in 20 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.”
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.
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE THROUGH JULY 2017:
Dayton – Schuster Performing Arts Center June 7 – July 3, 2016
Minneapolis – Orpheum Theatre July 5 – August 7, 2016)
Portland – Keller Auditorium August 10 – September 4, 2016
San Diego – San Diego Civic Theatre September 7 – October 2, 2016
Albuquerque – Popejoy Hall October 4 – 30, 2016
San Francisco – The Orpheum Theatre November 2 – December 31, 2016
New Orleans – The Saenger Theatre January 4 – 29, 2017
Detroit – The Detroit Opera House February 1 – 26, 2017
Providence – Providence Performing Arts Center February 28 – March 19, 2017
Salt Lake City – The Eccles Theater March 23 – April 16, 2017
St. Louis – The Fox Theatre April 19 – May 7, 2017
Oklahoma City – Civic Center Music Hall May 9 – 28, 2017
Greenville – The Peace Center for the Performing Arts May 31 – June 25, 2017
Houston – The Hobby Center June 27 – July 23, 2017
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About Overture Center for the Arts Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin features seven state-of-the-art performance spaces and five galleries where national and international touring artists, ten resident companies, and hundreds of local artists engage nearly half a million people in educational and artistic experiences each year. OvertureCenter.org
Local Press Representatives: Lex Poppens, 608.258.4147, [email protected] Sarah Knab, 608.258.4438, [email protected]