FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 14, 2014
CASTING ANNOUNCED FOR DISNEY’S THE LION KING BROADWAY’S AWARD-WINNING BEST MUSICAL
MILWAUKEE’s LIMITED RETURN ENGAGEMENT PLAYS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11 TO SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7 AT THE MILWAUKEE THEATRE
MILWAUKEE, WI - Casting has been announced for the Milwaukee engagement of DISNEY’S THE LION KING. Milwaukee’s most eagerly awaited stage production ever will leap onto the Milwaukee Theatre stage from Tuesday, November 11 to Sunday, December 7. The press opening night is Thursday, November 13 at 7:30 pm. The show’s five-week premiere engagement in 2008 played a sold-out run at the Milwaukee Theatre.
The production features Patrick R. Brown as “Scar”, L. Steven Taylor as “Mufasa”, Tshidi Manye as “Rafiki”, Drew Hirshfield as “Zazu”, Ben Lipitz as “Pumbaa”, Nick Cordileone as “Timon”, Jelani Remy as “Simba”, Thembelihle Cele as “Nala”, Keith Bennett as “Banzai”, Rashada Dawan as “Shenzi” and Robbie Swift as “Ed.”
The role of “Young Simba” is alternated between Jordan A. Hall and Tré Jones and the role of “Young Nala” is alternated between Nya Cymone Carter and Tyrah Skye Odoms.
In Milwaukee, THE LION KING will play November 11 through December 7 with Tuesday- Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm, Friday-Saturday at 8:00 pm and Sunday at 6:30 pm. Saturday matinees are at 2:00 pm and Sunday matiness are at 1:00 pm. There will not be a performance on Thursday, November 27. There will be weekday matinee performances at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 28 and Thursday, December 4. Premium Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available. Tickets are available at the Marcus Center Box Office and Ticketmaster outlets, by calling Marcus Center Box Office at 414-273-7206, or via the Internet at MarcusCenter.org. Orders for groups of ten (10) or more may be placed by calling 414-273-7121 ext. 210 (Monday-Friday).
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 makes its Milwaukee return at the Milwaukee Theatre. The current schedule is listed below.
ABOUT THE LION KING In its 17th 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 70 million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering 106 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, Sao Paulo, Sydney, Australia and on tour across North America, the U.K., and Japan. The Australian production marks the tenth concurrent worldwide production of THE LION KING, the highest number of productions running at any one time in the show’s history. 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.”
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 Milwaukee engagement of DISNEY’S THE LION KING is presented by arrangement with Marcus Center for the Performing Arts and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee and is a subscription offering of the BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center series.
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE THROUGH APRIL 2015:
Columbus – Ohio Theatre October 14 – November 9, 2014
Milwaukee – Milwaukee Theatre November 11 – December 7, 2014
San Antonio – Majestic Theatre December 10, 2014 – January 5, 2015
Ft. Lauderdale – Broward Center for the Performing Arts January 7 – February 1, 2015
Memphis – The Orpheum Theatre February 3 – March 1, 2015
Louisville – Kentucky Center March 3 – 29, 2015
Cincinnati – Aronoff Center March 31 – April 26, 2015
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ABOUT THE MARCUS CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts is owned and partially funded by Milwaukee County. The Marcus Center has been the premier entertainment destination for Milwaukee and Wisconsin since 1969. It provides the setting for outstanding cultural experiences, where the arts come to life for current and future generations. Located in the heart of the Downtown Theater District, the Marcus Center is a community facility that offers live performance of opera, ballet, children's theater, symphony and first-class national touring productions. For more information on Broadway shows presented as part of BMO Harris Bank Broadway at the Marcus Center and Broadway Across America-Milwaukee, visit the Marcus Center website at www.MarcusCenter.org.
BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA is part of the Key Brand Entertainment family of companies which includes Broadway.com and is operated by John Gore (Owner & CEO). BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring musicals and plays in North America, operating in 40 markets. As a leading Broadway producer, BAA is dedicated to thedevelopment and production of new and diverse theatre. Current/upcoming productions include Beautiful, Million Dollar Quartet and Pippin. Past productions include Hairspray, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Memphis, Promises, Promises, The Producers, Betrayal and War Horse. Broadway.com is the premier theater website for news, exclusive content and ticket sales. For more information please visit BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com and Broadway.com.
Local Press Representative: Molly Sommerhalder Phone: 414-273-7121 ext. 399 Email: [email protected]