The Lion King proudly makes its eagerly awaited Fort Lauderdale return as it leaps onto the Broward Center for the Performing Art’s Au Rene stage from Wednesday, January 7th to Sunday, February 1st, 2015. Currently in its 18th 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, twenty-two global productions have been seen by more than seventy-five million people and, cumulatively, run a staggering one hundred twelve years.
The Lion King is the recipient of 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 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. For more information worldwide, visit www.LionKing.com.
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, And 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 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”, 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 A. Hall and Tré Jones and the role of “Young Nala” is alternated between Nya Cymone Carter and Tyrah Skye Odoms.
In Fort Lauderdale The Lion King will play Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00p.m., and Sunday evenings at 6:30p.m. Saturday matinees at 2:00p.m., Thursday January 8, Wednesday, January 28 and Sunday matinees at 1:00p.m. Tickets are available at the Box Office at Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33312, visit www.browardcenter.org or call 1-800-745-3000. Ticket prices for the engagement start as low as $36.75. Premium Ticket Packages, which include prime seat locations, a commemorative souvenir program and an exclusive merchandise item, are also available. Orders for groups of ten (10) or more may be placed by calling 954-660-6307.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is one of America’s premier performing arts venues, consistently ranked among the top ten in the country. Presenting more than 700 performances each year to more than 700,000 patrons, the Center showcases a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events, and offers one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, serving more than 150,000 students annually. In 2007, the Broward Center was named the Cultural Embassy of Broward County in recognition of its success in linking cultural activity with the region’s economic development. The Broward Performing Arts Foundation, Inc. receives and maintains funds to sustain, develop, and secure the future of the Broward Center. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located in the Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit www.BrowardCenter.org.
The Fort Lauderdale engagement of The Lion King is presented by arrangement with Broadway Across America, Broward Center for the Performing Arts and Florida Theatrical Association and is a subscription offering of the Broadway in Fort Lauderdale 201-2015 Series. 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 the development and production of new and diverse theatre. Broadway.com is the premier theater website for news, exclusive content and ticket sales. For more information please visit BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com and Broadway.com.
