THE LION KING Celebrates Milestone 5,000 Performances

Disney's landmark musical event THE LION KING celebrates 5000 Broadway performances on Thursday, November 5 at the Minskoff Theatre. Only eight other musicals have reached this milestone, including Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. THE LION KING is the ninth longest-running musical in Broadway history and the first American musical to welcome 50 million guests worldwide. Now entering its 13th smash year, THE LION KING officially opened on November 13, 1997 (previews began October 13 at the New Amsterdam Theatre) and has consistently been among Broadway's top five grossing shows.  The show transferred to its current home at the Minskoff Theatre on June 13, 2006.

On Broadway to date, THE LION KING has played to more than 8.5 million people, grossed $718 million, employed 223 adult actors (including 20 South African performers) and 66 children as young lions. Globally, THE LION KING has grossed $3.8 billion with 17 productions (a new production will bow in Singapore in September 2010 - a first for Disney Theatrical Productions). The London company recently celebrated its 10th anniversary making THE LION KING one of only five musicals in theatre history to play for ten years or more on both Broadway and the West End.

Based on the 1994 Disney animated film, THE LION KING continues to reign as one of the most popular shows on Broadway and around the world. The global phenomenon is the winner of more than 70 major awards worldwide, including the 1998 Tony Award and NY Drama Critics Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. The show has been seen by over 50 million people in 13 different countries (US, Canada, UK, Japan, Germany, Holland, France, Mexico, Australia, China, Taiwan, South Africa and Korea) and translated into five different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch).  In addition to Broadway and a North American tour, THE LION KING can also be seen on stage in London, Hamburg, Paris, Tokyo and Las Vegas.

THE LION KING made history in September 2009 when two of its signature costumes were inducted into the permanent collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

THE LION KING to Open in Singapore

Disney Theatrical Group and Marina Bay Sands, together with BASE Entertainment, are proud to announce that the award-winning Broadway musical THE LION KING will come to the Marina Bay Sands Theatre in September 2010. This extended engagement will join the seven other highly successful companies of THE LION KING around the world in New York, London, Hamburg, Paris, Tokyo, Las Vegas and a US National Tour.

This Southeast Asian premiere in Singapore will be a duplicate of the other shows performing around the globe with the same Broadway quality standards, spectacular music, dance, sets and costumes that have made it a worldwide phenomenon. The production will feature a new company of performers auditioned around the world. Ticket prices, on-sale dates and performance schedules will be announced in 2010.

"We're gigantically proud to bring THE LION KING to the audiences of Singapore," said Thomas Schumacher, producer and president of Disney Theatrical Productions. "BASE Entertainment and Marina Bay Sands are making an extraordinary commitment to bringing Julie Taymor's glorious production to life in the very best way possible. When we decided to bring THE LION KING to Singapore we knew that this was the right show at the right venue at the right time."

Marina Bay Sands President and CEO Thomas Arasi said, "Marina Bay Sands will be the destination with a world-class production like THE LION KING. This is the first time this acclaimed musical has come to Southeast Asia and this just adds to the line-up of attractions at Marina Bay Sands including the Sands SkyPark, the best celebrity chef restaurants and Asia's most fashionable shopping."

Scott Zeiger, co-CEO of BASE Entertainment, said, "We are thrilled to open the state-of-the-art theater at Marina Bay Sands with Disney Theatrical Group's The Lion King, one of the most spectacular Broadway shows in history. The show has a tremendous reputation throughout the entertainment industry and we anticipate a strong demand for The Lion King in Singapore from locals and visitors alike."

Marina Bay Sands will feature two theatres with a total of 4,000 seats, large and flexible convention and exhibition facilities, a luxury hotel, the breathtaking rooftop Sands SkyPark, a museum, Las Vegas-style gaming, the Paiza Club for premium players and Celebrity Chef restaurants and cuisines that allow visitors to eat around the world in one destination.

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