Broadway's award-winning Best Musical Disney’s THE LION KING is finally coming to Philadelphia for a multiple-week limited engagement at the historic Academy of Music during the 2005/2006 season! THE LION KING will begin performances in Philadelphia on Friday, June 9, 2006.

Citizens Bank Broadway at the Academy subscribers are guaranteed access to great seats and will be able to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the general public. Tickets are not on sale now. The on-sale date will be announced at a later date.

Giraffes strut, birds swoop, gazelles leap—the entire savannah comes to life in a production Time magazine calls "awe-inspiring! A gorgeous, gasp-inducing spectacle!"

Now in its seventh sold-out year in New York at the New Amsterdam Theatre, Disney’s THE LION KING is the winner of six Tony® Awards, including Best Musical, eight Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, the New York Drama Critics Award for Best Musical, the Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year, two Olivier Awards, a Theatre World Award, the Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography, two Drama League Awards and a Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Futhi Mhlongo as "Rafiki" in the opening number "The Circle of Life" from THE LION KING National Tour. (C) 2003, Disney. Photo: Joan Marcus

Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in Broadway history to win the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical. Taymor, along with Michael Curry, created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING. Choreography is by Garth Fagan, scenic design is by Richard Hudson, costume design is by Julie Taymor and lighting design is by Donald Holder.

The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated film, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay for THE LION KING. The score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s music from the animated film (including the Oscar® winning "Can You Feel the Love Tonight") 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.