The Philadelphia Premiere of Disney’s The Lion King is Confirmed for 2006!
Kimmel Center Presents Broadway at the Academy Brings Blockbuster Musical to The Academy of Music
March 2, 2004
The Kimmel Center announced today that the Broadway blockbuster has been confirmed for a multiple-week limited engagement at the historic Academy of Music as part of the Kimmel Center Presents Broadway at the Academy theater series. 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.
"THE LION KING and the Academy of Music is the perfect double bill. We extend our sincerest thanks to the dedicated team at Disney Theatrical Productions for helping bring this exciting production to Philadelphia," said Kimmel Center, Inc. Director of Theatrical Presentations Jordan Fiksenbaum. "The exquisite and beloved Academy of Music underwent extensive renovations in order to accommodate the best and biggest Broadway shows and THE LION KING is the crème de la crème. We’re thrilled that Philadelphia audiences will be able to see this spectacular Disney production in their equally spectacular hometown theater."
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.
"We love the fact that our Citizens Bank Broadway at the Academy series is allowing a new generation of Philadelphia audiences to discover the performing arts in a theater as magnificent and tradition-laden as the 150-year-old Academy of Music," said Kimmel Center President and CEO Janice Price. "But equally exciting is what the theater series means for the Kimmel Center and the Academy of Music. Blockbuster productions like Disney’s THE LION KING are vital to the bottom line and long-term financial health of a non-profit like Kimmel Center, Inc. Successful Broadway presentations are a critical element of our business model that will help ensure that future generations of Philadelphians will still be bringing their families to the Academy 150 years from now."
Philadelphia’s most eagerly awaited stage production ever will arrive after lengthy negotiations and months of long-term planning. Presenting the production at the Academy of Music has also required the cooperation of the Pennsylvania Ballet.
"I echo Jordan’s thanks to Disney for choosing Kimmel Center, Inc. and the Academy of Music for THE LION KING’s Philadelphia debut," said Price. "We are also grateful to the Pennsylvania Ballet for graciously agreeing to be flexible with their performance schedule in order to accommodate THE LION KING’s multi-week run," said Price.
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!" 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 f'or 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.
Kimmel Center Presents Citizens Bank Broadway at the Academy debuted in the spring of 2003, following a $40 million renovation of the Academy of Music. The 2003-2004 season concludes this month with a four-week run of Les Misérables. The 2004-2005 season of Kimmel Center Presents programming, including Citizens Bank Broadway at the Academy and the premiere of Disney’s On The Record, was also announced today. (Please see separate press releases.) THE LION KING will be part of the 2005/2006 Season. Subscriptions for the 2004-2005 season go on sale March 2 and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1955.
Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music serve as home to eight Resident Company performing arts organizations, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, American Theater Arts for Youth, Philadanco, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops®. Kimmel Center, Inc.’s mission also includes arts in education, community outreach and a rich diversity of programming through its Kimmel Center Presents and Citizens Bank Broadway at the Academy series of performances.
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