Disney's THE LION KING set new box office records during its two Canadian engagements in Calgary and Edmonton during the past two months, grossing a combined total of $13 million and entertaining more than 154,000 people. Making a major economic impact in the Province of Alberta, it is estimated that theatergoers spent a combined total of $36 million in Calgary and Edmonton during both engagements of THE LION KING.
In Calgary, the four-week engagement of THE LION KING at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium which concluded on Sunday, August 30, entertained more than 74,000 people, with a production described by Stephen Hunt from the Calgary Herald as, "...show-stopping" and "...stellar" and by Louis Hobson from the Calgary Sun as, "live theatre at its most creative and inventive." In Edmonton, the five-week engagement of THE LION KING at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium which played from July 2 through August 2, entertained more than 80,000 people with a production described by Francois Marchand from the Edmonton Journal as, "hugely entertaining, incredibly beautiful and technically brilliant."
"With total box office sales exceeding $6.2 million in Calgary and $6.9 million in Edmonton, THE LION KING is the highest grossing theatrical production that Broadway Across Canada has presented in the Province of Alberta," said Ronald Andrew, president of Broadway Across Canada. "Albertans have been asking for years for THE LION KING and we are thrilled to have finally made Broadway's Award-Winning Best Musical accessible to so many local families and theatre lovers."
"We are so proud to have shared the spectacular experience of this groundbreaking production with audiences in Canada and to have entertained so many first-time and regular theatergoers in Calgary and Edmonton," said Jack Eldon, Vice President, Domestic Touring, Disney Theatrical Productions. "It is truly wonderful that people in communities all across North America continue to embrace THE LION KING."
THE LION KING begins performances at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts in Anchorage, AK, USA on Wednesday, September 2 and plays through Sunday, October 11, 2009 and during the coming year will play San Diego, CA; Spokane, WA and San Antonio, TX. THE LION KING is the winner of over 70 major awards worldwide and has become a global phenomenon seen by nearly 50 million people. This North American National Tour is currently one of seven productions running worldwide along with New York, London, Hamburg, Tokyo, and Paris. A new production recently opened in May to excellent reviews at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas and is currently playing to capacity crowds.
Now in its second sold-out decade in New York, THE LION KING is the winner of six Tonyâ 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 the Theatrical Event of the Year, two Olivier Awards, a Theatre World Award, the Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography, two Drama League Awards and a Grammyâ Award for Best Musical Show Album.
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 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.
DISNEY'S THE LION KING was the opening presentation of the Broadway Across Canada - 2009/2010 Calgary Season. Upcoming Broadway Across Canada presentations include: A Chorus Line (October 27 - November 1, 2009) and Fiddler on the Roof (January 13 - 17, 2010). ENCORE PACKAGES to experience the final two productions in the 2009-2010 season of first-class Broadway engagements at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium are on-sale now exclusively through Broadway Across Canada, call toll free 1.866.532.7469 or visit www.BroadwayAcrossCanada.ca.
About Broadway Across Canada
Broadway Across Canada: Owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman), and is associated with Broadway Across America. Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across North America and throughout the world. Broadway Across America most recently produced Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS on Broadway, while current and upcoming productions include WEST SIDE STORY, BLITHE SPIRIT, MINSKY'S, and the DeafWest production of PIPPIN. Broadway tours include DORA THE EXPLORER, FROST/NIXON, SPAMALOT, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossCanada.ca.
