The North American tour of “The Lion King” is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Wichita, Kansas. The production kicks off a two-week return engagement at The Century II Concert Hall tonight.
Since launching in April 2002, the production has played over 9,000 performances in 93 cities, entertaining more than 21 million audience members along the way.
“The allegory of The Lion King is more relevant today than ever, a testament to the extraordinary creative power of Julie Taymor and her remarkable team of collaborators – from the creators and songwriters of the movie to the theatre artists who brought the story to the stage,” said Thomas Schumacher, President and Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions.
“The heart of this show is and always has been human – from stage managers to musicians to technical crew and actors. What I cherish most is that this simple but poignant tale, which touches thousands every day across North America, is brought to life by a small group of dedicated and inspiring people. We salute them.”
Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, “The Lion King” opened on Broadway in November 1997.
Since then, 25 productions have been mounted around the world.
Currently, there are ten productions running across the globe, including on Broadway, in London’s West End and the North American tour.
