PROMO: 'The Lion King' at the Buell

The Tree of Life from The Lion King National Tour. (c)Disney. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus.

Disney's The Lion King is back on the prowl, and will arrive in Denver tomorrow! The "king" of Disney movie-to-stage musicals (although Beauty and the Beast gets my personal vote for "alpha"), will play at The Buell Theatre through December 4.

Remember when the North American tour launched in Denver back in April 2002 and sold out its 10-week run? Well, The Lion King has a bit of the Energizer Bunny in it, as it's still going strong, selling out again in September 2006 on its first return. This will be the show's third appearance in Denver.

The Lion King won six 1998 Tony® Awards: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical, making Taymor the first woman in theatrical history bestowed with the honor. The Lion King has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.

The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s music from The Lion King 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; and music from "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer.

The Lion King will play Tuesday through Friday evenings at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 2:00pm and 7:30pm and Sundays at 1pm and 6:30pm. There will also be 2pm matinees on Thursday, November 3, Wednesday, November 23, Friday, November 25 and Wednesday, November 30. There will be no performances on Thursday, November 24 in observance of Thanksgiving. There will not be 6:30pm performances on Sunday, November 27 and Sunday, December 4. 

Ticket prices start as low as $17.50. Tickets are available at the Denver Center Ticket office located in the Helen Bonfils Theatre Complex Lobby or by calling (303) 893-4100. Tickets may also be purchased and printed online at www.denvercenter.org. For more information on the show itself, visit www.lionking.com.