The Lion King Extends Booking Period to 15 March 2015

Walt Disney's Broadway production of The Lion King has extended its booking period to 15 March 2015 at the Minskoff Theatre.

The production celebrated its 6,681st performance on 30 Nov 2013, where it became the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history. It also made history by becoming the first show on Broadway to gross over $1 billion.

The Lion King opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre on 13 Nov 1997, following previews from 15 Oct. On the 13 Jun 2006 the musical moved to the Minskoff Theatre, where it is now booking to 15 March 2015.

The musical tells the story of the epic adventures of a young lion cub named Simba as he struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role as king. Based on the 1994 animated Disney film of the same name, The Lion King has book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, music by Elton John, with additional music by Hans Zimmer, Lebo M, Mark Mancina, and Jay Rifkin, and lyrics by Tim Rice.

The Broadway production is directed by Julie Taymor, who became the first female to win the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical, and choreographed by Garth Fagan. The creative team also features Richard Hudson (sets), Michael Curry (costumes), Donald Holder (lighting) and Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound).

The Lion King currently features Gareth Saxe (Scar), Alton Fitzgerald White (Mufasa), Tshidi Manye (Rafiki), Jeffrey Kuhn (Zazu), Ben Jeffrey (Pumbaa), Fred Berman (Timon), Aaron Nelson (Simba), Chantel Riley (Nala), James Brown-Orleans (Banzai), Bonita J. Hamilton (Shenzi), Enrique Segura (Ed), Jaden Jordan and Caleb McLaughlin alternate the role of 'Young Simba' and, Bobbi Bordley and Teshi Thomas alternate the role of 'Young Nala'.

- by Dom O'Hanlon