The Lion King plays 6,000th performance

The Lion King plays 6,000th performance Walt Disney's Broadway production of The Lion King will celebrate another milestone when it plays its 6,000th performance on 18 Apr 2012. The musical is only the sixth show in Broadway history to have acheived this accomplishment. The others being 'A Chorus Line,' '*Chicago' 'Les Misérables (original production), 'Cats' and '*The Phantom of the Opera.' *Shows with an asterix are still playing. The musical, the sixth longest-running show in Broadway history, recently announced - 10 Apr 2012 - that it had become the highest earning show in Broadway history, grossing $853.8 million since opening in 1997. Its closest rival, The Phantom of the Opera, has made $853.1m. The Lion Kingl 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.. 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. Directed by Julie Taymor and choreographed by Garth Fagan, The Lion King currently features Gareth Saxe (Scar), Alton Fitzgerald White (Mufasa), Tshidi Manye (Rafiki), Jeff Binder (Zazu), Ben Jeffrey (Pumbaa), Fred Berman (Timon), Adam Jacobs (Simba), Chauntee Schuler (Nala), James Brown-Orleans (Banzai), Bonita J. Hamilton (Shenzi), Enrique Segura (Ed) and Alphonso Romero Jones II and Judah Bellamy (Young Simba), and, Khail Toi Bryant and Shaylin Becton (Young Nala). Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in Broadway history to win the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical. 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 creative team for The Lion King features Richard Hudson (sets), Michael Curry (costumes), Donald Holder (lighting) and Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound). The Lion King won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and is the 6th longest-running musical on Broadway, surpassing the record previously held by 'Oh! Calcutta .'