Friday, June 13, 2014

Breaking : Lion King Theatrical Show to Open at Shanghaî Disneyland - and at Mexico City, too !


The Lion King theatrical show is coming to Shanghaî Disneyland and will play at the Walt Disney Theatre located in the shopping / dining / entertainment area close to Shanghaî Disneyland park, and supposedly called "Disney town"! In addition, the Lion King show will also come to Mexico City, as announced today officially by Disney Theatrical Productions

More about all this from the official SDL press release:




Highest-Grossing Broadway Show in History to be Presented in Mandarin; Casting Begins this Summer 

June 13, 2014, Shanghai – Shanghai Disney Resort and Disney Theatrical Productions announced today that Disney's landmark musical event, THE LION KING, is coming to the Walt Disney Grand Theatre, a new, world-class, 1,200-seat Broadway-style theater, to be located at Shanghai Disney Resort's retail, dining and entertainment area, currently under construction adjacent to Shanghai Disneyland park. This will be the world's first production of THE LION KING performed in Mandarin of Julie Taymor's production, exactly as seen on Broadway and in productions around the world. Casting for the show is scheduled to begin this summer in China with a focus on recruiting and developing local talent.

"We are thrilled to bring Disney's THE LION KING to Shanghai Disney Resort," said Mike Crawford, general manager of Shanghai Disney Resort. "Working with our partners at Disney Theatrical Productions to have the world's most successful and popular stage musical in Mandarin for the first time, here at our 'must-visit' entertainment district, will provide a great centerpiece for the area and an amazing opportunity for our resort Guests. The production of THE LION KING in Mandarin demonstrates our strong commitment to supporting the growth of China's cultural industries, and is an excellent example of how the resort is tailoring the best of Disney with local talent to create world-class entertainment specifically for the people of China."



"It is especially exciting for us to premiere THE LION KING at this brand new theatre at Shanghai Disney Resort, marking our first collaboration with our partners at Disney Parks and Resorts," said Thomas Schumacher, president and producer, Disney Theatrical Productions. "This uniquely Chinese production will be our most ambitious yet, featuring the very best of local talent, who will perform the show for the first time in Mandarin as they bring Julie Taymor's singular theatrical vision to life."
Casting of this entirely new Mandarin production will begin this summer in China and will continue through early 2015. Shanghai Disney Resort has engaged United Asia Live Entertainment to support the casting efforts.

In its 17th year, THE LION KING remains ascendant, and is the highest-grossing Broadway show in New York history, as well as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its Broadway premiere on November 13, 1997, more than 70 million people around the world have seen the 22 global productions of THE LION KING, which have cumulatively run a staggering 104 years. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), THE LION KING is only the second show in history to generate five productions worldwide running 10 or more years. Translated into eight different languages, productions of THE LION KING can currently be seen on Broadway and on tour across North America, the U.K., and Japan, and in London's West End, Hamburg, Tokyo, Madrid, Sao Paulo, and Sydney, Australia. At the time of its opening, the Mandarin production marks the 10th concurrent worldwide production of THE LION KING, the highest number of productions running at any one time in the show's history. To date, THE LION KING has played 19 countries on every continent except Antarctica.

Shanghai Disney Resort's retail, dining and entertainment area is a key feature of the resort. The area will initially be comprised of a 46,000 square meter pedestrian-access area and will be located next to Shanghai Disneyland, the Resort's Magic Kingdom-style theme park. The area will offer guests unique opportunities to enjoy great Chinese and international dining, shopping and world-class entertainment.


Here is a map - from Luke and the Temple of Fun - of SDL entertainment area, the theater is located on the top...


...and here is the latest satellite view of the same area from Google Earth ( click to enlarge ).


MEXICO CITY:

THE LION KING's Spanish-language premiere in Mexico City will be produced by OCESA and will be the largest theatrical production ever to be mounted in Mexico. OCESA also produced successful productions of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and most recently, The Disney and Cameron Mackintosh production of MARY POPPINS in 2012. The production will be performed in Spanish and will begin performances in May of 2015 at the Telcel Theatre in Mexico City.

In 2008, OCESA also presented The North American, English-language tour of THE LION KING in Mexico City. The four week hit engagement sold over 165,000 tickets at the Auditorio Nacional.


Just like almost anyone i liked a lot the Lion King theatrical show and, although it's a little bit an easy / no risk choice it will be for sure a high quality addition to Shanghaî Disney Resort that should help to bring guests at SDR. 

Pictures: copyright Disney





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