Disney Theatrical Productions celebrates the announcement of two world premiere productions of THE LION KING at Shanghai Disney Resort and Mexico City, in partnership with Disney Parks and Resorts and OCESA, respectively. The announcement was made today by Thomas Schumacher, president and producer, Disney Theatrical Productions. The two productions will be the 23rd and 24th mounted around the world since the show’s Broadway debut in 1997.
“It is especially exciting for us to premiere at the purpose-built theatre at the 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.”
“We are equally thrilled to bring THE LION KING to Mexico City with our partners at OCESA,” Schumacher continues. “This entirely new production will be created especially for the glorious Telcel Theatre. I am proud to continue our long history presenting our productions in Mexico.”
SHANGHAI:
The premiere of THE LION KING’s Mandarin-language production will be presented at Walt Disney Grand Theatre, anew world-class 1,200 seat Broadway-style theatre to be located in Shanghai Disney Resort’s retail, dining and entertainment area, directly adjacent to the resort’s Shanghai Disneyland park. Casting for the show is scheduled to begin this summer in China with a focus on recruiting and developing local talent. Shanghai Disney Resort has engaged United Asia Arts Entertainment to support the casting efforts.
In 2006, the Australian tour production of THE LION KING played Shanghai in English and became the longest running musical in the country’s history, having played 101 sold out performances at Shanghai Grand Theatre.
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.