Congratulations to Disney’s landmark musical The Lion King! This week Disney Theatrical Productions announced that the North American tours have reached an incredible $1 billion in ticket sales.
That’s not the only milestone the current tour, also known as the Gazelle tour, hit this week. (Each tour has a nickname inspired by the show.) It also celebrated its 100th engagement in North America with its debut at the State Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 11. More than 15 million people have seen the show since it began touring the U.S. and Canada in 2002.
I’m looking forward to re-immersing myself in the land of The Lion King when the show returns to Los Angeles later this year — it’s playing at Hollywood’s Pantages Theatre November 20 through January 12.
Currently the longest-running production on the road, The Lion King also continues its award-winning, 16-year Broadway run, where for the past year it has held the title of highest grossing show of all time. It opens in Australia later this year, marking the 10th concurrent worldwide production — the most in the show’s history.
Hakuna matata, indeed!