Disney’s The Lion King comes roaring back to Nashville with highly anticipated return to TPAC

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 27, 2021) – Returning to Nashville after an eight-year hiatus, the long-awaited return engagement of Disney’s The Lion King is roaring back to Nashville for three weeks Jan. 6-23 at Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Jackson Hall.

Single tickets for The Lion King go on sale on Friday, Oct. 8, at 10 a.m. at TPAC.org, by phone at 615-782-4040 and in person at the TPAC Box Office, 505 Deaderick St., in downtown Nashville. For groups of 10 or more, call 615-782-4060.

Ticket buyers are reminded that the only official retail ticket outlet for all performances of The Lion King is TPAC.org. Ticket buyers who purchase tickets from a ticket broker or any third party should be aware that TPAC is unable to reprint or replace lost or stolen tickets and is unable to contact patrons with information regarding time changes or other pertinent updates regarding the performance.

The North American touring productions of The Lion King have been seen by more than 20 million theatergoers. Having already played more than 90 cities across North America, The Lion King now proudly returns to Nashville at TPAC’s Jackson Hall.

About The Lion King

Approaching 24 landmark years on Broadway, The Lion King continues ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world. Since its premiere on Nov. 13, 1997, 25 global productions have been seen by nearly 110 million people. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions (under the direction of Thomas Schumacher), The Lion King has made theatrical history with six productions worldwide running 15 or more years, with four of those running 20 or more years. 

Performed over its lifetime in nine different languages (English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese), by the end of 2021, there will be 10 productions of The Lion King around the world, including Broadway, London, Paris, Hamburg, Tokyo, Madrid, on tour across North America, Japan and the U.K. & Ireland, with a separate production touring internationally. Having played over 100 cities in 21 countries on every continent except Antarctica, The Lion King’s worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show, or other entertainment title in box office history.     

The Lion King won six 1998 Tony Awards®: Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical. The Lion King has earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. 

The show’s director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor continues to play an integral part in the show’s ongoing success. The first woman to win a Tony Award for Direction of a Musical, Taymor supervises new productions of the show around the world.

The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs from “The Lion King” animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer; and music from "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer.  The resulting sound of The Lion King is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award®-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to Lebo M’s rich choral numbers.

Elton John, Lebo M, and Hans Zimmer all collaborated on the 2019 version of the film, executive produced by Julie Taymor and Thomas Schumacher, which has gone onto extraordinary worldwide success.

The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated “The Lion King” feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay. Other members of the creative team include: Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), Anthony Lyn (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor) and Doc Zorthian (production supervisor). Anne Quart serves as co-producer.

For more information worldwide, visit LionKing.com, Facebook and Instagram.

If You Go:
Disney’s The Lion King
Jan 6-23, 2022
Tuesdays -Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. 
Fridays at 8 p.m.
Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sundays at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
TPAC’s Jackson Hall
505 Deaderick St.

Tickets:
TPAC.org
615-782-4040
Production photos and B-Roll for The Lion King

The Lion King is the second production featured in the 2021-22 HCA Healthcare/TriStar Health Broadway at TPAC season. Performance schedule, prices and cast are subject to change without notice. The Broadway season is supported by TPAC’s official health and safety partner, HCA Healthcare/TriStar Health, and institutional sponsor Nissan North America. TPAC is funded in part by support from the National Endowment for the Arts, Tennessee Arts Commission and the Metropolitan Nashville Arts Commission. TPAC reminds ticket buyers that the only official place to buy tickets online is TPAC.org.

TPAC is an accessible facility with a variety of services including wheelchair accommodations, accessible parking and assistive listening devices. Open captioning, American Sign Language, audio description and large print and Braille programs are offered at the Sunday matinee performance of each Broadway series production and Broadway special engagement. For more information, email Access@TPAC.org or call 615-782-6577.

Our Commitment to Safety

We are eager to welcome audiences back for safe and memorable experiences at Tennessee Performing Arts Center. Our current Patron Entry Policy requires guests 6+ years of age to wear a mask and guests 12+ years of age to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test within 2 days (48 hours) of the performance date before admission. For our complete entry policy details and updated health protocols, visit TPAC.ORG/PatronHealth.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Danielle Allen

DAllen@TPAC.org