Hard to believe, but 20 years have passed since Disney’s The Lion King revolutionized Broadway with its huge sets, innovative use of masks and puppets, and expanded soundtrack. The vision of director Julie Taymor and the talent artists she assembled to transfer Disney’s animated feature to the stage has now endured for two decades and Disney Theatrical wants to celebrate.
As a way to thank the City of New York for being its host for 20 years, the show is giving away every ticket via a free lottery to the evening performance on Wednesday, November 15th at 8pm at the Minskoff Theatre.
“Though it’s been seen around the world, The Lion King was born in New York City – from the studio in the Flatiron district where we rehearsed, to the Bronx shop where its sets were built, to its Broadway home in the heart of Times Square,” said Thomas Schumacher President & Producer, Disney Theatrical Productions. “This free performance is our chance to thank New York City for 20 years of loving support and we hope audiences who could otherwise not experience Julie Taymor’s glorious vision will join us to toast the show born here in their hometown.”
“The Lion King has been delighting Broadway audiences for 20 years, and we are proud to be the home of this landmark show,” said Julie Menin, NYC Commissioner of Media and Entertainment. “We congratulate the production on this milestone and hope that the lottery for free tickets in libraries throughout the five boroughs will give New Yorkers who have not had a chance to see this wonderful musical a chance to enjoy it.”
To enter the lottery you have a number of options.
On Sunday, November 12th, you can enter The Lion King lottery via a celebratory event in Times Square. Thanks to a partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, which supports the theater industry in New York, you can also enter at New York Public Library, Queens Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library locations across the five boroughs.
The lottery is powered by Broadway Direct, and entries will only be accepted in person at one of the following locations:
Sunday, November 12th:
10am – 6pm Times Square, on the plaza between 45th and 46th Streets. At the Times Square celebration, attendees will be able to enter the ticket lottery as well as participate in a number of The Lion King-themed activities including a sharable photo opportunity inspired by the show’s iconic ‘Circle of Life’ moment on Pride Rock, autographs with current cast members, and an up-close look at The Lion King’s award-winning masks and puppets.
12pm-4:30pm Queens Library, Central Library (89-11 Merrick Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11432)
12pm – 6pm New York Public Library, Bronx Library Center (310 E Kingsbridge Rd, Bronx, NY 10458)
1pm – 5pm Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch (10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238)
1pm – 5pm New York Public Library, Inwood Library (4790 Broadway, New York, NY 10034)
1pm – 5pm New York Public Library, Todt Hill- Westerleigh Library (2550 Victory Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10314)
If you live in the NYC area will you be entering the lottery with a hope to see The Lion King’s special free performance?