The Lion King to Open at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas

The Lion King will become the first-ever Disney Theatrical Production to open in Las Vegas when it begins performances on April 20, 2009, at the Mandalay Bay Theatre. Opening night has been set for May 2. Mamma Mia!, which opened at the Mandalay Bay on February 13, 2003, is scheduled to close its successful Las Vegas run on January 4, 2009.

A Disney news release stated that the Mandalay Bay production of The Lion King "will be virtually identical to the other companies seen around the globe and will be staged with all of the same spectacular music, sets, and costumes that have made it a worldwide phenomenon." No word on whether the running time of the show will be trimmed, as has been the case with most Las Vegas productions of Broadway hits.

"We’re incredibly pleased to bring The Lion King to the audiences of Las Vegas," Disney Theatrical Group president Thomas Schumacher said in a statement. "Mandalay Bay has seen great success with other shows thanks to its extraordinary commitment to producing theatre of the highest caliber. When we decided to bring The Lion King to Las Vegas, we knew that this was the right show at the right venue at the right time."