The long-running hit musical The Lion King will end its run at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre on September 28, 2003. The show had been running in Toronto under the Mirvish Productions auspices for approximately three and a half years.

Elton John and Tim Rice's The Lion King tells the story of a young lion cub named Simba who struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and his destined role as king. To bring the classic 1994 film to life, Disney turned to the story's roots, its rich mythology, powerful human drama and primal African rhythms. The show, which features a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, was awarded six 1998 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has been a hit in locations worldwide. Julie Taymor helmed the show.

The tourism industry in Toronto has been hit hard recently. It had already been suffering post-9/11 and the Iraqi war, but since the reported Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome SARS outbreak, tourism plummeted. Producer David Mirvish wanted to hold on, telling local news outlets last week that The Lion King would be able to survive through this period, despite rumors to the contrary. Dismal advance sales probably changed Mirvish's mind, and the closing is now official.