DISNEY’S THE LION KING TO OPEN AT MARINA BAY SANDS Singapore, SEPTEMBER 2010

SINGAPORE (October 21, 2009) – Disney Theatrical Group and Marina Bay Sands®, together with BASE Entertainment, are proud to announce that the award-winning Broadway musical The Lion King will come to the Marina Bay Sands Theatre in September 2010. This extended engagement will join the seven other highly successful companies of The Lion King around the world in New York, London, Hamburg, Paris, Tokyo, Las Vegas and a US National Tour.

This Southeast Asian premiere in Singapore will be a duplicate of the other shows performing around the globe with the same Broadway quality standards, spectacular music, dance, sets and costumes that have made it a worldwide phenomenon. The production will feature a new company of performers auditioned around the world. Ticket prices, on-sale dates and performance schedules will be announced in 2010.

“We’re gigantically proud to bring The Lion King to the audiences of Singapore,” said Thomas Schumacher, producer and president of Disney Theatrical Productions. “BASE Entertainment and Marina Bay Sands are making an extraordinary commitment to bringing Julie Taymor’s glorious production to life in the very best way possible. When we decided to bring The Lion King to Singapore we knew that this was the right show at the right venue at the right time.”

Marina Bay Sands President and CEO Thomas Arasi said, “Marina Bay Sands will be the destination with a world-class production like The Lion King. This is the first time this acclaimed musical has come to Southeast Asia and this just adds to the line-up of attractions at Marina Bay Sands including the Sands SkyPark®, the best celebrity chef restaurants and Asia’s most fashionable shopping.”

Scott Zeiger, co-CEO of BASE Entertainment, said, “We are thrilled to open the state-of-the-art theater at Marina Bay Sands with Disney Theatrical Group’s The Lion King, one of the most spectacular Broadway shows in history. The show has a tremendous reputation throughout the
entertainment industry and we anticipate a strong demand for The Lion King in Singapore from locals and visitors alike.”

Marina Bay Sands will feature two theatres with a total of 4,000 seats, large and flexible convention and exhibition facilities, a luxury hotel, the breathtaking rooftop Sands SkyPark®, a museum, Las Vegas-style gaming, the Paiza Club for premium players and Celebrity Chef restaurants and cuisinest hat allow visitors to eat around the world in one destination.

ABOUT THE LION KING

Julie Taymor’s internationally acclaimed stage adaptation of Disney’s 1994 animated film premiered on Broadway in November 1997, winning the Tony Award® for ‘Best Musical’ and since that time, the show has been seen by more than 50 million people around the world. In addition to recordbreaking productions in London and New York, THE LION KING can currently be seen in Paris,Tokyo, Hamburg, Las Vegas and on tour in the USA.

The score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s music from the animated film along with three original 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 an album inspired by the animated film,"Rhythm of the Pride Lands," written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer. The resulting sound of THE LION KING score is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, embracing the Academy Award®-winning “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” and the haunting “Shadowlands.” Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in Broadway history to win the Tony® Award for Best Director of a Musical. Taymor, along with Michael Curry, created hundreds of masks and puppets for THE LION KING. Choreography is by Garth Fagan, scenic design is by Richard Hudson, costume design is by Julie Taymor and lighting design is by Donald Holder. The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated film and Irenem Mecchi, who co-wrote the screenplay for THE LION KING.
Press Release From Marina Bay Sands