Carl Scheinwald

Disney’s The Lion King Coming To Las Vegas

Disney Theatrical Productions and Mandalay Bay have announced that the hit musical featuring a score by Elton John and Tim Rice will begin performances April 20, 2009 and officially open May 2, 2009 at the Mandalay Bay Theatre.

The Las Vegas incarnation — a sit-down, open-ended run — promises to be the full-length presentation of the hit, virtually identical to the Broadway and international companies of the musical that features Tony Award-winning direction and design by Julie Taymor.

"We're incredibly pleased to bring The Lion King to the audiences of Las Vegas," said producer and president of Disney Theatrical Group Thomas Schumacher. "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."

The Lion King marks the first Disney musical to present a sit-down production in Las Vegas. The current tenant of the Mandalay Bay Theatre, Mamma Mia!, concludes its Las Vegas engagement Jan. 4, 2009.

Casting and ticketing information for the Las Vegas production will be announced at a later date.

Since its Broadway opening on Nov. 13, 1997, The Lion King has been seen by 45 million people worldwide. Directed by Julie Taymor — who became the first woman to ever receive a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical — The Lion King has become an international hit with productions playing all around the globe. The Elton John-Tim Rice musical has won over 30 major awards. Those include six Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical; eight Drama Desk Awards; six Outer Critics Circle Awards; two Sir Laurence Oliviers; the Evening Standard Award for Best Theatrical Event; and three Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards.

At Bally’s - Las Vegas

Jubilee

"Jubilee!" is an explosion of sight and sound, that features the sinking of the Titanic and Samson destroying the Temple of the Philistines. "Jubilee!" has incredible sets, dazzling costumes, thrilling specialty acts and a cast of singers and dancers that includes the most beautiful showgirls in Las Vegas! "Jubilee!" is the stage experience of a lifetime! "Jubilee!" was just voted "Las Vegas' Best Dancers."

At the Bellagio

   Fountains at Bellagio  
Over a thousand soaring fountains fill Bellagio's lake, enhanced at nightfall by color and light. Accompanying this water ballet is the music of composers such as Copland and Strauss and vocalists such as Luciano Pavarotti. FREE!

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At Caesar’s Palace

Bette Midler, Cher or Elton John, rotate their time at the 4,100-seat Colosseum theatre.

At the Flamingo Las Vegas

Donny & Marie Osmond

The production, aptly titled "Donny & Marie," is a family-friendly variety show that follows the winning formula of their 1970s TV program, incorporating dancing, humor and all of their hit songs – both as individuals and as a duo.

The show starts out with the pair singing duets including "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)," "The Way You Do the Things You Do" and "Dancing in the Streets."

Donny and Marie's signature sibling rivalry and playful bantering begins almost immediately. He jokes about the huge poster of the duo that adorns the front of the Flamingo. "I couldn't get any sleep, my room is so bright — they put me behind Marie's teeth," he says. She pokes fun at the fact that Donny is now a grandfather.

While they may be best known as a team, both Donny and Marie found significant success as solo artists as well and the show gives them each a chance to highlight their individual achievements.

At the Golden Nugget

Gordie Brown

'Downtown' Gordie Brown brings his engaging comedy and mastery of impersonation to the Golden Nugget’s Theatre Ballroom. Accompanied by his live band, Brown combines dozens of classic impressions with non-stop music and comedy. An acclaimed entertainer, Brown has received numerous awards including 'Entertainer of the Year,' 'Best Comedian' and 'Best New Show.'

At Harrah’s Las Vegas

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Rita Rudner rattles off one joke after another in her trademark monotone, yet hilariously sweet demeanor during her non-stop 90-minute stand-up comedy show at Harrah's. Her stream-of-consciousness observations target just about every topic from marriage, tourists and getting older to common fare like cooking woes and the joys of marriage and motherhood.

At the Las Vegas Hilton

Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow in "Ultimate Manilow – The Hits"

At the Luxor

Criss Angel Believe

Criss Angel takes audiences on a mystifying journey through the haunting inner workings of his mind and the surreal world created by Cirque du Soleil performers in his show Believe, directed by Serge Denoncourt.

At the MGM Grand

KÀ Cirque du Soleil

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At the Mirage

   LOVE  

If you're looking for a show that's a fusion of acrobatics, dance and visual effects, accompanied by a classic rock 'n' roll soundtrack, then all you need is LOVE.

Show Director Dominic Champagne calls Cirque du Soleil's LOVE a "rock 'n' roll poem." The show is a slightly psychedelic journey through the trends and politics of the '60s and most importantly, The Beatles' history, told through nearly 30 of the group's songs.

At the Monte Carlo

Lance Burton

Lance Burton is the best magician in Las Vegas; no question and no doubt. He has that rare combination of gifts that include personality, charisma, talent, and ability that make he performance superb.

At New York-New York

   ZUMANITY  

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At the Rio

Penn and Teller

There are some basic rules of magic. Never tell your audience how a trick is done. Don't show the audience the preparation for a trick. And never, ever perform the classic cups and balls trick with transparent cups.

Penn & Teller manage to break all of these rules and more in their show at the Rio Hotel and Casino.

At the Tropicana

Folies Bergere

A production show that captures classic Las Vegas, the way it was meant to be. This Parisian-style show has everything that’d expect to see: Lavish sets and costumes, an abundance of dancers, singers, and of course, beautiful showgirls.

At the Mandalay Bay

The Lion King coming soon.

At the The Venetian

   Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular  

When the Venetian resort announced it was spending $40 million to design a custom-built theater for "Phantom of the Opera" and renaming the show "Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular," audiences knew they were going to be getting a little something extra in this version of the popular Broadway musical. Even though the Las Vegas production has been enhanced, fans of the original will not be disappointed. Creator Andrew Lloyd Webber, director Hal Prince, choreographer Gillian Lynne and others from the show's original creative team helped develop "Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular" and pared the show from its original two and a half hours down to one hour 35 minutes. Some dialogue and the intermission have been cut from the original, but all of Webber's well-known songs remain intact.

   Blue Man Group is unlike any other show on the Las Vegas Strip. There are no elaborate costumes, no death-defying acrobatics and no scantily clad dancers. There are simply three blue-hued men dressed in black who make music, make you laugh and make you think.