'Lion King' replacing 'Mamma Mia'
September 30, 2008 | 1:29
pm
It's official. After a long run ending in January, Mandalay Bay has just confirmed for me longstanding rumors that "The Lion King" will be the replacement show entering the theater after "Mamma Mia." Unlike "Jersey Boys" and "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular," the Vegas version of "The Lion King" will not be altered particularly for the Strip. According to the press release:
Mandalay Bay’s 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.
Previews begin April 20 with the show opening May 2. Between this and "Donny & Marie," can family Vegas be getting a second chance?
Jersey Boys was minimally altered for Las Vegas. It's still 2+ hours with a short intermission.
Posted by: Frank | October 01, 2008 at 05:39 AM
Jersey Boys too was not altered particularly for the Strip. And it too is virtually identical to the other Jersey Boys companies seen around the globe.
Posted by: Frank | October 01, 2008 at 05:42 AM
I hope family Vegas does not come back -- it didn't work last time. I am sad to see Mamma Mia! go, which, in spite of it being a musical, is one of my favorite shows in town. It's really tough to predict which Broadway shows will work in Vegas (Hairspray, The Producers, Avenue Q, Spamalot, etc.), so time will tell. We should start putting odds on the survival chances of these productions!
Posted by: Judy Jenner | October 01, 2008 at 05:18 PM