Disney on Broadway’s THE LION KING and ALADDIN by the Numbers

Broadway sets a worldwide standard for jaw-dropping moments, breathtaking spectacle, and timeless music onstage. That’s why there’s no better storybook to take to the Great White Way than Disney’s collection of classics!

Since Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST took Broadway by storm in 1994, audiences worldwide have had the chance to experience beloved tales transformed into unforgettable theatrical productions.

Today, THE LION KING and ALADDIN are two of the most sought after tickets on Broadway.

These incredible behind-the-scenes facts about THE LION KING and ALADDIN on Broadway make it easy to see why audiences come from all over the world to see these tales come to life!

THE LION KING

Opened November 13, 1997

• On its 20th anniversary, THE LION KING is the most profitable musical in Broadway history and the 3rd longest-running musical in Broadway history. The Circle of Life is spinning strong!
• Each performance requires 200 puppets, 51 performers, and 24 musicians.
• Director Julie Taymor became the first woman in Broadway history to win a Tony Award© for Best Director of a Musical.
• It took 37,000 hours to build all the original puppets and masks. It takes time to “Be Prepared.”
• The heaviest costume in the show is Pumbaa the warthog’s, weighing 45 lbs. “Hakuna Matata” comes in handy wearing all that!
• THE LION KING has been seen by 90 million people in 20 different countries.
• THE LION KING won 6 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, in 1998.
• The largest costume is Bertha the elephant, at 13 feet long, 9 feet wide, and requires 4 performers to make her walk!
• The tallest “performer” in the show is the giraffe puppet in the “I Can’t Wait to Be King” number, at 18 feet high.

ALADDIN

Opened March 20, 2014

• The costume and scenic design crew is an international group from 9 different countries.
• Alan Menken, the composer of both the Broadway show and the original animated film has earned 8 Academy Awards in his career.
• The show has 84 special effects, including the dazzling flying carpet!
• The special effects and scene changes are controlled by 45 machines backstage, including the trapdoor that levitates Genie for his grand introduction!
• The production features 337 costumes handcrafted specifically for the show.
• In the “Friend Like Me” finale, there are 1,428 Swarovski diamonds sewn into just one pair of costume pants!
• The actor who originated the role of the iconic Genie on Broadway, James Monroe Iglehart, won a Tony Award in the Best Featured Actor category for the role’s high-flying humor.
• The cast and crew is comprised of 180 members, including the New Amsterdam Theatre staff.
• Jasmine’s wedding dress weighs 12 lbs. in part because of the extensive crystal beading.

Ready to join the residents of Pride Rock, or marvel at the magic carpet beloved by Disney fans worldwide? Disney® Visa® Cardmembers receive a VIP Package when they purchase premium tickets using their Disney Visa Card, which includes premium seating, souvenir lanyard with pin, non-alcoholic beverage in a keepsake cup, and a commemorative photograph.¹ You can order the tickets online, call, or visit the Minskoff Theatre or New Amsterdam box offices, and use the Disney Visa offer code (first four digits of card) with your Disney Visa Card to get your VIP package.

And for Disney on Broadway’s latest production, FROZEN, launching February 2018, use your Disney Visa Card to purchase premium tickets and receive an exclusive VIP package.¹