Las Vegas Weekly

September 29, 2008 · 2 PM

The roar house: Lion King confirmed for Mandalay Bay

By Robin Leach

Rumors have floated the past 10 days that the Disney Broadway musical Lion King will take over the Mamma Mia! musical space at the Mandalay Bay Theater next spring. Now Luxe Life can confirm from three separate sources that “the deal is done” -- and Lion King will roar early next year there.

Mandalay Bay executives had looked at touring versions of an American Idol concert show and a Saturday Night Live variety show -- but nixed them both. Cast members of Lion King that is slated to open at the new Venetian resort in Singapore confirmed the Mandalay Bay news along with Vegas dancers who have contracted with the Lion King company in the last 48 hours.

Mamma Mia’s! last performance after five incredible years, as Luxe Life, reported last week will be in the first week of January. It’s expected then that the theater will be used for a series of one-nighters either headline singers or comics -- until the Lion King company moves in for rehearsals.

No word yet on opening dates or stars in the Vegas cast. Lion King has been a major Broadway phenomenon at the Minskoff Theater, where it celebrated its 10th anniversary last November. There are Lion King companies in Paris and South Africa currently and you can log onto the Lion King Web site to get an advance listen to the songs, catch a sneak peek of the show and “devour” the history of the show’s puppets, masks and hand shadow stunts.

Luxe Life will follow this breaking story and all its developments through to launch day next year!

Share This