The 30th anniversary of the original animated film version of 'The Lion King' will be celebrated at the Hollywood Bowl next month with a live-to-film concert/screening. The event will feature cast members from both the movie and theatrical versions, including Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Billy Eichner, Ernie Sabella, Jason Weaver, and Bradley Gibson. The shows are scheduled to take place at the Bowl on May 24-25 and will be produced by Disney Concerts, Fulwell 73 Productions, AMP Worldwide, and Live Nation-Hewitt Silva.
The concert, titled 'Disney's The Lion King 30th Anniversary - A Live-to-Film Concert Event,' will showcase a full orchestra performing the Oscar-winning score composed by Hans Zimmer for the 1994 classic, conducted by Sarah Hicks. The cast members will perform the musical numbers written for the film by Elton John and Tim Rice, drawing from the hit Broadway adaptation that began in 1998 and the 2019 movie remake, in addition to the original film.
Notable cast members from the 1994 version, such as Jeremy Irons, Nathan Lane, Ernie Sabella, and Jason Weaver, will be part of the celebration. Bradley Gibson will represent the Broadway incarnation, while Billy Eichner will bring memories of the 2019 remake. Additional celebrity performers will be announced closer to the event, along with performers from current stage productions and a full choir.
The event will feature costumes, set design, and puppetry borrowed from the Broadway and touring versions of the show. The concert precedes the release of a prequel from Walt Disney Studios, 'Mufasa: The Lion King,' set for December 20. The prequel, described as 'live-action,' features a photorealistic brand of animation and stars Billy Eichner reprising his role as Timon.
Disney and Fulwell 73 have previously collaborated on successful projects, including 'Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium' and 'Disney's Encanto at the Hollywood Bowl.' While plans for filming the 'Lion King' anniversary concerts have not been announced, it is speculated that similar projects may be in the works.
