‘The Lion King’ Musical Sets Box Office Record
Disney stage musical, "The Lion King," has officially become the highest-grossing production in entertainment history with over $6.2 billion, the Associated Press reports.
According to BBC News, "'The Lion King' has taken more money at the box office than any other stage show, or cinema release."
The musical's historic feat has allowed it to surpass "The Phantom of the Opera" musical that was once the highest-grossing production with a $6 billion dollar earning, AP reports.
However, "Phantom of the Opera" fans can rest assured that Phantom still holds the crown as "...the longest-running show in Broadway history and 140 million worldwide have seen it," AP reports.
"Broadway's longest-running musical congratulates the Pride of Broadway on joining the 6 billion-plus club," Cameron Mackintosh, Phantom co-producer with Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Theatre Company, said in a statement obtained by Deadline.
"The Lion King" musical which began on Broadway in 1997 is based off of the Disney animated film of the same name that was released three years earlier.
"It's difficult not to become emotional at this realization of the show's impact," said Thomas Schumacher, president and producer at Disney Theatrical Productions to the Associated Press.
He continued his speech by recalling the early stages of the production that began back in 1997.
"Our goal then was to tell the story purely and theatrically so that audiences could feel it in their heart," he added. "And, to this day, that is the audience experience whether they see the show in Madrid; Appleton, Wisconsin; South Africa; Tokyo or Broadway. Of that, we are deeply proud."
Prior to being named the most successful box-office production in history, "The Lion King" was named the highest grossing Broadway show last year, according to AP.
There are currently 10 productions of "The Lion King," around the world including those in New York, London, in Hamburg, Germany, and on tour across North America.
So far, approximately 75 million people are estimated to have seen "The Lion King" musical, BBC News reports.
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