FACTS: Disney’s The Lion King By the Numbers

Pick a number from one to 100. Ninety? That’s the number of millions of people who have seen The Lion King worldwide. How about 19? The number of countries that have hosted a production of The Lion King. Or 24, the number of productions of The Lion King mounted around the world to date. Seventy is the number of awards won across the globe, six is the number of indigenous languages featured in the script, and 20 marks the number of years ago The Lion King first played on Broadway—starting it all.

Here, we break down Disney’s The Lion King by the numbers:

17,000

The number of hours spent by mask makers, sculptors, puppeteers, and artisans to build the animal characters for the original Broadway production. Director and designer Julie Taymor—who won Tonys for Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design of a Musical for Lion King—along with puppet and mask designer Michael Curry hand sculpted and painted every prototype that appears in the opening number of the show.

3,000

The number of stalks of grass needed to maintain the Grasslands headdresses per production per year.

750

The pounds of silicone rubber used to make the show’s masks. However, each of the masks, individually, weigh very little. Mufasa’s mask weighs 11 ounces, Scar’s weights seven, and Sarabi’s weights four.

448

The number of Equity actors and stage managers employed by the Broadway company alone.

200

The total number of puppets used in The Lion King.

142

The number of people involved with the Broadway company’s daily production, including 51 cast members, 24 musicians, 19 wardrobe staff, 13 carpenters, nine electricians, six creative associates, five stage managers, four props people, three puppet craftspeople, three sound people, three make-up artists, two wig/hairdressers, two company managers, one child guardian, and one physical therapist.

52

The number of wildebeests in the show. There are also 39 hyenas, 15 gazelles (played by five actors), 14 lionnesses, three zebras, two elephants, two antelope, one rhinoceros, and one cheetah.

45

The number of pounds Pumbaa’s full costume weighs—making it the heaviest costume in the company. (Also the number of wigs used in the show.)

14

The height in feet of the “Circle of Life” giraffes. Actors climb 5-foot ladders to get inside the puppet, and mount the stilt legs.

8

The number of languages The Lion King has been translated into around the world.

6

The number of 1998 Tony Awards won by the Broadway show: Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical for Julie Taymor, Best Choreography for Garth Fagan, Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Richard Hudson, Best Costume Design of a Musical for Taymor, Best Lighting Design of a Musical for Donald Holder. The show had earned 11 total nominations. (Six is also the number of indigenous languages spoken in the show.)

2

The number of Broadway theatres The Lion King has played, opening at the New Amsterdam November 13, 1997, and moving to the Minskoff June 13, 2006.

1

The status of the animated film that inspired it all. In 1994, Disney’s The Lion King was the highest-grossing release of all time.

For more exclusive features and interviews celebrating The Lion King’s 20th anniversary, go to Playbill.com/LionKing.

FACTS About Disney On broadway

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My enthusiasm for all things Disney all started when my parents took our family to WDW for a vacation. My first trip was at age 13. Since that first time, I have made a trip to WDW almost every year from age 13. As far as I knew there was only one place to vacation! My fascination with WDW began on that first trip. I wanted to know how things at WDW operated and what made it so magical. I wanted to know details like how many people worked there and the length of the monorail track. It is that fascination that fueled my interest in WDW. Each year that my family vacationed at WDW, I learned more about WDW as they built more parks and added more attractions. I am not the average fan; I want to know all the details and I love researching the facts of WDW. I research facts through the Internet, books and DVDs. To me, the best part is to conduct research trip at WDW. After college, my father was transferred to Orlando and I moved with my parents. Seeking employment, I applied for a job at WDW. I passed the first rounds of interviews and was proud to join the Disney family as a security cast member! The job was great. It included Disney-specific training and security training before assuming four duties: driving a security vehicle, standing a post, working in a resort or walking a park or other area. Sometimes I even had special duties like working the Epcot Christmas Processional. I would escort the celebrity guests from backstage to onstage. Interestingly, every cast member is given a WDW fact book monthly to aid in answering guest questions. The pocket book contained great Disney facts that added more fuel for my thirst of Disney facts. Well, all-good things must come to end so we moved back to NJ. In the summer of 2010 I moved back to Florida I am now living in Orlando less then 15 minutes from WDW and living the dream and have fun along the way. Favorite Park – Magic Kingdom Favorite Character – Mickey Mouse Favorite restaurant – California Grill Favorite attraction – Toy Story Mania Favorite resort – Bay Lake Tower / Contempoary First time at a disney park – 1976 & have been every year since Who was on your first disney trip – My entire family Favorite disney memory – My first trip and my first trip with my kids How far do you live from disney now – 15 minutes When is your next Disney trip? – every weekend Favorite Disney Movie – Jungle Book & Toy Story

FACTS: Disney’s The Lion King By the Numbers