More About Festival Of The Lion King

[mickeyfan0805]

It closes on January 5th and may be down for 5-6 months. It's predicted to open in Summer 2014.

Bummer - we're going January 19-24 and I love that show!

 

[TJSkinner]

Seen this show twice, once from the back SRO, once on the floor handicapped section. One was too far and standing was un comfortable, the other was almost too close. Perhaps in a permanent theatre both will be fixed. Makes so much sense to place this theatre in the Africa section, that is probably why it took so long!

 

[beer dave]

Bummer - we're going January 19-24 and I love that show!

17 to 20 here. If I am not there, start with out me.

 

[2Tiggies]

It closes on January 5th and may be down for 5-6 months. It's predicted to open in Summer 2014.

Thanks. I'm hoping it's open for our late June/early July visit. It will be what it will be, but always nice to hope

 

[Shmily1]

I have my favorite characters in the show and the last couple times I was there, they weren't. I really wish I knew ahead of time which ones were there that show so I wouldn't waste time when my favorites weren't there. It's just not the same.

 

[tarak]

Bummer - we're going January 19-24 and I love that show!

We're going January 20-27. I was really hoping to see it one last time.

 

[Kallie724]

Can anyone post a link that gives Jan 5 as the closing date? I can't seem to find it anywhere, but I need to know since we are arriving on the 2nd. I want to make sure we can see it one last time

 

[Spacedog1975]

I have my favorite characters in the show and the last couple times I was there, they weren't. I really wish I knew ahead of time which ones were there that show so I wouldn't waste time when my favorites weren't there. It's just not the same.

I've only seen it twice, but I *felt* like the same actors and characters were present. I'll definitely make a point to check it out this week.

 

[Itinkso]

Can anyone post a link that gives Jan 5 as the closing date? I can't seem to find it anywhere, but I need to know since we are arriving on the 2nd. I want to make sure we can see it one last time

If you are arriving on the 2nd, you should plan to watch FotLK before the 5th. Because the cast was told it closes on the 5th, those shows on the 5th will be packed by other CMs, family members, and former FotLK performers.

If you wait for an "official" Disney announcement, it may be too late to alter your plans.

 

[2Tiggies]

I've only seen it twice, but I *felt* like the same actors and characters were present. I'll definitely make a point to check it out this week.

We watched the show last year twice, 2 days apart. While some of the cast were the same, not all were. I took photos of both shows and probably would have been none the wiser had I not had them side by side. Most probably I wouldn't have even noticed.

First day:


Untitled by 2Tiggies, on Flickr

Second day:


FOTLK September 2012 by 2Tiggies, on Flickr

Clearly not the same. The 'bird' was the same as were some of the others. Can't tell with the monkeys but some of the lead roles seemed to change out.

 

[katt789]

We watched the show last year twice, 2 days apart. While some of the cast were the same, not all were. I took photos of both shows and probably would have been none the wiser had I not had them side by side. Most probably I wouldn't have even noticed.

First day:


Untitled by 2Tiggies, on Flickr

Second day:


FOTLK September 2012 by 2Tiggies, on Flickr

Clearly not the same. The 'bird' was the same as were some of the others. Can't tell with the monkeys but some of the lead roles seemed to change out.

There's more than one cast in a day for FOTLK. There's the "principal cast" those include the singers, fire performer, bird dancers, and the tumble monkeys. Then "show movers" are the girls and guys that are the zebra, cheetah, giraffe, alligator, warthog, beast, aka the other dancers that are not the birds.

We were there at 10:30 and 11:30 and had the same principal cast but different "ensemble" cast. They switch out depending on how many shows there are per day, for example, on a 9 show day, each cast does three shows!

I definitely also have my favorites in certain areas, and the last show I saw was amazing, so here's hoping some of those guys stick around after the refurb!

 

[katt789]

Another tidbit:

FOTLK vocalist auditons were posted today for mid December. They say that the contracts start in April!! Here's hoping that means the show can be up & running by mid May!!

 

[Shmily1]

We watched the show last year twice, 2 days apart. While some of the cast were the same, not all were. I took photos of both shows and probably would have been none the wiser had I not had them side by side. Most probably I wouldn't have even noticed.

First day:


Untitled by 2Tiggies, on Flickr

Second day:


FOTLK September 2012 by 2Tiggies, on Flickr

Clearly not the same. The 'bird' was the same as were some of the others. Can't tell with the monkeys but some of the lead roles seemed to change out.

You have definitely got exactly what I was talking about. The top picture is the one that I've seen the most and he is the best IMO-my favorite. The one on the bottom just doesn't have the voice for the part, even though he does a good voice, it's just not the same when he is there. I wish I could tell which ones are in on which performance.

 

[appleorchard]

I have a favorite "chief" and a favorite tumble monkey, too! We were just there in October for what I guess will be the last time we get to see the show. My DGD not only got to "lead" the audience in making the giraffe sound, but she also was the one to meet Timon at the end. I'm glad we went out with a bang!

It will break my heart if the tumble monkeys aren't in the new show!

 

[HockeyMomNH]

The audition info includes the following.

Seeking the following roles:

Kiume: The Leader. Must have a strong and powerful presence; Male resonant baritone/bass. 5’10 – 6’2

Zawadi: The Gift. “Mother Earth” to all who know her. Female gospel mezzo-soprano with high belt. 5’5-5’8

Nakawa: The Prince. Good looking and confident. Male pop/R&B second tenor. 5’8-5’10

Kibibi: The Princess. Sweet and impatient. Female pop/gospel second soprano with high belt to E. 5’4 - 5’8

So it would seem like it's not completely a new show. The four leads are the same role, at least.

Here is the link:

http://www.disneyauditions.com/calendar/index.html

I clicked on the New York auditions for the additional info.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Video posted of the construction of the new theater (posted on wdwmagic):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0Dx0IW2hmc

 

[DWJoshua]

That aerial photo is so interesting. If you look at the show building, it's almost exactly the same shape as the old show building. The only exception is that I don't see the canopies/tunnels for the floats that were used in the old show. Does this mean that they have done away with the moving stage concept, or are they just not building them until later? It doesn't even look like they've cleared trees on one side of the building where the tunnels would go. Just a thought.

 

[DanBoris]

That aerial photo is so interesting. If you look at the show building, it's almost exactly the same shape as the old show building. The only exception is that I don't see the canopies/tunnels for the floats that were used in the old show. Does this mean that they have done away with the moving stage concept, or are they just not building them until later? It doesn't even look like they've cleared trees on one side of the building where the tunnels would go. Just a thought.

The tunnels aren't there but there are backstage buildings attached to the back of the theatre that weren't there in the old theatre, so this might be where the floats will go.

 

[DWJoshua]

The Hong Kong Disneyland version of FOTLK uses a hydrolic center stage vs. the florida version with the stage floats that come in from off stage. It's possible that they're changing to that format, which would mean they wouldn't need the long tunnels.

 

[TheSweetestThing]

You have definitely got exactly what I was talking about. The top picture is the one that I've seen the most and he is the best IMO-my favorite. The one on the bottom just doesn't have the voice for the part, even though he does a good voice, it's just not the same when he is there. I wish I could tell which ones are in on which performance.

Those are exactly the same guy.