The sights and sounds of the African savanna will fill the Old National Centre this fall as Disney’s “The Lion King” makes its long-awaited return to Indianapolis.

The landmark Broadway musical will begin its limited three-week engagement on Wednesday, Sept. 30, and continue through Sunday, Oct. 18. Performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. An additional 1 p.m. matinee will be offered Friday, Oct. 16.

Now approaching 30 years on Broadway, “The Lion King” remains one of the most popular and successful stage productions in theatrical history. Its North American tour has been on the road for more than 24 years, welcoming more than 28 million theatergoers during over 10,000 performances. It is currently the continent’s longest-running and most-attended Broadway tour.

Indianapolis audiences will once again experience the imaginative masks, intricate puppetry, soaring music and vivid scenic design that have helped make the production a global phenomenon.

A Global Theatrical Landmark

“The Lion King” premiered on Broadway on Nov. 13, 1997. Since then, 32 productions have been seen by more than 130 million people around the world. The musical has visited more than 100 cities in 24 countries on every continent except Antarctica.

The show has been performed in nine languages: English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese. Current productions can be found on Broadway and in London, Paris, Hamburg, Madrid, Tokyo and Mexico City, as well as on tours across North America and Australia.

Its worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway production or other entertainment title in box-office history.

The musical won six Tony Awards in 1998, including Best Musical, Best Scenic Design, Best Costume Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Choreography and Best Direction of a Musical. It has since received more than 70 major arts honors, including a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album and Laurence Olivier Awards for its choreography and costume design.

Visionary Direction and Design

Julie Taymor conceived and directed the stage production, in addition to serving as its costume designer and mask co-designer. Her work on “The Lion King” made her the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical.

Taymor remains actively involved with the production, helping launch new companies around the world while maintaining the flagship Broadway show. Working with mask and puppet designer Michael Curry, she created a distinctive visual language that allows performers and their animal characters to appear together onstage.

The production’s creative team also includes scenic designer Richard Hudson, lighting designer Donald Holder, choreographer Garth Fagan and sound designer Steve Canyon Kennedy.

Music That Spans Cultures

The Broadway score incorporates Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs from Disney’s animated film, including the Academy Award-winning “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” along with three additional songs created by the duo for the stage.

The musical also features contributions from South African composer Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer, as well as music from “Rhythm of the Pride Lands,” an album inspired by the original film score.

The result is a fusion of Western popular music with the distinctive sounds, languages and rhythms of Africa. From familiar songs such as “Circle of Life” and “Hakuna Matata” to Lebo M’s powerful choral arrangements, the score has become as central to the production’s identity as its celebrated visual design.

The stage adaptation’s book was written by Roger Allers, who co-directed the original animated film, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote its screenplay. Disney Theatrical Group produces the musical under the direction of Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart.

Disney’s “The Lion King” will be presented at the Old National Centre from Sept. 30 through Oct. 18. Tickets and additional information are available at BroadwayInIndianapolis.com. More information about the production is available at LionKing.com.