There is no greater success story on Broadway than The Lion King. It is reliably among the top-grossing stage shows in New York, where it has brought in nearly $2 billion over its 26-year run; its global total is five times that amount.
The musical's producer is the theatrical division of the Walt Disney Company, an entertainment industry behemoth that earned $89 billion in revenue during its last fiscal year.
Over the three years since the program was established, New York State has bestowed over $100 million on commercial Broadway productions. The Lion King, along with other juggernauts like Aladdin, The Book of Mormon and Wicked, each got the maximum $3 million subsidy.
The program was initiated by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, as theaters were nervously preparing to reopen after being shut for a year and a half. It was later tripled to $300 million by Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is now considering whether to seek an extension when it expires next year.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]