Landing in Abu Dhabi for the first time in the Middle East

“The Lion King” producer: We are happy with the echoes of the show even before we arrive in the UAE

  • Preparing for the presentation in Abu Dhabi took months.

    From the source

  • Michael Castle: "Abu Dhabi is a magnet for exceptional experiences in the region, and a destination for major arts and entertainment."

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The producer and CEO of the musical show "The Lion King", Michael Castle, confirmed that Abu Dhabi represents a center of attraction for exceptional experiences in the Middle East, and a destination for attracting major artistic and entertainment works, and therefore it was chosen to host the premiere of the "The Lion King" show in the Middle East the day after tomorrow, pointing out that There are more future plans to present new shows in the UAE capital.

Castle told "Emirates Today": "After (The Lion King) was attended by more than 110 million people from around the world, during his previous performances, it was Abu Dhabi's turn to host the first time that the show was organized in the region, giving the audience an opportunity to witness an authentic experience. Inspired by the Broadway theater in the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, expressing his happiness with the positive feedback that the show received even before its arrival, which gives the team more motivation to present their best in the Emirates, and provides clear evidence of the popularity of the famous story, and therefore the period was extended for a while. Longer to make five additional offers.

Challenges

On the difficulties of preparing for the show and transferring it to Abu Dhabi, specifically in logistical matters, equipment, setting decorations, final production, and others, Castle added: “The band’s preparation team goes through a myriad of logistical challenges before the show arrives in a new country, including booking more than 120 flights for individuals. The mobile squad, transporting the crew and organizing trips between several cities, but the preparation team amazes us every season with its ability to organize all these things.

The process of presenting performances to new audiences around the world requires huge logistical efforts, but it is a rewarding experience at the same time.

The great support provided by our local partners in (Miral) contributed to the holding of the show in Abu Dhabi.”

Castle stated that preparing for the show in Abu Dhabi took months, and the work team includes 99 people from actors and crew members coming from all over the world. To personal escorts, resident creators, and members of the orchestra, a local crew is employed in each city to assist the traveling band, making musical performances, such as "The Lion King", even more memorable.

On whether any changes were made to the show to suit the culture of Abu Dhabi, whether in the events of the story, costumes, decorations, or others, Castle explained: “We are keen to study the culture of each city we visit, and add some local touches to the show inspired by it.

The “The Lion King” show features diverse elements inspired by different cultures, including the use of puppets, African music and masks.”

different from the movie

Castle pointed out that the musical “The Lion King” differs from the popular movie of the same name, thanks to its characters and unique soundtrack, and this difference is that the show reflects the creativity of director Julie Taymore by expanding the events of the beloved story that was shown for the first time in 1994 through Costumes, dolls and masks, Taymore has created a show that elevates the artistic experiences of musical theater by presenting this beloved story to theater audiences around the world.

He revealed future plans to present more shows in Abu Dhabi, as his group is currently focusing on preparing new content and developing a list of original shows that he hopes to present in Abu Dhabi later.

Dates

The inaugural show of “The Lion King” will start the day after tomorrow at the “Etihad Arena” on Yas Island, with five new evening shows on November 22, 23 and 30, and the sixth and seventh of next December, in addition to the final show on December 10.

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Millions of people from all over the world enjoyed the musical show "The Lion King".

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