ATG Entertainment

VIENNA, September 10, 2026 – ATG Entertainment will open its new Theater im Prater in the fall of 2027 with Disney’s THE LION KING. Ticket sales for the production will begin later this year.

Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the original Broadway production, ATG Entertainment brings the successful show to Vienna. Combining distinctive visual artistry, iconic music, and theatrical storytelling, the production brings the atmosphere of the African savanna to Vienna’s Prater. Disney’s THE LION KING will be performed in German as a long-running, en-suite production in the Austrian capital.

About the Production
Since its world premiere in 1997, the heartwarming story of the young lion Simba has captivated over 130 million people worldwide. To date, 32 global productions have been staged in over 100 cities across 24 countries and translated into nine different languages. Its worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show, or other entertainment title in box office history.

Demonstrating the production's enduring quality, two productions worldwide have been running for 20 or more years and three others for 25 or more years. There are currently nine global productions of the show running simultaneously.

The show’s global success is based on a unique blend: the production fuses Western pop music with the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa to create an impressive work of art. It has earned more than 70 major arts awards, including six Tony Awards®.

Visually, Africa’s nature and wilderness comes to life through Julie Taymor’s revolutionary visual language. She developed the concept, directed the show – for which she became the first woman in history to win a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – and was responsible for the costume and makeup design. Combined with the ingenious puppet creations she developed together with Michael Curry, this creative collaboration makes the show a timeless phenomenon.

The production features the legendary music of Sir Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice – in Michael Kunze’s acclaimed German translation. The musical world is further enriched by powerful contributions from South African musician Lebo M, as well as from Hans Zimmer, Mark Mancina, and Jay Rifkin.

The fact that this production is now being staged for the first time in Austria to coincide with its 30th anniversary underscores the significance of the new venue in Vienna.

Theater im Prater
The Theater im Prater is currently being built at the historic intersection of Viennese charm and international entertainment. The design by the renowned architectural firms Haworth Tompkins of London and Dietrich Untertrifaller of Vienna sets entirely new standards in modern theater construction. The building combines a striking, inviting glass-and-wood façade with state-of-the-art stage technology and a clear focus on sustainability and accessibility. With approximately 1,800 seats, all of which guarantee a clear view of the stage, the venue offers the ideal setting for major international productions of this kind.

Further details will be announced in the coming months. Those interested can now register at www.der-koenig-der-loewen.at to be among the first to receive updates on advance ticket sales.

Dialogues and songs in German

Disneys DER KÖNIG DER LÖWEN

Theater im Prater
Im Prater 141C, A-1020 Wien

www.der-koenig-der-loewen.at
www.theaterimprater.at 

Social Media
instagram/koenigderloewenwien
#DerKönigDerLöwenWien

Statements

Dr. Hannes Hauswald (CEO Central Europe, ATG Entertainment)

“Vienna is one of Europe’s major cities of culture, with a deeply rooted theatrical tradition. The fact that we are now bringing to life the Theater im Prater – the first privately funded theater construction project of this scale in over 100 years – is a responsibility we bear with the deepest respect. We are proud to open this new venue for the citizens of Vienna and guests from all over the world, and to offer our visitors an international musical experience of the highest quality with Disney’s THE LION KING.”

Thomas Schlenk (Executive Producer, ATG Entertainment)

“Disney’s THE LION KING is far more than just a musical – it is a timeless work of theatrical art that has been a part of my professional journey for more than two decades. The fact that this unique production is now coming to Austria for the first time and will officially open the new Theater im Prater is a special moment. Viennese audiences can look forward to a theatrical experience that has set global standards both visually and musically, and for which this new venue provides the perfect setting.”

Andrew Flatt (Disney Theatrical Group Managing Director)
& Anne Quart (Executive Producer)

“Julie Taymor, the show’s visionary director, talks about The Lion King in the most elemental way: it is myth, an eternal coming-of-age fable and universal,” said Disney Theatrical Group Managing Director Andrew Flatt and Executive Producer Anne Quart. “We are proud to announce that our next production – our 33rd – will be in Vienna, one of the great world capitals of art and culture. ATG and the city honor the show by selecting The Lion King to open this glorious new theatre and we cannot wait to welcome Vienna to the Pridelands.”

Press Contact

Allegria Communications | Ansprechpartner: Matthias Buchegger
Email: koenigderloewen@allegria.at  | Tel.: +43 1 / 479 02 60

Full Press Kit (Texts, Images, and Video Material):
Disney's THE LION KING
https://pressecenter.allegria.at/kunde/atg/disneys-der-koenig-der-loewen

Theater im Prater
https://pressecenter.allegria.at/kunde/atg/theater-im-prater

 

Please direct your inquiries via email to koenigderloewen@allegria.at .
Public Press-Area: presse.koenig-der-loewen.at 

About ATG Entertainment

ATG Entertainment is a global leading company in the live entertainment industry. Its portfolio of venues includes historic theaters, studio theaters, movie theaters, conference halls, and modern live music arenas. It owns, operates, or programs 71 of the world’s most famous venues in the United Kingdom, the United States, and continental Europe, entertaining over 18 million spectators each year. 

Through our in-house production companies and close collaboration with top producers and promoters, we present over 15,000 live performances each year, including Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, The Lion King, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and Starlight Express, as well as popular music and comedy shows. 

In Germany, the following venues are part of the group: the Admiralspalast in Berlin, the Capitol Theater in Düsseldorf, the Musical Dome in Cologne, the Theater am Großmarkt in Hamburg, and the Starlight Express Theater in Bochum.

In Austria, ATG Entertainment is currently expanding its portfolio to include the Theater im Prater in Vienna, which is currently under construction – with approximately 1,800 seats, it is the country’s largest privately funded theater construction project in over 100 years.

www.atgentertainment.de
www.theaterimprater.at 

About The Lion King

Approaching 30 landmark years on Broadway, The Lion King continues ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals of all time.  Since its premiere on November 13, 1997, 32 global productions have been seen by over 130 million people.  Produced by Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart, The Lion King has made theatrical history with two productions worldwide running 20 or more years and three others running 25 or more years. 

Performed over its lifetime in nine different languages (English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese), there are currently nine productions of The Lion King around the world: Broadway, London, Paris, Hamburg, Madrid, Tokyo, Mexico City and on tour across North America and Australia. The Lion King has played over 100 cities in 24 countries on every continent except Antarctica. Its worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.   

The Lion King won six 1998 Tony Awards^®:  Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical (Julie Taymor).  The Lion King has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy^® for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design.  

Julie Taymor, who conceived and directed the production and is its costume designer and mask co-designer, was the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical. She remains actively involved in the show, launching new productions and maintaining the flagship Broadway production.  

The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice’s songs from The Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional music and lyrics by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer; and music from “Rhythm of the Pride Lands,” an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer.  The resulting sound of The Lion King is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award®-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to Lebo M’s rich choral numbers.

Elton John, Lebo M and Hans Zimmer all collaborated on the 2019 version of the film, executive produced by Julie Taymor and Thomas Schumacher, which has gone onto extraordinary worldwide success.

The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated The Lion King feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film’s screenplay. The stage production was originally produced by Peter Schneider and Thomas Schumacher. Other members of the creative team include:  Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), David Kreppel and Sean Mayes (music supervisors), Anthony Lyn (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Lisa Dawn Cave (production supervisor), Michael Bolgar (general manager), Robert Elhai (associate music producer), Michael Keller (music coordinator), Robert Elhai and David Metzger (orchestrators), Rick Sordelet (fight director) and ARC/Mark Brandon, CSA (casting). 

For more information worldwide, visit LionKing.com, www.facebook.com/thelionkingusa and www.instagram.com/thelionking.

About Disney Theatrical Group

DISNEY THEATRICAL GROUP (DTG), a division of The Walt Disney Studios led by Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart, brings the stories you love to life through stage productions, arena shows, and immersive experiences. Each year, DTG’s productions and experiences reach nearly 40 million guests across 300 cities on five continents, with hundreds of millions of people entertained around the globe since the company’s inception.

Since its stage debut in 1994 with Beauty and the Beast, Disney Theatrical Group has become one of the most successful theatre producers in the world, earning 20 Tony® Awards and more than 60 nominations for its 10 Broadway titles. Its New York productions include The Lion King, Aladdin, Frozen, Newsies, Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida, TARZAN®, Mary Poppins (co-produced with Cameron Mackintosh), The Little Mermaid and Peter and the Starcatcher. Additional stage ventures include the current North American tour of Beauty and the Beast, the Olivier Award-nominated Shakespeare in Love, Hercules, stage productions of Disney’s High School Musical, Der Glöckner von Notre Dame in Berlin and King David in concert on Broadway.  

Disney Theatrical Group has also collaborated with leading regional theatres across the United States to develop new musicals including The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Freaky Friday. Under the Buena Vista Theatrical banner, the company licenses titles from the 20th Century Studios film library for stage adaptation, including Anastasia; Moulin Rouge! The Musical; The Devil Wears Prada and Mrs. Doubtfire.

Next up: the eagerly anticipated stage adaptation of The Greatest Showman, which opens in London’s West End in Spring 2027. 

Disney Theatrical Group also oversees a growing global portfolio of live entertainment and immersive experiences that expand Disney storytelling beyond the traditional stage. These include Disney On Ice; Mundo Pixar Experience; Disney Junior Live On Tour: Let’s Play!; The Nightmare Before Christmas Light Trail; Avatar: Guardians of Eywa; The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Sphere and Secret Cinema’s Pirates of the Caribbean: The Immersive Adventure. Through these experiences, DTG creates new ways for audiences around the world to engage with beloved stories and characters through live entertainment.