Lion King

W atching "The Lion King," even on a second viewing, the operative response upon experiencing the opening number featuring a plethora of wild animals — including an elephant and two giraffes of approximate actual size — boils down to a single word: wow. And these are just the background characters in this touring revival at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, one of seven running worldwide. There are zebras, hyenas, birds and, of course, lions. It's a jungle in there.

In a year marked by construction milestones and future scheduling announcements, one time-tested musical ruled the kingdom at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The Orange County premiere of Disney's "The Lion King" brought nearly 150,000 people to Segerstrom Hall during an unprecedented six-week spring run. Nineteen truckloads of costumes, sets and props, hundreds of crew members, 700 lighting instruments and 48 cast members came to Costa Mesa for the colorful performance.

When Dionne Randolph was a child, being the only kid on the playground with a deep, deep voice guaranteed him taunts and grief. But that former hardship has become one of his greatest assets as an adult. Now a professional actor, Randolph will appear as the leonine Mufasa in the touring national production of “The Lion King,” when it arrives at the Orange County Performing Arts Center next week. “My voice dropped so early; I remember in elementary school I was made fun of for it. Now it’s paying off,” Randolph said.

Elia Powers Earlier this week, Disney crews unloaded 22 trucks and 130,000 pounds of props in preparation for "The Lion King," which plays through April 24 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Robbie Foreman, the center's technical director and head carpenter, remembers a similar undertaking for an equally grandiose Broadway show more than a decade ago. In 1994, 10 years before it became a major motion picture, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" came to Segerstrom Hall for a six-week run from late July through early September.

Elia Powers Not since a 1980s run of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" has the Orange County Performing Arts Center seen a production of this magnitude. "Usually a show comes in a few days before it opens to set up," said Jerry Mandel, Performing Arts Center president. "For this one, we are closing the theater down 10 days before opening night. "It's our biggest undertaking in years." Disney's "The Lion King" is coming to Segerstrom Hall for a six-week run, beginning March 10. Inside Segerstrom Hall, employees are rolling out the red carpet -- and clearing room on the theater floor -- for the production, which hit Broadway in 1998.

Andrew Edwards Officials around the Orange County Performing Arts Center are hoping the center's planned expansion will bring more Broadway-style shows that pack theatergoers into restaurant booths. "The Lion King" was scheduled to conclude its 6 1/2 -week run at the center Sunday. Performing Arts Center spokespersons said Disney would not allow the center to disclose box-office figures until the show's engagement concluded. Performing Arts Center President Jerry Mandel said the musical came close to selling every show out and drew "the biggest demand for tickets that I can remember."

Tom Titus Rarely, if ever, has a Broadway musical arrived at the Orange County Performing Arts Center with such advance publicity and such eager anticipation as "The Lion King." Not "Phantom of the Opera," not even "Les Miserables" has generated this much interest. Last weekend, local audiences finally found out what all the hype and hyperbole was about, and it's safe to say they were not disappointed. "The Lion King" is a roaring triumph on many levels of entertainment.

Michael Miller It's one of the highest-grossing Disney movies of all time, a multiple Oscar and Tony winner, and currently in its eighth sold-out year on the New York stage. But for Moira Niehaus and Gloria Walter, "The Lion King" was, of all things, a surprise. "I didn't even get to go with my grandson to see the cartoon," said Niehaus as she stood outside the Orange County Performing Arts Center on Thursday, minutes before the musical's first preview showing.

1. By mid week, Newport-Mesa residents enjoyed a respite from the pounding rains and storm winds that knocked over trees, flooded streets and endangered buildings. Tuesday's storm was especially fierce as it brought thunderstorms and a sighting of what offshore? A. A killer whale B. A tsunami C. A waterspout D. A tall ship 2. This week we learned that a popular drinking hole was in business no more. What was the name of this hangout?

W atching "The Lion King," even on a second viewing, the operative response upon experiencing the opening number featuring a plethora of wild animals — including an elephant and two giraffes of approximate actual size — boils down to a single word: wow. And these are just the background characters in this touring revival at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, one of seven running worldwide. There are zebras, hyenas, birds and, of course, lions. It's a jungle in there.

W hen Dionne Randolph was a child, being the only kid on the playground with a deep, deep voice guaranteed him taunts and grief. But that former hardship has become one of his greatest assets as an adult. Now a professional actor, Randolph will appear as the leonine Mufasa in the touring national production of "The Lion King," when it arrives at the Orange County Performing Arts Center next week. "My voice dropped so early; I remember in elementary school I was made fun of for it. Now it's paying off," Randolph said.

Corona del Mar High School senior Kevin Holland will have no problem completing his 40-hour community service requirement prior to graduating next year. In his capacity as the school's Community Service Commissioner, the 16-year-old planned and organized a trip to the Odienya village in Kenya, where he, along with four of his classmates and two teachers, will help build a health clinic in August. "I wanted to make more of a hands-on contribution instead of just making monetary donations," Kevin said.

1. The Irvine Co. announced this week that it is taking over the management of which Newport-Mesa hotel? A. The Four Seasons B. The Ali Baba C. The Marriott D. Motel 3 2. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District is going to put a bond on the November ballot seeking how much money? A. $110 million B. $163 million C. $200 million D. $282 million 3. A sea lion named what was returned to the ocean this week after it likely swam north in the San Diego Creek?

In a year marked by construction milestones and future scheduling announcements, one time-tested musical ruled the kingdom at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The Orange County premiere of Disney's "The Lion King" brought nearly 150,000 people to Segerstrom Hall during an unprecedented six-week spring run. Nineteen truckloads of costumes, sets and props, hundreds of crew members, 700 lighting instruments and 48 cast members came to Costa Mesa for the colorful performance.

Andrew Edwards Officials around the Orange County Performing Arts Center are hoping the center's planned expansion will bring more Broadway-style shows that pack theatergoers into restaurant booths. "The Lion King" was scheduled to conclude its 6 1/2 -week run at the center Sunday. Performing Arts Center spokespersons said Disney would not allow the center to disclose box-office figures until the show's engagement concluded. Performing Arts Center President Jerry Mandel said the musical came close to selling every show out and drew "the biggest demand for tickets that I can remember."

Tom Titus Rarely, if ever, has a Broadway musical arrived at the Orange County Performing Arts Center with such advance publicity and such eager anticipation as "The Lion King." Not "Phantom of the Opera," not even "Les Miserables" has generated this much interest. Last weekend, local audiences finally found out what all the hype and hyperbole was about, and it's safe to say they were not disappointed. "The Lion King" is a roaring triumph on many levels of entertainment.

TONY DODERO As the Segerstrom Stage filled with the colorful array of jungle animals and trees, my wife, Beth, leaned toward me and whispered in my ear. "The girls would love this," she said. Yes, they would. My two daughters would love the stage production of Disney's "The Lion King," probably not so much for the sheer artistry that the production has managed to create on the Orange County Performing Arts Center stage, but for its near word-for- word likeness of the animated movie of the same name.

Elia Powers Earlier this week, Disney crews unloaded 22 trucks and 130,000 pounds of props in preparation for "The Lion King," which plays through April 24 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Robbie Foreman, the center's technical director and head carpenter, remembers a similar undertaking for an equally grandiose Broadway show more than a decade ago. In 1994, 10 years before it became a major motion picture, Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" came to Segerstrom Hall for a six-week run from late July through early September.