Disney’s The Lion King US North American Tour, Rafiki Tour opening night October 26 2017 at the Landmark Theatre, Syracuse. Photo by Deen van Meer.

Shea’s Performing Arts Center (SPAC) hosted Disney’s The Lion King at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre from December 13 through January 7.  Over 88,000 people from as far away as Ottawa, Texas, and Illinois came to the theatre for the thirty-one performance engagement. With approximately 60% of attendees from Erie and Niagara counties, 5% from Ontario, 13% from the southern tier and other WNY counties, the remainder of the WNY visitors were from Pennsylvania, Ohio and other nearby states. 

“Celebrating the holidays and enjoying live theatre brought families to the opulent Shea’s; experiencing both the 1926 Tiffany-designed interior and the Tony Award-winning production.  It was wonderful to see such unbridled joy and enthusiasm among our patrons as they joined family, friends, and out of town guests in downtown Buffalo and at Shea’s.” said Michael G. Murphy, President of SPAC.

“It has always brought great pleasure in presenting such beloved shows at Shea’s throughout the years, and we are thrilled with the support of the patrons of WNY and the economic impact of over 15 million dollars to the community” said Albert Nocciolino, longtime presenting partner at Shea’s Performing Arts Center.

Much like previous multiple-week engagements including Wicked and Phantom of the Opera, Disney’s The Lion King created approximately $16.5 million in economic impact to area businesses playing host to over 100 traveling cast and crew, their families, and guests from near and far, who came to visit WNY during the holidays.

“Shea’s is one of the pillars of Buffalo’s tourism industry and the crown jewel of the city’s theatre district,” Visit Buffalo Niagara President and CEO Patrick Kaler said. “We’re thrilled to see the surrounding downtown hotels and restaurants benefit from the first-rate entertainment like Disney’s The Lion King that Shea’s brings in year after year.”

Next up, Waitress, a ground-breaking musical conceived by an all-female creative team with music by six-time Grammy Award nominee, Sara Bareilles, quickly followed by the hilarious smash Something Rotten!, and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hits School of Rock and Love Never Dies.