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Contact: Kevin Worley 816-756-3580 ext.4270

September 3, 2008

Disney taps KCPT to offer behind-the-scenes look at Lion King

Station gives viewers an exclusive peek behind the curtain at Kennedy Center performance, then offers the best seats in the house and a chat-back with the performers after the live show in KC


(KANSAS CITY) — They performed in Omaha and Tulsa. Des Moines, too. But for the past six years, the Grammy and Tony award-winning stage performance of The Lion King has passed by Kansas City.

Until now.

And not only will the region have the opportunity to see the Broadway musical live at the renovated and expanded Music Hall downtown, but KCPT viewers will get a behind-the-scenes look at the spectacular stage production when "The Lion King: From the Pridelands to the Heartland" premiers, Monday, September 8 at 7 p.m. only on KCPT.

KCPT on-air personality Nick Haines and producer Diana Hughes traveled to Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center last month with exclusive backstage access to the actors, musicians and others involved with the Disney production. Kansas City Public Television is the first and only PBS affiliate in the nation to be offered the opportunity to film the goings-on behind the curtain and on the stage.

"This is the first time Disney has partnered with a PBS station, and KCPT is that partner," says Bonnie Rabicoff, Vice President of Development and Community Partnerships. "We are thrilled to offer our viewers such a programming gem."

Viewers making pledges of support to KCPT during the station's fall membership drive beginning September 5 and continuing through September 21 will have the opportunity for the best seats in the house when the production arrives in Kansas City next month. In addition, those who participate in the KCPT program will have the chance to meet the performers after the show.

"The live Kansas City performance is the same exact show that KCPT viewers will see from the Kennedy Center," explains Rabicoff. "Same actors, same musicians, same set — same magic."

KCPT is a nonprofit, community-owned television station serving the greater Kansas City area that provides programming and services that entertain, educate and enrich the community. For more information about KCPT's programs and services go to www.KCPT.org.


LION KING FUN FACTS

Masks and Puppets

There are more than 200 puppets in the show, including rod puppets, shadow puppets, and full-sized puppets
There are 25 kinds of animals, birds, fish, and insects represented in the show
There are 12 bird kites in the opening number of Act II, "One By One"
It took 17,000 hours to build the puppets and masks
Mufasa's mask weighs 11 ounces
Scar's mask weighs 9 ounces
The most complicated set piece is Pride Rock. It is a battery-powered piece that is 18' long at its fullest onstage and compresses to 8' when it is offstage
The tallest animals in the show are the 18-foot exotic giraffes seen in "I Just Can't Wait to Be King"
The tiniest animal is the trick mouse at the end of Scar's cane: 5"
The longest animal is an elephant: 13' long, 11'-3" high, and 9' wide at the ears. It collapses to 34" wide to go down the aisle in the theatres
300' of carbon fiber and 750 pounds of silicone rubber were used to make the masks
The Timon puppet weighs 15 pounds
The show uses 19 trucks to transport the production's puppets, set pieces and other materials from city to city. Fourteen of the trucks are 53' semi-trailers
Number of wigs in the show: 49

Costumes

The Grasslands headdresses use 3,000 stalks of grass per year
There are over 100 ants on the Ant-Hill Lady
Number of hyenas in the show: 39
Number of wildebeests in the show: 52

Other Facts

There are 143 people directly involved with the daily production of the show: 53 cast members, 21 musicians, 17 wardrobe people, 5 hair/make-up artists, 3 puppet craftsmen, 13 carpenters, 10 electricians, 8 administrative people, 6 creative associates, 4 props people, and 3 sound people
Lighting Designer Donald Holder used nearly 700 lighting instruments to create the show's lighting plot

--KCPT--