“The Lion King” will soon utter its final roar in Toronto. Mirvish Productions has announced that the last performance of the critically acclaimed and award-winning musical will take place Aug. 30 at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

It’s a shorter run than many expected for a production of its calibre, but the company’s director of sales says producers determined it was better to close the show on “a really high note” than gamble with uncertainties that may come up later this year. “You don’t want to go out struggling,” John Karastamatis added.

The stage adaptation of the 1994 Disney animated film opened in November, featuring a cast of mostly Canadian performers and crew, with high expectations for an extended run.

Before opening, David Mirvish said he hoped the production might last at least a couple of years. He projected it would break even after 26 to 36 weeks of performances.

By the time it closes, the show will have played 43 weeks and a total of 345 shows, reaching an expected audience of more than 250,000 people.

“We’ve accomplished what we set out to do, we have a new generation of artists on the stage and we’ve had great audiences,” he said. “It’s kind of a gut feeling, but it’s hard to tell the future, especially nowadays.”

Karastamatis described several factors that could negatively affect ticket sales for a show as long-running as “The Lion King.” For instance, a new political climate has reduced cross-border travel.

“We’re not getting Americans up here. Canadians aren’t going to the United States either. So, it’s a whole new world,” he said. “Our hope for this summer is that Canadians will make up the difference.”

Producers weighed other factors, too. One was that come fall “The Lion King” would be headed into a new theatre season and possibly deemed an “old show” in a busy market of new projects.

“The Lion King” first ran in Toronto from 2000 to 2004 and has since seen a number of travelling versions roll through the city.

Last year’s return was touted as an open-ended run, which aren’t especially common in Toronto, and their long-running success is never a guarantee.

If this article was shared with you by a friend or colleague, you may enjoy receiving your own copy of Travel Industry Today with the latest travel news and reviews each weekday morning.  It’s absolutely free – just CLICK HERE.