Lion King Monte Casino

This year is going to prove to be a very special one for the South African audience who will get to celebrate the ten-year anniversary of “The Lion King” as a Broadway musical. There are very few of us who have not seen the wonderful Disney animated movie “The Lion King” brought out in 1997, some years back.

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The production will take place on the South African stage in Johannesburg where we will be provided with a spectacular musical, showcasing the immense talent we have in South Africa. Lebo M, a musician and a composer, was part of the original production of the animated Lion King in New York and will again take part in the musical. The music featured will be totally home grown with well-known tunes like “Pridelands” and “Circle of Life” making it a truly South African event.

Plus, if you’re lucky, Committie will perform the entire opening sequence of the Lion King by himself playing all the animals except for the Kwagga (for legal reasons). Friday, 27 November: 20h00. Saturday, 28 November: 16h00. Sunday, 29 November: 15h00. Wednesday, 2 – Friday, 4 December: 20h00. Saturday, 5 December: 16h00. Beginning in June 2007, The Lion King Musical debuted its first ever performance on the African continent in Johannesburg, South Africa. Its tenth year anniversary was celebrated in the new Teatro Theatre at Monte Casino in Fourways. The Lion King is the first production to take place in the new theatre.

For those whose memory is a bit hazy on the story line of “The Lion King” here is a quick refresher. Simba, a lion cub, loses his father in death to his malicious uncle who desires to rule as king. For many years Simba secretly hides away in the jungle until he is older and more capable of overthrowing his cruel uncle, replacing him as king, as he rightly should be.

The Lion King production is set to open on the 6th of June 2007 at the 1,900-seat Monte Casino theater. Casting for the fifty-three artists needed to make the musical a reality began last year September. Ever since the first production of the movie South Africa has played an important role in making the movie the hit it has been. It only makes sense that the tenth anniversary of the Lion King Broadway production would then take place in the country that has had so much influence and involvement in it.

Julie Taymor, an award winning director; Thomas Schumacher, a well-known producer; Pieter Toerien, an experienced theater producer; and Lebo M, a composer are just some of the few highly qualified members that will help make the musical a great success for all people, young and old, to enjoy. Many cast members taking part in the South African version of the Lion Kingmusical have taken part in many similar versions around the world. These cast members include Buyi Zama who plays Rafiki, Andile Gumbi as Simba and Sello Make as Mufasa. The official sponsors of this truly memorable event will be SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) and South Africa Telkom.

Montecasino
Location	Fourways, Sandton
Address	1 Montecasino Blvd, Fourways, Sandton, 2021
Opening date	2000; 20 years ago
Theme	Italian Village
Owner	Tsogo Sun
Website	tsogosun.com/montecasino

Montecasino is a leisure and casino complex in Fourways, Sandton in Gauteng, South Africa.^[1] It was designed by American company Creative Kingdom Inc. and built by South African architects Bentel Associates International at a cost of R1.6 billion.^[2] It first opened its doors on 30 November 2000 and it currently attracts over 9.3 million visitors annually.^[3]^[4] It is themed after Monte Cassino^{[citation needed]}. It has been designed to replicate an ancient Tuscan village.^[5] The main casino building has a fake sky, painted on the ceiling , inside going from light on one side to dark at the other.

Montecasino is owned by Tsogo Sun. Tsogo Sun is a partnership between Southern Sun and Tsogo Investments. Tsogo Investments is a black empowerment group and the hotel component of Tsogo Sun's casinos are developed and managed by Southern Sun. Tsogo Sun holds the casino license for Montecasino.^[6]

Teatro[edit]

The Teatro opened its doors in May 2007. The Teatro was constructed at a cost of over R100 million and is one of the 10 largest Lyric theatres in the world. The Teatro is currently the largest theatre in South Africa and can sit 1,870 people at full capacity.^[7] The Teatro theatre has hosted major musical productions such as the Disney Broadway musical The Lion King in 2007 as well as Joyous Celebration Rewind Recordings.

The tethered helium passenger balloon rising over the Montecasino buildings.

Awards[edit]

Montecasino has won numerous awards since 2001.^[8] This includes the following awards:

2009/11/30 – 'The Readers Choice Awards' – Best Casino
2009/10/15 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Cinema Complex
2009/10/15 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners in Jozi
2009/10/15 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Entertainment Complex
2009/09/08 – 'PMR – Diamond Arrow' – Gauteng province – Business Sector: Leading Casino / Entertainment Centre
2008/08/08 – 'PMR – Diamond Arrow' – Gauteng province – Business Sector: Leading Casino / Entertainment Centre
2008/08/08 – 'The Star' – Best Casino
2008/09/08 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Cinema Complex
2008/09/08 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners in Jozi
2008/09/08 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Entertainment Complex
2007/10/06 – 'Tourism Grading Council of South Africa' – Five star grading as a Meeting, Exhibition & Special Events venue
2007/10/07 – 'PMR – Golden arrow' – Gauteng province Business Sector: Best Casino/Entertainment Centres in Gauteng Province
2007/10/07 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Cinema Complex
2007/10/07 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners in Jozi
2007/10/07 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Entertainment Complex
2007/10/07 – 'Tourism Grading Council of South Africa' – Five star grading as a Meeting, Exhibition & Special Events venue
2006/10/06 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Thai Restaurant – Kai Thai
2006/10/06 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Dinner on a budget and best steakhouse – Franchise – Spur
2006/10/06 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Fish/Seafood Restaurant – Ocean Basket
2006/10/06 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Book Shop – Exclusive Books
2006/10/06 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Entertainment Complex
2006/10/06 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Ladies Night Venue – Café Vacca Matta
2006/10/06 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Cinema complex – Montecasino Nu Metro
2006/10/06 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Children's menu in a restaurant and best kids' party venue – indoor – Spur
2006/08/06 – 'The Star' – Best Casino
2006/08/06 – 'Pretoria News' – Best Casino
2005/08/01 – 'The Star' – Best Casino
2005/08/01 – 'Pretoria News' – Best Casino
2005/10/01 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Entertainment Complex
2005/10/01 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Cinema Complex
2005/10/01 – 'PMR Gauteng Province' – Leaders and Achievers – Executive Lifestyle: Best Entertainment Centre
2004/10/01 – 'The Star' – Best Casino
2004/10/01 – 'Pretoria News' – Best Casino
2004/10/01 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Entertainment Complex
2004/10/01 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Cinema complex
2004/10/01 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Steakhouse Franchise
2004/10/01 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Ladies Night Venue
2004/06/01 – 'South African Landscapers Institute' – InterContinental Palazzo Hotel Gardens won a Gold Award
2004/06/01 – 'South African Landscapers Institute' – Montecasino Bird Gardens won a Silver Award for Maintenance of Large Landscape Gardens
2003/10/01 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Casino
2003/10/01 – 'ROCCI' – Service Excellence
2002/10/01 – 'Leisure Options' – Best Casino
2001/10/01 – 'ROCCI' – Community Contribution, Service Excellence & Special Award for Large Business Beyond ROCCI Regional Boundaries

References[edit]