Tuesday 20 August 2019: FNB and Disney Africa have announced a collaboration to bring a series of family-oriented Disney LIVE events over the course of the next year to South African audiences. As part of this, FNB customers will have access to a special pre-sale ticket purchasing window, as well as access to specials and surprise perks. The first of these events will be Disney’s The Lion King LIVE In Concert that will play to Gauteng audiences this festive season.
In The Lion King LIVE In Concert, the all-new Disney film that was released last month in cinemas, will come to life on an epic scale as it’s screened and accompanied LIVE by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra. The action, adventure and wild excitement of the 2019 film will be coming to The Sun Arena at Time Square in Pretoria on the 10th, 11th and 12th of December this year, in a perfectly synchronised live orchestral performance.
This unique family entertainment experience will combine the screening of Disney’s The Lion King directed by Jon Favreau with the epic live orchestral performance of Oscar® and GRAMMY®-winning composer Hans Zimmer’s original motion picture soundtrack that also features South African legend Lebo M.
Tickets are on sale exclusively through Computicket from 09:00am on Tuesday 27th August 2019, with prices starting from R200 per person. Visit www.computicket.com. FNB customers will have the opportunity to purchase tickets during a preferential pre-sale ticket purchasing period from 22 August to 26 August via Computicket or eBucks.com. IN addition, FNB customers can choose to pay for their tickets in eBucks or part-pay for them with the Pay in eBucks functionality on the FNB App.
Raj Makanjee, CEO of FNB Retail says, “We are delighted to collaborate with Disney to bring these family events to South African audiences, many of which are our customers. The integration of lifestyle benefits and a strong money management focus is a key focus in our maturing family banking proposition. This collaboration is another illustration of our ability to offer customers exclusive value with major savings to help them stretch their household budgets.”
“We are thrilled to be collaborating with FNB in bringing these world class and unforgettable Disney live events to South African audiences over the next year,” says Christine Service, Senior Vice President and Country Manager, The Walt Disney Company Africa. “We are equally excited for these audiences to experience our films and characters in new and unexpected ways.”
Disney’s 2019 release of The Lion King features the voices of artists such as South African John Kani, as well as James Earl-Jones, Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, and Beyoncé bringing the unforgettable host of characters to life. Disney’s The Lion King film features the voices of South African icon Dr John Kani, as well as James Earl-Jones, Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, and Beyoncé.
“Now begins another tale told about my continent, about my country, about my people and about my heritage. These animals are mine. That’s what the great generations of my ancestors left to me to inherit and when that story is told I feel SO proud that the world is listening to Africa,” says Dr John Kani. “It warms my heart knowing that it’s now being taken to even greater heights as an all new live orchestral experience – I cannot wait for local audiences to experience The Lion King in this way,” he added.
The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, which has always provided the best of local and international soloists and conductors will add harmony to the new film. The Orchestra epitomises the highest standards and world class skills in performing arts.
- The film is presented at its full duration of 118 minutes, and accompanied by the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra throughout.
- Film dialogue and effects are part of the audio mix.
- The projection screen is 13m by 7m.
- Computicket is the official ticketing partner
About Disney’s “The Lion King
Disney’s “The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau, journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub’s arrival. Scar, Mufasa’s brother—and former heir to the throne—has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba’s exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his. The all-star cast includes Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichner as Timon. Utilizing pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring treasured characters to life in a whole new way. Disney’s The Lion King is currently in cinemas.
About Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO):
The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra (JPO) was formed in May 2000 by a group of committed and resilient musicians following the demise of the National Symphony Orchestra. It has continued to consistently perform regular series of Symphony Seasons, attracting the best international and local soloists and conductors, as well as being the orchestra of choice for State functions in Gauteng.
There is a sincere commitment to consistent high standards of performance, with the aim of not only delivering quality performances to audiences, but also establishing the bench mark for aspirant musicians, not only those who are tutored through the JPO’s own educational arm (the Academy) but to those who perform in the many youth orchestras and ensembles around Gauteng and elsewhere.
The JPO strives to be nationally and internationally recognized as the country’s leading philharmonic orchestra, and to ensure the ongoing sustainability and growth of music traditions, nurturing the accessibility of music to a broader community.
It also endeavors to challenge the prevailing perception of classical music performances being elitist and Euro-centric by appealing to a truly egalitarian local audience, performing music that incorporates the greatest examples of both classical and South African music genres.