Broadway Seattle Scores ‘Lion King,’ ‘Once’ for 2013-14 Season at the Paramount

“Once” and “The Lion King” will lead the 2013-2014 Seattle Broadway season at the Paramount Theatre.

In addition to those two shows, the season also will include “Priscilla Queen of the Desert,” “Evita” and “The Wizard of Oz.”

The latter will kick off the season, and is set to run October 9-13. Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams wrote the new musical adaptation of the classic tale, with new music by Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Of course, many of the original songs from the classic movie are used in the new adaptation, as well. “The Wizard of Oz” premiered on the West End in 2011 and had a Toronto run last year, but the 2013 North American tour is the first time it has been presented in the U.S.

“Priscilla Queen of the Desert” will make its Seattle premiere the following month, running from November 12-17.

“This outrageously fun show tells the uplifting story of a trio of friends, on a road trip of a lifetime, who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback and end up finding much more than they could ever have dreamed,” says the tour’s website.

Another Webber production, “Evita” will help ring in the New Year, running from December 31, 2013-January 5, 2014. A recent Broadway revival of the musical starring Ricky Martin just closed at the end of last month.

“The Lion King,” which remains a hit on Broadway and on the road, will be back in Seattle March 11-April 6, 2014. Finally, “Once” will close out the season, making its Seattle premiere May 27-June 8, 2014.

The musical, based on the indie film of the same name, won eight Tony Awards last year, including one for best musical. The adaptation is set in a Dublin pub and features actors performing their own instruments throughout the musical.