Disney's "The Lion King" -- the spectacular-sized, family-friendly musical that introduced large-scale puppets to Broadway audiences -- will finally play Salt Lake City.

The national tour of the musical will play at downtown's Capitol Theatre Aug. 11-Sept. 12, 2010, the highlight of Broadway Across America Utah's season, which will also include nationally touring shows of the more irreverent, adult-oriented puppet show, "Avenue Q," as well as two other movie-to-musical adaptations, "Legally Blonde" and "The Wedding Singer."

Current Broadway subscribers have until April 20 to purchase tickets for next season. "We've already renewed about 600 patrons," said Elizabeth Nebeker, spokeswoman for Broadway Across America Utah. "We're right on pace. 'Lion King' is such big show for this market, and we've trying to bring it for years."

The stage musical, adapted from the 1994 Disney animated movie, premiered on Broadway in 1997, where the show is still playing.

The show's name-brand popularity, sparked by the visual images of director Julie Taymor, as well as Elton John and Tim Rice's "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" and other memorable songs, may be one reason why hundreds of subscribers have quickly renewed this week, despite the economic downturn. After the success of this season's ticket sales for "Wicked" --- more than 2,000 people lined up at the theater's box office early Dec. 12, and some 7,000 single tickets were sold out in six hours -- some theatergoers realized they would have a better chance to guarantee seats as subscribers, Nebeker said.

New season ticket packages, which include four shows and range from $156.50-$351.50, will go on sale May 3, with tickets to single shows sold at a later date. Also available are two special holiday concerts: "A Kurt Bestor Christmas," Dec. 10-12," and "The Christmas Songs of Mannheim Steamroller," and Dec. 18-19, both at Abravanel Hall. For more information, visit www.NewSpaceEntertainment.com.