Disney's "The Lion King," the six-time Tony Award-winning stage musical highly anticipated here, will roar into the Blaisdell Concert Hall on Sept. 15 for a limited engagement. Local fans owe a debt of thanks to "Lilo & Stitch" for its arrival.

Tom Schumacher, who now is director of Disney Theatrical Productions, was attached to Disney's animation team when the company was setting up "Lilo & Stitch," with its Hawai'i ties. He wanted to expand that reach to the stage, said Jack Eldon, vice president of touring for Disney Theatricals, here for the formal announcement yesterday at the Blaisdell.

"Tom was jazzed with 'Lilo & Stitch,' which spoke to the people of Hawai'i," said Eldon. "And we felt that 'The Lion King' would be perfect for a city hungry for theater."

The presenters said the production could pump as much as $30 million into the economy.

The Cheetah Company, one of two national touring productions, will bring the costume musical to Honolulu. It could be the first of several Disney musicals to head here in the years ahead, said Eldon.

"We have 'Beauty and the Beast,' 'Tarzan,' 'Mary Poppins,' " said Eldon. "If this ('Lion King') does well, who knows down the line?"

Disney brought in Gugwana Dlamini — who portrays baboon shaman Rafiki in the touring show — to perform in full costume to taped music during the press conference yesterday.

WestCoast Entertainment is the presenter. Outrigger Enterprises Group is the presenting sponsor and is offering packages that include tickets and accommodations.

Eldon said some fixed seats at the Blaisdell Concert Hall will be removed to allow the show's African animal characters — an elephant, giraffes, lions and more — to parade from the house to the stage in the opening scene.

John Fuhrmann, a director of the Department of Enterprise Services, which oversees the concert hall, said about 200 seats will be removed. Normally, the hall seats 2,100.

Jack G. Lucas, president of Spokane-based WestCoast Entertainment, said presenting the show "is like putting together a puzzle ... making the pieces fit." As many as 15 musicians will be hired to augment the traveling orchestra, along with 125 stagehands.

An initial block of tickets will go on sale today for the first six weeks of the production, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 28. However, the hall is booked through Dec. 10 for expected extensions.

Eldon said it is Disney policy to sell seats in six-week segments, to maximize up-front patronage, but a longer run is anticipated.

The show, performed by a cast of 40, features a score by Elton John and Tim Rice, and the Academy Award-winning song "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" Among other popular tunes: "The Circle of Life" and "Hakuna Matata."

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.