The Disney musical The Lion King roared a final time Sunday night at Shanghai Grand Theater, as its run in China's largest metropolis came to an end.

Shanghai is so far the only Asian city to host the Tony award-winning production.

The English-speaking musical has overtaken The Phantom of Opera as the longest-running Broadway show in Shanghai, according to Fang Shizhong, president of Shanghai Grand Theater.

Fang said since its debut at the theatre on July 28, the musical had notched up more than 100 performances, attracting 160,000 spectators and garnering 72 million yuan (US$9.1 million) at the box office.

The Shanghai Grand Theater and Walt Disney Co. sponsored the production. Special support was also provided from the China Culture Development Fund, including a loan of 40 million yuan (US$5.1 million).

The show cost 60-70 million yuan (US$7.6-8.9 million) to put on, according to Fang Shizhong.

Ticket prices ranged from 100 yuan for midweek shows up to 2,000 yuan at peak time.

Fang said another Broadway musical Mamma Mia would be staged at the Shanghai Grand Theater next year. A Chinese version of the musical Les Miserables, which celebrated its 21st birthday in London on Sunday night, will be produced in China in 2008.

Fang hoped that Shanghai would soon join New York and London as a world center for musical performances.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2006)