Next weekend may seem like a far way off right now, but you might want to mark your calendar for another great family event on Friday, July 9, when The Grove at Farmers Market receives a special visit from The Lion King.

Cast members of the Las Vegas production including Kissy Simmons (Nala), Buyi Zama (Rafiki, pictured above) and Jelani Remy (Simba) will perform some of the Elton John-composed hits from the musical alongside LA’s own FAME Church Choir. Performances are at 5 and 7 PM, but the day starts at 3 PM when parents and kids can make their own Lion King themed mask using recycled products, with the help of Ann Closs-Farley Designs.

If you’ve seen the acclaimed production, you know that The Lion King is not just kid stuff. Though adapted from the animated Disney film, the Julie Taymor-directed production is sophisticated stage work.

Did you know?

•The Lion King is the eighth longest-running musical in Broadway history and one of only five musical productions in theatre history to play for ten years or more on both Broadway and the West End.

•Now in its 13^th year, there are Lion King productions currently in London, Hamburg, Paris and Toyko in addition to the Las Vegas, Broadway and US touring productions.

•The Lion King has been seen by more than 50 million people in 13 different countries and translated into five different languages (Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch).

•Awards won by The Lion King worldwide number in the 70s, including the 1998 Tony Award® and NY Drama Critics Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy® for Best Musical Show Album, and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. Julie Taymor was the first woman in theatrical history to win the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical.  She also won the 1998 Tony Award for Best Costume Design.

•Two of Taymor’s costumes were inducted into the permanent collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in September 2009.

Other events coming up at the Grove this month include Venus Williams signing her new book, 10 AM July 13 at the Grove Barnes & Noble bookstore.

The Grove is located at 189 The Grove Drive, 323.900.8080