madonna tour minneapolis

Jan 17 , 2023

Madonna july 30, 2023.

Saint Paul, MN — Today, Madonna announced Madonna: The Celebration Tour, in an iconic viral video with a wink to her groundbreaking film Truth or Dare.  The video  features notable names such as Diplo, Judd Apatow, Jack Black, Lil Wayne, Bob The Drag Queen, Kate Berlant, Larry Owens, Meg Stalter, Eric Andre and culminates with Amy Schumer daring the global superstar to go on tour and perform her four decades of mega hits. Madonna, the best-selling female solo touring artist of all time, rises to the challenge announcing The Celebration Tour which will be highlighting her unmatched catalog of music from the past 40 plus years.

Produced by Live Nation, the 35-city global tour will kick off in North America on Saturday, July 15th at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC with stops in Detroit, Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Saint Paul and more before making its way to Europe where she will hit 11 cities throughout the fall, including London, Barcelona, Paris, and Stockholm, among others. The Celebration Tour will wrap in Amsterdam, NL on Friday, December 1st at Ziggo Dome. 

The Celebration Tour will take us on Madonna’s artistic journey through four decades and pays respect to the city of New York where her career in music began. “I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for,” states Madonna.

The Celebration Tour will offer a one-of-a-kind experience with special guest Bob the Drag Queen a.k.a. Caldwell Tidicue across all dates on the global tour. 

TICKETS: Tickets go on sale Friday, January 20 and Friday, January 27 at 10 a.m. local time. Visit  madonna.com/tour  for complete tour and ticket listing.

CITI PRESALE: Citi is the official card of Madonna The Celebration Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets for shows going on sale January 20th beginning Tuesday, January 17 at 2 p.m. local time through Thursday, January 19 at 6pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. The Citi cardmember presale for the shows going on sale on January 27 will begin Tuesday, January 24 at 10 a.m. local time through Thursday, January 26 at 6 p.m. local time. For complete presale details visit  www.citientertainment.com .

FAN CLUB PRESALE: Legacy members of Madonna’s Official Fan Club will have a pre-sale opportunity for the shows that go on sale on Friday, January 20 beginning Tuesday, January 17 at 12 p.m. ET through Wednesday, January 18 at 5 p.m. ET for the North America based shows and from 9 a.m. GMT/10 a.m. CET to 5 p.m. GMT/6 p.m. CET on Wednesday, January 18 for UK and European shows. An additional Legacy pre-sale for the North American based shows going on sale on January 27 th  begins on Monday, January 23 (10 a.m.) through Wednesday, January 25 (5 p.m.). Visit  madonna.com  for complete tour and ticketing information.

VIP: Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, exclusive access to a behind the scenes tour, group photo on-stage, pre-show reception, limited edition lithograph & more. For more information, visit  vipnation.com .

THE CELEBRATION TOUR NORTH AMERICAN DATES: 

Sat Jul 15 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

Tue Jul 18 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena– On sale Jan. 20/23

Sat Jul 22 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center – On sale Jan. 27/23

Tue Jul 25 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena – On sale Jan. 27/23

Thu Jul 27 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center – On sale Jan. 27/23

Sun Jul 30 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center – On sale Jan. 27/23

Wed Aug 02 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse – On sale Jan. 27/23

Sat Aug 05 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena – On sale Jan. 27/23

Mon. Aug 07 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena – On sale Jan. 27/23

Wed Aug 09 – Chicago, IL – United Center – On sale Jan. 20/23

Sun Aug 13 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

Sat Aug 19 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell – On sale Jan. 20/23

Wed Aug 23 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden – On sale Jan. 20/23

Thu Aug 24 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden – On sale Jan. 20/23

Wed Aug 30 – Boston, MA – TD Garden – On sale Jan. 20/23

Sat Sep 02 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena – On sale Jan. 27/23

Tue Sep 05 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena – On sale Jan. 27/23

Thu Sep 07 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

Sat Sep 09 – Miami, FL – Miami-Dade Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

Wed Sep 13 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center – On sale Jan. 20/23

Mon Sep 18 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center – On sale Jan. 20/23

Thu Sep 21 – Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX – On sale Jan. 20/23

Wed Sep 27 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

Wed Oct 04 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center – On sale Jan. 20/23

Sat Oct 07 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

THE CELEBRATION TOUR EUROPE DATES: 

Sat Oct 14 – London, UK – The O2 – On sale Jan. 20/23

Sat Oct 21 – Antwerp, BE – Sportpaleis – On sale Jan. 20/23

Wed. Oct. 25 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

Sat Oct 28 – Stockholm, SE – Tele2 Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

Wed Nov 01 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi – On sale Jan. 20/23

Mon Nov 06 – Lisbon, PT – Altice Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

Sun Nov 12 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

Mon Nov 13 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

Wed Nov 15 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

Thu Nov 23 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum – On sale Jan. 20/23

Tue Nov 28 – Berlin, DE – Mercedes-Benz Arena – On sale Jan. 20/23

Fri Dec 1 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome – On sale Jan. 20/23

Watch CBS News

Madonna to return to Twin Cities with 2023 concert tour

By WCCO Staff

January 17, 2023 / 8:29 AM CST / CBS Minnesota

ST. PAUL -- Madonna is set to make her return to the Twin Cities for the first time in close to a decade, as part of her forthcoming Celebration Tour.

The pop icon will be taking her greatest hits tour to the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Sunday, July 30. The tour also includes stops in such midwestern locations as Chicago, Detroit, Denver, and Cleveland, along with New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and also a number of locations in Europe. (See the full list of dates below.)

Tickets will go on sale for the Xcel concert starting Jan. 23 for presale options, with the general public's options starting at 10 a.m. Jan. 27.

"I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for," Madonna said.

Her last stop in St. Paul was during her Rebel Heart Tour in 2015.

The tour will also feature special guest Bob the Drag Queen, a winner on RuPaul's Drag Race.

Madonna made the tour announcement with a star-studded video featuring Jack Black, Amy Schumer, Lil Wayne and more playing a racy version of "Truth or Dare," a callback to the famous documentary film about her. 

THE CELEBRATION TOUR NORTH AMERICAN DATES: 

• Sat Jul 15 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena
• Tue Jul 18 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena
• Sat Jul 22 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center
• Tue Jul 25 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
• Thu Jul 27 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center
• Sun Jul 30 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center
• Wed Aug 02 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
• Sat Aug 05 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena
• Mon. Aug 07 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena
• Wed Aug 09 – Chicago, IL – United Center
• Sun Aug 13 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena
• Sat Aug 19 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
• Wed Aug 23 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
• Thu Aug 24 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden
• Wed Aug 30 – Boston, MA – TD Garden
• Sat Sep 02 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena
• Tue Sep 05 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena
• Thu Sep 07 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena
• Sat Sep 09 – Miami, FL – Miami-Dade Arena
• Wed Sep 13 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center
• Mon Sep 18 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center
• Thu Sep 21 – Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX
• Wed Sep 27 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena
• Wed Oct 04 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center
• Sat Oct 07 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena

THE CELEBRATION TOUR EUROPE DATES: 

• Sat Oct 14 – London, UK – The O2
• Sat Oct 21 – Antwerp, BE – Sportpaleis
• Wed. Oct. 25 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena
• Sat Oct 28 – Stockholm, SE – Tele2 Arena
• Wed Nov 01 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi
• Mon Nov 06 – Lisbon, PT – Altice Arena
• Sun Nov 12 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena
• Mon Nov 13 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena
• Wed Nov 15 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena
• Thu Nov 23 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum
• Tue Nov 28 – Berlin, DE – Mercedes-Benz Arena
• Fri Dec 1 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome

The WCCO Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WCCO.com.

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Madonna Competed With All the Women She Once Was at Her Xcel Show

In a 2-hour show celebrating her career, everything was just how the pop superstar wanted it. Yet something was off.

9:23 AM CST on February 15, 2024

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“Time goes by so slowly,” Madonna sang during her ABBA-abetted 2005 disco hit “Hung Up,” about halfway through her two-hour-and-change nostalgia-drenched extravaganza at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center Tuesday night, and I’ll admit there were other moments when I checked my phone and had that same thought. 

Not that the first-of-her-kind, one-of-a-kind superstar/icon/legend/insert-superlative-here (I’ll call her anything you want besides Madge—what am I, the Daily Mail?) hasn’t earned her long-postponed victory lap. Not that I begrudge my contemporaries a little of the old “remember when” that so many arena shows provide or younger fans a “wish I was there” moment. Not that I regret attending, overly discussed late start and excessive heat aside. Not that parts of the show weren’t amazing as fuck. But for all the glitzy spectacle, all the eternal hits, all the expert choreography, what was often missing from the show was, you know, Madonna.  

Oh, physically she was very much present. After the engaging Bob the Drag Queen, who began the night in full Marie Antoinette regalia, pumped us up in his dual role of hype man and MC, the star revolved onstage in an elaborate black gown topped with a futuristic headpiece, like some revered Naboo dignitary. And from that moment forward she left our sight only intermittently for costume changes and maybe to catch her breath. 

And whenever she stepped away from the show’s clockwork treadmill and slipped into mouthy broad mode, Madonna was irresistible, saying shit like “Nobody appreciates the Midwest like a girl from the Midwest” and pulling on a bottle of Bud that was almost certainly just a prop. “Wherever I am is the greatest place in the universe.” Pause. “Does that sound arrogant?” Pause. “I hope so.” Never change, girl. 

Material was hardly a problem: I counted more than a dozen stone classics, a handful of terrific additional originals, a short Prince tribute, and (oh well) “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.” That doesn’t even include the snippets of hits (hers and others’) tucked into the mix here and there. (Chic’s “I Want Your Love” during “Holiday,” very nice.) Maybe she skipped your favorite (justice for “Borderline”) but it was inevitable that she’d skip somebody’s favorite.

But I can’t be the only curmudgeon who thought her performance lacked a certain spark, showed an ebbing of her absolute command of the stage. As great as her catalog is, she didn’t always invest much in it vocally. I’m not talking about the sometimes wobbly notes or the backing tracks doing the heavy lifting whenever a melody dipped below or sailed above her comfort zone—that’s easy enough to excuse. Disparaging Madonna’s vocal skills has always been a pastime for point-missing dopes: She was the scrappy fan who transparently lacked a disco diva’s soulful pipes and made up for her physical deficiency with pure enthusiasm and self-regard.

But her oldest oldies in particular don’t demand pitch or breath control or technique so much as absolute commitment to put them over, and Tuesday night Madonna was showing these hits off, rather than selling them. When she ended the night with “Bitch I’m Madonna,” a song it’s safe to say she loves more than any of the rest of us, the 65-year-old singer was surrounded by dancers outfitted in various Madonna personae through the years, even Mae Mordabito from 1992's A League of Their Own . She was repeatedly underscoring a point she’d already made. All night, she more than proved the depth of her legacy, which no one in the room ever doubted. But methinks the bitch doth protest too much. 

I’m getting ahead of myself. Let’s take it back to the start of a setlist consciously built around the passing of time. Madonna led off with “Nothing Really Matters” from 1997’s Ray of Light , a song about new motherhood, fitting for a night she’d be joined by three of her children onstage. Its opening line, “When I was very young” was her version of “once upon a time,” cueing up her journey through the past that underscored the story we all knew and revealed very little. 

We got to re-live the Madonna myth, the Detroit kid taking on NYC with just $35 dollars and a dream. Bob’s voice invited us to Danceteria. Madonna strapped on an electric guitar for “Burnin’ Up” and shouted out CBGB. In an extended skit, Bob was a highhanded door guy keeping Madonna out of the Paradise Garage. Scuzzy Koch-era lower Manhattan was transformed into a kind of urban decay theme park.

Here were some of the most buoyant hits of her career: “Holiday,” “Everybody,” “Open Your Heart,” “Into the Groove” (weirdly using the “let me show you some moves” lyric from her 2003 Gap ad with Missy Elliott instead of the ”boy you’ve got to prove” originals). And here was cultural memory as kitsch, turning this world around to bring back all of those happy days. As dancers paraded about in punk-wave outfits and the star herself reverted to a short skirt with an embroidered jacket, this segment had about as much edge as a jukebox musical.

Then again, Madonna at her best is capable of transcendent kitsch that pierces the soul. This first segment ended with her descending into the stage, a dancer lying still as a corpse. She would return to sing “Live to Tell,” hovering high above the stage in a little box, and the screens displayed famous casualties of the AIDS crisis, beginning with the likes of Keith Haring and Herb Ritts. At first there was one person per screen, then two, then four, until each screen showed too many squared photos to count, a fairly chilling and effective visualization of the spread of HIV, as the song itself became a sort of in memoriam.

The main stage was a series of concentric circles, like a wedding cake. At one point these platforms even caught on fire, and who could complain about that? The series of catwalks extended midway into the arena were well-utilized, and in an unusual choice, two screens that descended often blocked the view of those of us in the stands whose seats were closest to the stage. There was no live band, though occasionally an instrument would appear onstage, often held and occasionally played by the star herself, or by her son, David Bando.

There was always something to look at onstage, especially if you prize beefcake. Before “Like a Prayer,” the male dancers were shirtless in a carousel-like contraption. First they pushed it along like laborers, then they flaunted their flesh, writhing with breathtaking muscularity while hanging upside down. Truly, no pop star has ever used gay men to accessorize as brilliantly as Madonna has throughout her career. 

Unfortunately, the moment was spoiled by a snippet of Sam Smith and Kim Petras’s “Unholy,” (we get it, you keep up with the times). And then Madonna seemed swallowed up in the presence of the others, and the song didn’t quite soar. I’m not saying I’d rather hear a gaggle of tipsy onetime wannabes belt “Like a Prayer” out at karaoke, but they might come closer to capturing its spirit.

The next “act” could have been titled Remembrance of Orgasms Past . Following the sound of a T1 modem connecting, Bob appeared on the screens as a kind of S&M Max Headroom, calling the ’90s “an age of innocence” with less irony than I’d have liked. For “Erotica” the dancers, and Madonna, dressed as boxers; it was followed by “Justify My Love,” which kept getting hinted at without ever quite blossoming. Failing to generate heat, this segment was kind of a period piece, a case study of what scandalized media consumers at the start of the ’90s.

Madonna being Madonna, of course there was also utter nonsense. Early on, she introduced us to a living mannequin who acted as her stand-in throughout the show. Intermittently, at least—this bit of business seemed to be abandoned and then picked back up through the night, though Madonna did (fittingly, I guess ) sing “Crazy for You” to her/it. I was reminded that one of the reasons grad school postmodernists loved Madonna back in the ’90s was the excess of imagery she gave them to over-interpret while using words like “bricolage.”

But what really had me saying, “All right, she’s still got it” was a bonkers interlude called “The Beast Within.” As Madonna intoned a reading from the Book of Revelation, her dancers, dressed in vaguely “biblical” outfits that also made them look like Dune extras, bore her, scarlet-clad, aloft like she was the Whore of Babylon. It made no sense to anyone who wasn’t Madonna, and it led up to an onscreen Gurdjieff quote and then… “Die Another Day,” which Madonna tackled like it was a profound foray into the mystic and not just a James Bond theme. (Duran Duran should start preceding "A View to a Kill" in concert with an extended reading from the Bhagavad Gita .)

Madonna’s children provided some of the night’s most striking moments. “They actually worked for it,” we were assured, and given their mother’s work ethic I don’t doubt it. Mercy James, 18, played a florid piano intro to “Bad Girl,” drawing from Prussian composer Charles Mayer’s "Le Regret, op. 332,” and mom even climbed up on top of the instrument. Eleven-year-old Estere shined during “Vogue,” which was preceded by an elaborate ballroom sequence that also featured Minnesota’s own Manila Luzon. 

This was all Madonna’s way of reminding us she was way ahead of the curve when it came to celebrating/profiting off drag culture. Similarly for “Don’t Tell Me,” with its digitally clipped acoustic guitar, she and her crew showed up in cowboy duds, as though to tell us that she was yee-haw back when y’all were yea high.

Everyone fled the stage after “Vogue,” leaving Madonna to be arrested by cops and to sing a quick bit of “Human Nature”—if this was a commentary on the criminalization of drag, it was more oblique than necessary. In fact, given the overall political landscape, some direct words about LGBTQ+ issues were in order, at the very least a call for trans rights.

An acoustic version of “Express Yourself,” with a cello accompanying Madonna’s guitar, worked well, especially because she was so snippy with audience members who hadn’t turned their phone lights on as instructed. (Unlike most arena performers, Madonna is not one to count on her fans' spontaneity.) And this turned into a quick, winning Prince tribute by way of “Kiss.” (Unlike most arena performers, Madonna knows to stay away from “Purple Rain.") 

And then it was on to the charming ersatz Latinx exotica of “La Isla Bonita.” In fact, this was such an effective segment overall that of course Madonna had to spoil it by singing Andrew Lloyd Webber while draped in a Pride flag, raising her fist, and shouting “No fear!” And by “spoil” I mean make it perfect in that shamelessly squirm-inducing way Madonna has of going too far. 

The night’s wackest moment came when a silhouette of Boy Toy-era Madonna and Michael Jackson sang "Billie Jean” and “Like a Virgin” at each other, passing his fedora back and forth, while archival photos of the two stars flashed on the screen behind them. Even setting aside Jackson’s, er, tarnished legacy, the effect was gross, like being trapped in some ’80s-themed diner where the servers wear deely bobbers and there’s a Rubik’s Cube on every table.

Understandably, the ghost of Michael and Prince haunted the show. In addition to her “Kiss” quickie, the latter was summoned by way of son David, wailing away on a Cloud guitar and wearing the chainmail-masked cap that Prince wore during that ’90s period when he was not Prince, with the intro to “Let’s Go Crazy” intoning in the background all the while.

If I were someone who believed in some grand cosmic order, I’d make something of the coincidence that the three pop titans of the ’80s—Madonna, Michael, and Prince were all born in 1958. And if I were Madonna, I’d be as freaked by their deaths too. Shortly after remembering Prince as a collaborator and a friend, she noted the passing of “so many of my peers,” adding, “There’s death everywhere.”

She quickly passed on to the lesson that this taught her: “So let’s celebrate life.” And as a celebration of her life and career, this show surely succeeded. Late in the night, a video montage showed clips of her through the years, touching on the belittling she’d received, the scandals she’d stirred up, even testimonial to her influence from Beyoncé. She closed this off by insisting that her most radical career move has been to continue doing what she does. “To age is a sin,” she stated flatly.  

After all, no one demands that male musicians retire. (Well, some people do, but no one expects them to listen.) Yet to put it bluntly, the advantage that aged rockers like Jagger or Springsteen have over her (maleness aside) is that they don’t have to hit their marks—they’re free to flounce and stomp about the stage according to whim. Madonna has synchronized choreo and dancers in peak physical form to keep up with. Her leg was in a soft brace early in the show and I wonder if the need to focus harder on her dancing didn’t throw off her overall concentration. 

Bodies are bodies, after all, and Madonna has set herself the impossible task of performing like she’s 26 forever. This show wasn’t just a celebration of her previous lives, it was a competition with them. And the thing is, I think Madonna could still hold her own against the star she once was, but not on that kid’s turf. She could at least make some brilliantly embarrassing effort to do that. Instead, she gave us a fun night out and jogged some good memories of our younger days. Should that be enough? Probably. Am I asking too much? Well, she was the one who taught me to expect more. Bitch, she’s Madonna. 

Nothing Really Matters Everybody Into the Groove Burning Up Open Your Heart Holiday Live to Tell Like a Prayer Erotica Justify My Love Hung Up Bad Girl Vogue Human Nature Crazy for You The Beast Within Die Another Day Don't Tell Me Mother and Father Express Yourself Kiss (Prince cover) La Isla Bonita Don't Cry for Me Argentina Bedtime Story Ray of Light Take a Bow Bitch I'm Madonna

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Tuesday 13 February 2024

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175 Kellogg Boulevard 55102 St. Paul, MN, US 651-726-8240

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• February 13, 2024 Setlist

Madonna Setlist at Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, MN, USA

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Tour: The Celebration Tour Tour statistics Add setlist

• Song played from tape It's a Celebration ( Bob the Drag Queen; "D&D", "Lucky Star", "Celebration", "Erotica", "Vogue", "BIM" & "Material Girl" ) Play Video
• Nothing Really Matters ( contains elements from the Club 69 Remix ) Play Video
• Everybody ( contains elements of "Where's the Party" ) Play Video
• Into the Groove ( contains elements of "Into the Hollywood Groove" ) Play Video
• Burning Up Play Video
• Open Your Heart Play Video
• Holiday ( contains elements of "I Want Your Love" by Chic ) Play Video
• Song played from tape The Storm ( contains elements of "In This Life" ) Play Video
• Live to Tell Play Video
• Song played from tape The Ritual ( Dancers interlude; contains elements of "Girl Gone Wild" ) Play Video
• Like a Prayer ( contains elements of "Birjina Gaztetto Bat Zegoen", "Unholy", "Girl Gone Wild" & "Act of Contrition" ) Play Video
• Song played from tape Living for Love ( contains elements of the Offer Nissim Remix, Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” & Eddie Copley’s “Fever” ) Play Video
• Erotica ( contains elements of "Justify My Love", "You Thrill Me" & "Papa Don't Preach" ) Play Video
• Justify My Love ( contains elements of "Gangsta", “Fever” & "Erotica" ) Play Video
• Hung Up ( contains elements of "Hung Up on Tokischa" & "La Isla Bonita" ) Play Video
• Bad Girl ( contains elements of Charles Mayer's "Le Regret, op. 332" ) Play Video
• Song played from tape Ballroom ( dancers interlude; contains elements of "Up Down Suite", "Vogue" & BREAK MY SOUL (THE QUEENS REMIX) ) Play Video
• Vogue (with Manila Luzon ) ( as guest judge ) Play Video
• Human Nature ( shortened ) Play Video
• Crazy for You ( shortened ) Play Video
• Song played from tape The Beast Within Play Video
• Die Another Day Play Video
• Don't Tell Me ( contains elements of "The Good, the Bad & the Ugly" ) Play Video
• Mother and Father Play Video
• Express Yourself ( acoustic, extended outro ) Play Video
• Kiss ( Prince  cover) ( solo acoustic, tour debut, shortened ) Play Video
• La Isla Bonita ( shortened ) Play Video
• Don't Cry for Me Argentina ( Andrew Lloyd Webber  cover) ( shortened ) Play Video
• Song played from tape Madonna ( video interlude; contains elements of "I Don't Search I Find" ) Play Video
• Bedtime Story ( contains elements of the Sound Factory Remix ) Play Video
• Ray of Light ( Sasha Ultra Violet Remix ) Play Video
• Take a Bow ( first time since 2016 ) Play Video
• Song played from tape Billie Jean / Like a Virgin ( contains elements of Express Yourself, Angel & Smooth Criminal, Dangerous, YRMW, TWYMMF by MJ ) Play Video
• Bitch I'm Madonna ( contains elements of "Give Me All Your Luvin" ) Play Video
• Celebration ( shortened instrumental outro; contains elements of “Music”; Benny Benassi Remix. ) Play Video

Edits and Comments

25 activities (last edit by RockerFanV , 2 Mar 2024, 23:20 Etc/UTC )

Songs on Albums

• Bedtime Story
• Human Nature
• La Isla Bonita
• Live to Tell
• Open Your Heart
• Die Another Day
• Mother and Father
• Express Yourself
• Like a Prayer
• Nothing Really Matters
• Ray of Light
• Crazy for You
• Justify My Love
• Don't Cry for Me Argentina by Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Kiss by Prince
• Celebration
• Into the Groove
• Don't Tell Me
• Bitch I'm Madonna

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Xcel energy center.

• Bob the Drag Queen Add time Add time
• Madonna This Setlist Start time: 10:10 PM 10:10 PM

Madonna Gig Timeline

• Feb 05 2024 PPG Paints Arena Pittsburgh, PA, USA Start time: 10:05 PM 10:05 PM
• Feb 08 2024 Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Cleveland, OH, USA Start time: 10:15 PM 10:15 PM
• Feb 13 2024 Xcel Energy Center This Setlist St. Paul, MN, USA Start time: 10:10 PM 10:10 PM
• Feb 17 2024 Climate Pledge Arena Seattle, WA, USA Start time: 10:00 PM 10:00 PM
• Feb 18 2024 Climate Pledge Arena Seattle, WA, USA Start time: 9:40 PM 9:40 PM

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MADONNA ADDS NEW DATES TO THE CELEBRATION TOUR

Due to overwhelming demand, Madonna today announced the addition of 13 new dates in North America across The Celebration Tour. Produced by Live Nation, the 35-city global tour now includes second shows in Seattle, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Boston, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Las Vegas along with a third show in New York. Tickets for the newly added performances go on sale tomorrow – FRIDAY, JANUARY 20TH at 10am Local Time alongside the shows already announced in each respective city. The highly anticipated tour will kick off on Saturday, July 15th at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC with stops in Phoenix, Chicago, Los Angeles, and more before making its way to Europe where she will perform in 11 cities throughout the fall, including London, Barcelona, and Stockholm, among others. The Celebration Tour will wrap on Friday, December 1st in Amsterdam, NL at Ziggo Dome. Following Madonna’s viral video that announced the tour earlier this week, the response has been incredible, with fans looking forward to seeing the best-selling female solo touring artist of all time perform her unmatched catalog of music from the past 40 plus years in a live setting. The tour toasts to the incomparable movement of individualistic celebration, creativity and cutting-edge innovation Madonna has created over the course of her career. The Celebration Tour will offer a one-of-a-kind experience with special guest Bob the Drag Queen a.k.a. Caldwell Tidicue across all dates on the global tour. TICKETS: Tickets for newly added dates will go on sale tomorrow, Friday, January 20th at 10am local time. Visit madonna.com/tour for complete tour and ticket listing. ADDITIONAL SHOWS: As previously announced, tickets for performances in Phoenix, Denver, St. Paul, Cleveland, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Washington, and Atlanta will go on sale Friday, January 27th at 10am local time. Citi is the official card of Madonna The Celebration Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets starting Tuesday, January 24 at 10am local time through Thursday, January 26 at 6pm local time. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com . Legacy members of Madonna’s Official Fan Club will have a pre-sale opportunity starting Monday, January 23 at 10am local time through Wednesday, January 25th at 5pm local time.  VIP: Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, exclusive access to a behind the scenes tour, group photo on-stage, pre-show reception, limited edition lithograph & more. For more information, visit vipnation.com .

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Music and Concerts | Review: Madonna heats up the X with a…

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Music and concerts, music and concerts | review: madonna heats up the x with a late-night greatest hits show.

Madonna has never been afraid to make her fans wait. She said as much in her 2005 banger “Hung Up”: “Time goes by so slowly for those who wait.”

It took her 40 years to stage her first greatest hits show after focusing each of her previous 11 tours on the then-new album, while skipping her many smashes and offering the few oldies that made the cut in often radically rearranged takes. Oh, and she also took a whopping seven and a half years off from touring in the ’90s.

Tuesday night, the 65-year-old Michigan native brought her Celebration Tour to St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center more than six months after it was initially scheduled. And, true to form, she took the stage at 10:10 p.m., far later than the advertised start time of 8:30, which pushed the show well past midnight.

It’s exceedingly rare for arena concerts to run so late into the night, particularly now that even Axl Rose can get on stage at a reasonable hour. Some may excuse Madonna as she’s always been like this, but others are correct to note that it’s pointless and even rude to stage a tardy weeknight concert attended almost entirely by Gen Xers and Boomers.

While Madonna can be accused of many things, no one can call her lazy. She’s notorious for her rigorous rehearsal schedules and keen attention to detail, which was once again made clear during Tuesday night’s dazzling, if occasionally flawed, concert. (Indeed, the reason for the Celebration Tour’s delay was that she was hospitalized with a “serious bacterial infection” during brutal tour preparations last summer that, by her own account, could have killed her.)

Madonna also knows exactly what she wants and Tuesday’s concert was very much Madonna’s take on a greatest hits show. That meant she skipped some of her biggest smashes, including “Borderline,” “Dress You Up,” “True Blue,” “Cherish,” “Frozen,” “This Used to Be My Playground,” “Deeper and Deeper” and “Secret.”

That also meant no live band beyond some guitar from Madonna and her son David along with piano from her daughter Mercy. Instead, Madonna turned over her original masters to Stuart Price (co-producer of her final truly essential album, 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor”), who created a new, bass-heavy sonic bed by tweaking the mixes, incorporating bits and pieces of other songs and adding sounds that didn’t make it into the initial recordings. Case in point, “Like a Prayer” included a chunk of Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ Madonna-inspired “Unholy” along with some previously unheard guitar work from Prince, who worked with Madonna on portions of her album of the same name.

With “RuPaul’s Drag Race” winner Bob the Drag Queen acting as emcee, the show told Madonna’s story — her version of it, anyway — through a loosely chronological series of acts, each decorated with the distinct visuals and costumes from its era and presented on the largest stage of her career. And she never broke a sweat, despite some occasionally murky sound and the sweltering 80 degree heat in the arena that’s apparently one of Madonna’s contractual demands.

It started with her early days in New York City (“Everybody,” a rocked-up “Burning Up,” the mashup “Into the Hollywood Groove”), moved into her late ’80s/early ’90s embrace of queer culture and her own sexuality (“Erotica,” “Justify My Love,” “Vogue,” complete with a mini drag ball featuring her daughter Estere), explored both her strength and vulnerability (“Die Another Day,” “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Mother and Father”) and took a quick dive into sheer bliss (“Bedtime Story,” “Ray of Light,” “Like a Virgin”).

She dedicated her early ballad “Live to Tell” to those who died from AIDS, ranging from her own friends (former roommate Martin Burgoyne, dance teacher Christopher Flynn) to famous faces (Freddie Mercury, Keith Haring, Arthur Ashe). Large screens began with the photos of the big names that were replaced with smaller photos of dozens and then hundreds of other people who died. It was a powerful moment in an evening filled with lighter, more bawdy fare.

Later, she recreated the cowboy dance from the video for “Don’t Tell Me,” one of her best, and most unusual, singles. She spoke briefly of her friendship with Prince and followed with an acoustic “Express Yourself” and cover of the Purple One’s “Kiss.”

Madonna wrapped the evening with “Bitch I’m Madonna.” Some two dozen of her dancers emerged in unique Madonna drag, turning the stage into a hall of mirrors reflecting and, yes, celebrating all aspects of her remarkable career.

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Madonna Announces Highly Anticipated Global Tour

With Star Studded Video Paying Homage To Her Groundbreaking Film Truth Or Dare

The celebration tour will feature four decades of greatest hits, tickets on sale friday, january 20   & 27   at 10am local at  madonna.com.

Today,  Madonna  announced  Madonna: The Celebration Tour , in an iconic viral video with a wink to her groundbreaking film Truth or Dare.  The video  features notable names such as Diplo, Judd Apatow, Jack Black, Lil Wayne, Bob The Drag Queen, Kate Berlant, Larry Owens, Meg Stalter, Eric Andre and culminates with Amy Schumer daring the global superstar to go on tour and perform her four decades of mega hits. Madonna,   the best-selling female solo touring artist of all time, rises to the challenge announcing The Celebration Tour which will be highlighting her unmatched catalog of music from the past 40 plus years . 

Produced by Live Nation, the 35-city global tour will kick off in North America on Saturday, July 15th at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC with stops in Detroit, Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, and more before making its way to Europe where she will hit 11 cities throughout the fall, including London, Barcelona, Paris, and Stockholm, among others. The Celebration Tour will wrap in Amsterdam, NL on Friday, December 1st at Ziggo Dome. 

The Celebration Tour will take us on Madonna’s artistic journey through four decades and pays respect to the city of New York where her career in music began. “I am excited to explore as many songs as possible in hopes to give my fans the show they have been waiting for,” states Madonna.

The Celebration Tour  will offer a one-of-a-kind experience with special guest  Bob the Drag Queen   a.k.a.Caldwell Tidicue across all dates on the global tour. 

TICKETS:  Tickets go on sale Friday, January 20 and Friday, January 27at 10am local time. Visit  madonna.com/tour  for complete tour and ticket listing.

CITI PRESALE:  Citi is the official card of Madonna The Celebration Tour. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets for shows going on sale January 20th beginning Tuesday, January 17 at 2pm local time through Thursday, January 19 at 6pm local time through the Citi Entertainment program. The Citi cardmember presale for the shows going on sale on January 27 will begin Tuesday, January 24 at 10am local time through Thursday, January 26 at 6pm local time.  For complete presale details visit  www.citientertainment.com .

FAN CLUB PRESALE:  Legacy members of Madonna’s Official Fan Club will have a pre-sale opportunity for the shows that go on sale on Friday, January 20 beginning Tuesday, January 17 at 12pm ET through Wednesday, January 18 at 5pm ET for the North America based shows and from 9am GMT/10am CET to 5pm GMT/6pm CET on Wednesday, January 18 for UK and European shows. An additional Legacy pre-sale for the North American based shows going on sale on January 27 th  begins on Monday, January 23 (10am) through Wednesday, January 25 (5pm).  Visit  madonna.com  for complete tour and ticketing information.

VIP:  Fans can also purchase VIP Packages, which may include premium tickets, exclusive access to a behind the scenes tour, group photo on-stage, pre-show reception, limited edition lithograph & more. For more information, visit  vipnation.com .

THE CELEBRATION TOUR NORTH AMERICAN DATES: 

Sat Jul 15 – Vancouver, BC – Rogers Arena

Tue Jul 18 – Seattle, WA – Climate Pledge Arena

Sat Jul 22 – Phoenix, AZ – Footprint Center

Tue Jul 25 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena

Thu Jul 27 – Tulsa, OK – BOK Center

Sun Jul 30 – St. Paul, MN – Xcel Energy Center

Wed Aug 02 – Cleveland, OH – Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse

Sat Aug 05 – Detroit, MI – Little Caesars Arena

Mon. Aug 07 – Pittsburgh, PA – PPG Paints Arena

Wed Aug 09 – Chicago, IL – United Center

Sun Aug 13 – Toronto, ON – Scotiabank Arena

Sat Aug 19 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell

Wed Aug 23 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

Thu Aug 24 – New York, NY – Madison Square Garden

Wed Aug 30 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

Sat Sep 02 – Washington, DC – Capital One Arena

Tue Sep 05 – Atlanta, GA – State Farm Arena

Thu Sep 07 – Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena

Sat Sep 09 – Miami, FL – Miami-Dade Arena

Wed Sep 13 – Houston, TX – Toyota Center

Mon Sep 18 – Dallas, TX – American Airlines Center

Thu Sep 21 – Austin, TX – Moody Center ATX

Wed Sep 27 – Los Angeles, CA – Crypto.com Arena

Wed Oct 04 – San Francisco, CA – Chase Center

Sat Oct 07 – Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena

THE CELEBRATION TOUR EUROPE DATES: 

Sat Oct 14 – London, UK – The O2

Sat Oct 21 – Antwerp, BE – Sportpaleis

Wed. Oct. 25 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena

Sat Oct 28 – Stockholm, SE – Tele2 Arena

Wed Nov 01 – Barcelona, ES – Palau Sant Jordi

Mon Nov 06 – Lisbon, PT – Altice Arena

Sun Nov 12 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena

Mon Nov 13 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena

Wed Nov 15 – Cologne, DE – Lanxess Arena

Thu Nov 23 – Milan, IT – Mediolanum Forum

Tue Nov 28 – Berlin, DE – Mercedes-Benz Arena

Fri Dec 1 – Amsterdam, NL – Ziggo Dome

To connect with Madonna:

Website  //  Instagram  //  YouTube  //  TikTok  //  Facebook  //  Twitter  

About Live Nation Entertainment

Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. For additional information, visit  www.livenationentertainment.com .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Align PR |  [email protected]  

Bob The Drag Queen

Shannon Barr |  [email protected]

Live Nation Concerts

Monique Sowinski |  [email protected]

Maya Sarin |  [email protected]  

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StarTribune

Madonna teams with twin cities pride on a new lgbtq initiative at her st. paul concert.

The Material Girl is teaming up with Twin Cities Pride organizers to provide some much-needed materials for struggling community members at her St. Paul concert Tuesday night.

Madonna invited TC Pride volunteers to work the doors at her Xcel Energy Center show, where they will be accepting donations for their organization's Rainbow Wardrobe initiative, providing gender-affirming clothing and personal care items for the LGBTQ community.

Concertgoers are encouraged to bring clothes and personal hygiene products to drop into bins on their way into the concert. They can also look for QR codes at the Rainbow Wardrobe stands to donate directly to the cause.

"Over the years, Madonna has been an unwavering ally to the LGBTQ community, and this is a perfect example of it," said Andi Otto, Twin Cities Pride executive director. "To have her acknowledge the needs of our community in this way means the world to us."

Madonna's team has been partnering with LGBTQ organizations in every city on her Celebration Tour, which had to be postponed from last summer when the 65-year-old Rock & Roll Hall of Famer was hospitalized with a bacterial infection. In the case of St. Paul, representatives from the Xcel Center and promoter Live Nation helped connect the tour with TC Pride.

The connection was good timing for the Rainbow Wardrobe. Pride organizers launched the initiative at the annual festival last June, accepting donations at the organization's office near Loring Park in Minneapolis. Since then, Otto said, "We've seen people coming in daily looking for help. It was surprising even to us to realize just how great the needs are in the community."

Among the primary users of the Rainbow Wardrobe are LGBTQ youths who have become homeless or impoverished — sometimes because of discrimination — and who may not feel safe going to shelters for help.

Otto said personal hygiene items like toothbrushes, deodorant and period care products are among the greatest needs, or financial donations toward such items. As for gender-affirming clothing, Otto said that includes "anything that makes you feel comfortable in your own body."

Tickets are still available for Tuesday's concert, ranging in price from $70-$570 via Ticketmaster. The start time is 8:30 p.m., but the singer has notoriously not gone on until after 10 p.m. in most cities — meaning there should be plenty of time to stop at the Rainbow Wardrobe donation stands. Those not going to the concert can show support online at tcpride.org/rainbow-wardrobe .

Chris Riemenschneider has been covering the Twin Cities music scene since 2001, long enough for Prince to shout him out during "Play That Funky Music (White Boy)." The St. Paul native authored the book "First Avenue: Minnesota's Mainroom" and previously worked as a music critic at the Austin American-Statesman in Texas.

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Madonna’s Celebration Tour Proves the Material Girl is Still the Reigning Queen of Pop Music: Concert Review

By Mark Sutherland

Mark Sutherland

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Four songs into Madonna ’s long-awaited Celebration Tour and a technical hitch gives her a chance to chat for a little longer than was probably planned.

She tells the crowd of her early days being “hungry, broke and scared” in New York, with a lack of support from her father, who wanted her to come back home. 

“But I was not about to go back,” she declares. “Because I am not a quitter!” 

Most other performers would have balked at taking on a gruelling world tour less than four months after a stay in the ICU with a serious bacterial infection. Many more might have at least considered tempering the ambitious nature of an all-singing, all-dancing show that would be a physical challenge for any of today’s young pop megastars, let alone a 65-year-old pop veteran with strapping on her knee. 

But not Madonna. After postponing the scheduled first leg, the tour finds itself starting – a mere 20 minutes late – at London’s O2 Arena, the very venue where, in 2015, she famously fell down the stairs after a cape malfunction at the BRIT Awards.

Those of us who were close enough to hear the thud as she hit the floor like a pole-axed prize fighter that night were amazed when she simply got back to her feet and got on with the show. And tonight, she metaphorically climbs off the canvas of that hospital stay to reclaim her pop heavyweight crown, a metaphor helpfully supported by the elaborate boxing set-up utilized during the lead-up to the show’s second act.

There are few signs that Madonna was fazed by the fraught run-up, let alone the lengthy “reset” required after her punky rip through “Burning Up.” She may sigh, “This is exactly what you don’t want to happen on your opening night,” but she simply gets her hype man Bob the Drag Queen up to tell jokes, while reminiscing about the days when she would trade “blowjobs for showers” in ‘80s NYC.

And for once, Madonna – whose relentless commitment to the present and future of her music had always previously prevented her from playing the fantasy setlist her catalog seemed to be crying out for – is here to celebrate her four decades at the top with almost every song a fan – whether casual or obsessive – could dream of.

Furthermore, tonight she lays claim not just to her own history, but also to her influence on music and the wider world over the last 40 years. Not for nothing did the set start with “Nothing Really Matters” and its refrain of, “It all comes back to me”.

There are nods to her activism – including a passionate plea for peace between Israel and Palestine and tributes to those we have lost to AIDS – and her trailblazing, via a montage of negative news headlines and video footage from across her career. It’s a timely reminder that, in an age where anyone with a million streams that gets a new haircut can be hailed as “iconic,” Madonna really has achieved that status, over and over.

There are snippets of other people’s music throughout – a snatch of Sam Smith’s “Unholy” here or Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” there, plus a surprisingly poignant acoustic cover of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”. Some of her children make on-stage cameos, and even her ex-husbands appear briefly on screen. There are tributes to Sinead O’Connor and, more controversially, Michael Jackson, via a dubious mash-up of “Billie Jean” with “Like a Virgin”.

But mostly, it’s about Madonna and her songs. Taylor Swift has undoubtedly crystalized the concept of musical ‘eras’ in the public consciousness, but Madonna is no slouch when it comes to giving each phase of her career a distinct look and sound.

And tonight, she flits seamlessly between different stages of her life, sometimes via a costume change, sometimes by climbing into an illuminated portal that sees her fly over the crowd on her way to another time and place.

From the joyous early ‘80s dance-pop of “Get Into the Groove” and “Holiday”; to big ballads such as “Live to Tell” and “Bad Girl”; to the raunch of “Erotica” (in which Madge gets to saucily, um, interact with her younger self via a lookalike in the iconic “Blonde Ambition” get-up) and “Justify My Love”; to the sheer, irresistible pizazz of “Vogue,” “Don’t Tell Me,” “La Isla Bonita,” “Ray of Light,” “Hung Up,” “Like a Prayer” and so many others; this show is proof that there is no such thing as too much Madonna.

True, the lack of a live band occasionally makes things lack a little punch (most notably on a glitchy “Die Another Day”). But overall, tonight shows that while – just like 40 years ago – Madonna still doesn’t know how to quit, boy has she learned how to come back.

But thankfully, she did and, by the end, all the different iterations of Madonna from across the decades are on stage, the lookalikes hugging each other with delight during “Bitch, I’m Madonna,” while the real deal stays center stage and supremely focused.

Still dancing, still singing, still the one and only Madonna.  

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Madonna Thanks ‘Incredibly Talented’ Kids for Joining Her on Celebration Tour

"They never stopped practicing… they never stopped cheering me on and supporting me," the superstar wrote.

By Hannah Dailey

Hannah Dailey

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Throughout Madge’s latest run, which kicked off in October, each of her adopted kids has gotten their own moment onstage. Mercy joins her mom on piano during “Bad Girl,” David duets with the seven-time Grammy winner on “Mother and Father” and twins Stella and Estere dance along to “Don’t Tell Me.”

“Rehearsals began over a year ago with almost a 2 month break waiting for me recover from a near death experience,” she continued, referring to the shows she had to postpone due to her severe bacterial infection and subsequent hospitalization last year. “They never stopped practicing… they never stopped cheering me on and supporting me … They were also going to school and rehearsing every night. !! . am so very proud of all of them.”

Madonna is also mom to daughter Lourdes Leon, whom she shares with ex-boyfriend Carlos Leon, and son Rocco Ritchie, whom she shares with ex-husband Guy Ritchie. She and the director went on to adopt David shortly after the “Material Girl” singer founded her charity organization Raising Malawi in 2006. Later, she adopted Mercy, then Stella and Estere — all three of whom are also from Malawi — as a single mother.

The new post comes one day after Madonna opened up about touring with her kids in an interview with W Magazine . “When I go on tour, nothing brings me more happiness to know, we are all working on the same show creating the magic together,” she told the publication. “It would be boring if they were just traveling from hotel to hotel, and occasionally coming to watch the show.”

“Of course, I am also their mother so sometimes we get on each other’s nerves,” she added. “We are a family of artists but are also a family and that’s what happens.”

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THE LION KING Tour Celebrates 22nd Anniversary in Minneapolis This Weekend

Performances run through April 28.

The North American tour of Disney's The Lion King will celebrate its 22nd anniversary on Saturday, April 27 in Minneapolis. The Lion King has returned to Minneapolis' historic Orpheum Theatre, where the Tony Award-winning Best Musical played its pre-Broadway run in 1997, and where the touring production is currently entertaining capacity houses through Sunday, April 28. 

Since the North American tour launched in April 2002, The Lion King has welcomed over 23 million theatergoers, making it North America's longest-running and most-attended Broadway tour. During the past 22 years, the record-breaking tour has employed hundreds of theater professionals, played over 10,000 performances during 253 engagements in 95 cities. Few tours in theatre history have achieved anything like its reach or impact.

For information regarding future tour engagements, visit lionking.com/tour

The touring production features Peter Hargrave as “Scar,” Gerald Ramsey as “Mufasa,” Mukelisiwe Goba as “Rafiki,” Nick Cordileone as “Timon,” Nick LaMedica as “Zazu,” John E. Brady as “Pumbaa,” Darian Sanders as “Simba,” Khalifa White as “Nala,” Forest VanDyke as “Banzai,” Martina Sykes as “Shenzi” and Robbie Swift as “Ed.”

The role of “Young Simba” is alternated between Mason Lawson and Julian Villela and the role of “Young Nala” is alternated between Jaxyn Damasco and Aniya Simone. 

Rounding out the cast are William John Austin, Iman Ayana, Eric Bean, Jr., Layla Brent, Vernon Brooks III, Sasha Caicedo, Lauren Carr, Thembelihle Cele, Daniela Cobb, Gabriel Croom, Lyric Danae, Maurice Dawkins, Marquis Floyd, Tony Freeman, Jolina Javier, Valériane Louisy Louis Joseph, Joel Karie, Samaree Lawson, Gabisile Manana, Justin Mensah, Marq Moss, Sarita Amani Nash, Nhlanhla Ndlovu, Aaron Nelson, Jeremy Noel, Sicelo Ntshangase, Erick D. Patrick, Sayiga Eugene Peabody, Yael Pineda-Hall, Jordan Samuels, Poseletso Sejosingoe, Jennifer Theriot, Courtney Thomas, Ben Toomer, Denzel Tsopnang, Shacura Wade, Brinie Wallace, Thom Christopher Warren and Jordan Nicole Willis.

About The Lion King

Celebrating 26 landmark years on Broadway, The Lion King continues ascendant as one of the most popular stage musicals in the world.  Since its premiere on November 13, 1997, 28 global productions have been seen by over 112 million people.  Produced by Disney Theatrical Group, under the direction of Andrew Flatt, Anne Quart, and Thomas Schumacher, The Lion King has made theatrical history with three productions worldwide running 20 or more years and two others running 25 or more years. 

Performed over its lifetime in nine different languages (English, Japanese, German, Korean, French, Dutch, Spanish, Mandarin and Portuguese), there are currently eight productions of The Lion King around the world: Broadway, London, Paris, Hamburg, Madrid, Tokyo, Sao Paulo and on tour across North America. The Lion King has played over 100 cities in 28 countries on every continent except Antarctica; its worldwide gross exceeds that of any film, Broadway show or other entertainment title in box office history.     

The Lion King won six 1998 Tony Awards:  Best Musical, Best Scenic Design (Richard Hudson), Best Costume Design (Julie Taymor), Best Lighting Design (Donald Holder), Best Choreography (Garth Fagan) and Best Direction of a Musical.  The Lion King has also earned more than 70 major arts awards including the 1998 NY Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical, the 1999 Grammy for Best Musical Show Album, the 1999 Evening Standard Award for Theatrical Event of the Year and the 1999 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Choreography and Best Costume Design. 

Director, costume designer and mask co-designer Julie Taymor, the first woman to win a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical, remains actively involved in the show, launching new productions and maintaining the flagship Broadway production. 

The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice's songs from the Lion King animated film along with three new songs by John and Rice; additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer; and music from "Rhythm of the Pride Lands," an album inspired by the original music in the film, written by Lebo M, Mark Mancina and Hans Zimmer.  The resulting sound of The Lion King is a fusion of Western popular music and the distinctive sounds and rhythms of Africa, ranging from the Academy Award-winning song “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” to Lebo M's rich choral numbers.

Elton John, Lebo M, and Hans Zimmer all collaborated on the 2019 version of the film, executive produced by Julie Taymor and Thomas Schumacher, which has gone onto extraordinary worldwide success.

The book has been adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed the animated The Lion King feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film's screenplay.  Other members of the creative team include:  Michael Curry, who designed the masks and puppets with Taymor, Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), Anthony Lyn (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor), Lisa Dawn Cave (production supervisor), Thomas Schlenk (general manager) and ARC/Mark Brandon, CSA (casting). Anne Quart serves as executive producer.

Minneapolis / St. Paul SHOWS

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Madonna setlist from Celebrations Tour in Dallas, March 24, 2024. First of two shows

M adonna performed the first of two shows on Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Here is the setlist from the Celebrations Tour show.

Nothing Really Matters

Into the Groove

Open Your Heart

Live to Tell

Like a Prayer

Justify My Love

Human Nature

Crazy for You

Die Another Day

Don’t Tell Me

Mother and Father

Express Yourself

La Isla Bonita

Don’t Cry for Me Argentina

Bedtime Story

Ray of Light

Bitch I’m Madonna

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