The lottery, which is hosted at lionking.com/lottery, begins at 10 AM Nov. 16 for tickets to the Nov. 17 evening performance. Tickets for the well-sold musical are assigned based on availability and at the discretion of the show's box office. Winners are eligible to purchase two tickets per performance.

According to Disney, "Entries will be accepted until 9 AM on the day of the performance, at which point the lottery for that performance will be closed. Entries for future performances will begin once the prior day's performance begins and continues up until 9 AM on the day of the performance, at which point the lottery for that performance will be closed."

Winners will be notified if they won tickets within minutes of the lottery's closing. Winners will have 60 minutes to pay for tickets via credit card, and will need a government issued ID to pick up the non-transferrable tickets.

Disney also stated that multiple entries for a single performance from a single guest will result in disqualification.

The New York Times first reported news of the lottery offering.

Broadway Rush, Lottery and Standing Room Only Policies

The hit musical was the first show in Broadway history to pass $1 billion in cumulative gross, a threshold also crossed by the North American tour and the Hamburg Lion King production.

The production premiered Nov. 13, 1997.The Lion King’s worldwide gross exceeds that of any entertainment title in box-office history.

The Broadway score features Elton John and Tim Rice's music 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, 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 book was adapted by Roger Allers, who co-directed "The Lion King" animated feature, and Irene Mecchi, who co-wrote the film's screenplay. Other members of the creative team include Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Ward (hair and makeup design), John Stefaniuk (associate director), Marey Griffith (associate choreographer), Clement Ishmael (music supervisor). 

Directed by Julie Taymor — who became the first woman to ever receive a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical — The Lion King has become an international hit with productions playing all around the globe. In fact, the Elton John-Tim Rice musical has won over 30 major awards. Those include six Tony Awards, including one for Best Musical; eight Drama Desk Awards; six Outer Critics Circle Awards; two Sir Laurence Oliviers; the Evening Standard Award for Best Theatrical Event; and three Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards.

The Minskoff Theatre is located at 200 W. 45th St.