BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- Disney's "The Lion King" will be in the spotlight at Shea's Performing Arts Center for the next three weeks, and all ages are encouraged to attend to see the show come to life. "This show surrounds you with sights, sounds, movement, dance, color -- you are swept away," said Robert Brunschmid, vice president of operations at Shea's. "The show itself is truly immersive, you're going to be surrounded by the art, the actors are all around you." Along with the hard work and talent shown on and off stage, the show is partnering with Shea's to help provide theatre events and programs for the community, especially for youth, to appreciate the power of theater. "It's a way to develop sympathy and empathy. It's a way to see yourself onstage, it's a way to learn about yourself from seeing the world that other people inhabit," said Victoria Perez-Maggiolo, vice president of arts engagement and education at Shea's. "It's part of our mission to be able to provide access and opportunities for them to have deeper understanding of the work of art by going into the schools and working with the students, before and after the show." One of the programs is the Young Professionals Creative Conversation, where professionals will host a creative conversation with members from the show. Tickets are free, but must be reserved online. Shea's also has its Broadway Bridges program, partnering with Albert Nocciolino, Disney's "The Lion King" and the Broadway League. It's being offered for 100 high school students in Western New York, from Buffalo Academy of Science Charter School, Lockport High School and East Community High School. Students will also receive discounted tickets and in-school residencies. "Theater has a magical impact on people, for young people it expands the capacity for empathy, humility, situational intelligence awareness, and in today's society where we have a lot of social isolation, this is very important," said Brian Higgins, president and CEO of Shea's Performing Arts Center. During the holiday season, they expect over 100,000 patrons to join in on the magic at Shea's and see a show. Many representatives from Shea's believe it's the heartbeat of downtown Buffalo. "Downtown Buffalo is magical, historically, currently and perceptively, and it's the challenge of livening up the theatre district and make sure that all of the restaurants, the coffee shops, hotels, have economic viability -- because of the presence of Shea's and it's the ability to draw people in," Higgins said. 2025 marks 100 years since the groundbreaking of building Shea's, with multiple generations of Western New Yorkers having walked through the doors and listening along together. "It's a place where everyone can come -- it doesn't matter what walk of life you come from, there's a seat here for you," said Beth Potozniak, manager of the marketing and communications at Shea's. Disney's "The Lion King" starts Dec. 18 and runs through Jan. 5, with 24 shows. Shea's encourages everyone who comes to see the show to arrive early. For more information about Shea's, visit its website here. Latest Local News Families left in the cold as WNY migrant care transitions from DocGo to Jewish Family Services Retired Rochester police officer threatened violence, shootout toward OP woman ‘It’s an impossible situation for us’: OP farm concerned its new facility still doesn’t have access to water Lancaster man sentenced to 24 years for new child pornography charge Disney’s ‘The Lion King’ returns to Shea’s Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here.