For the 10th birthday of “The Lion King” it was a case of the party must go on, even if the show won’t.  But it was a private party, without the press.

Sunday’s 10th anniversary performance of Disney’s megahit on Broadway was cancelled because of a strike by stagehands that shuttered most shows this weekend (see our story on that here).

Reporters invited to cover the celebrations were told on Saturday that a star-studded party at Cipriani’s would go ahead despite the strike, but then shortly before the appointed hour, they were disinvited.

“It was not a press blackout,” said spokesman Chris Boneau, adding that organizers decided to make it a “family party” rather than opening it to the press. “It would have been strange to have press people that were not part of the family.”

Among around 800 guests who did turn up were Julie Taymor, who designed the signature costumes for the show, and many of the original cast – but not Elton John or Tim Rice who wrote the songs. They had other commitments, Boneau said.

“Some of the stagehands who had been with the show from the beginning came,” Boneau said.