Casting
Character Breakdown
Rafiki (1-5) is a wise mandrill who acts as healer of the Pridelands and guides Simba on his journey home. The Rafiki narrators -- five aspects of one chracter -- are key to the storytelling.
Mufasa is the strong, honorable, and wise lion who leads the Pridelands. Mufasa should command respect on stage and also show tenderness with his son, Simba. Cast a mature actor who can convincingly portray the authority of a king. Mufasa passes away partway through the show, so be mindful of any potential sensitivities among your young performers when casting this role.
Zazu is Mufasa's anxious yet loyal assistant who is always busy trying to serve the king. Bound by an unfailing sense of duty, Zazu appears uptight but never wavers in trying to protect Young Simba. Cast an actor with good diction and comic timing to help convey Zazu's worried, rule-following nature in contrast to the more playful cubs.
Scar is the antagonist of the show, overcome with jealousy of his brother, Mufasa, and nephew, Simba. Coldhearted and wickedly intelligent, he will stop at nothing to become king of the Pridelands. Cast a mature performer who can bring out this villain's dark side while handling Scar's sacastic sense of humor.
Young Simba, the protagonist of the story, is an adventurous and endearing cub who can't wait to be king of the Pridelands. Young Simba is playful, energetic, and naive, but aftrer his father Mufasa's death, he struggles with shame and questions his destiny. cast a confident singer and dynamic, high-energy performer in this role. Bear in mind that this actor will need to embody challening themes involving the death of a parent, so be sure to cast this role thoughtfully and sensitively within your community.
Young Nala is a courageous lion and Young Simba's best friend who is not afraid to speak her mind. Look for a strong, spunky performer who can portray this confident cub.
Simba, having grown from a cub to a lion, is carefree on the surface while wrestling with guilt over his past. Cast a mature actor who can portray the complex moments as Simba reunites with Nala, mourns his father, and finds the strength to confront Scar. To help illustrate the connection to Young Simba, consider auditioning the two actors in pairs, and ensure that Simba and Young Simba share movement vocabulary.
Nala, now grown up, is a brave, empowered lioness who is fiercely protective over her pride and homeland. Cast a strong actor and singer who can embody Nala's courageous, determined nature. As with older Simba and Young Simba, consider the transition from Young Nala to Nala when casting this role.
Sarabi is a featured lioness, Mufasa's partner, and Simba's mother. Cast an actor who can deliver Sarabi's few speaking lines with the warmth and command of a queen.
Banzai is a slick yet childish hyena who works for Scar. Banzai is the closest thing this lazy group has to a leader, so look for an outgoing and confident actor who can portray nastiness and gruffness. As Banzai is always featured with Shenzi and Ed, consider auditioning the hyenas in trios.
Shenzi is one of Scar's hyenas who plot to take over the Pridelands. She is the most brazen one of the trio and is always looking out for herself. With Banzai and Ed, she shold be able to laugh loudly and longly, as well as be menacing to Young Simba and Young Nala.
Ed is the third member of Scar's trio of lackeys. Ed's loud, cackling laugh is this hyena's only form of communication, so cast an actor who can laugh unabashedly and communicate through physicality and facial expressions rather than words.
The Ensemble plays various inhabitants of the Pridelands, such as lionesses, giraffes, elephants, antelopes, wildebeest, and other creatures you choose to include. They even become part of the environmental landscape, portraying the swaying grasslands and the leafy jungle.
The Ensemble also includes Hyenas: Scar’s army, helping to carry out his evil plot to take over the Pridelands.