Disney's The Lion King JR.
Celebrate the Circle of Life in this timeless story of courage, friendship, and destiny.
US and Canada Only
Show Essentials
17
Roles
+ Ensemble
G
Rated
1
Act

Full Synopsis

RAFIKI gathers the ANIMALS of the Pridelands to welcome the newborn cub of King MUFASA and Queen SARABI ("Circle of Life with Nants' Ingonyama"). The king's jealous brother, SCAR, no longer heir to the throne, skips the ceremony, upsetting Mufasa. Time passes ("Grasslands Chant") and YOUNG SIMBA grows into a curious young lion. Mufasa explains the circle of life and that Young Simba will one day be king of the Pridelands. Young Simba shares this news with Scar, who encourages his nephew to visit the forbidden Elephant Graveyard. Young Simba finds his best friend, YOUNG NALA, hunting with SARAFINA and the LIONESSES ("The Lioness Hunt") and invites her on his adventure. Once they ditch their overbearing babysitter, ZAZU ("I Just Can't Wait to Be King"), the cubs encounter the ravenous SHENZI, BANZAI and ED in the graveyard. Mufasa arrives and pummels the hyenas, then takes the cubs home. Scar emerges from the darkness to recruit the HYENAS in his murderous plan to become king ("Be Prepared"). Back in the Pridelands, Mufasa reprimands Young Simba, then shares the guidance of their ancestors, up among the stars ("They Live in You").

Enacting his plan, Scar leaves Young Simba alone in the gorge and signals the hyenas to scare a herd of wildebeest ("The Stampede"). Scar alerts Mufasa, who leaps into the stampede to save his son. Mufasa rescues Young Simba, but Scar pushes his brother back into the gorge, where he is trampled. Scar blames Young Simba for the king's death and tells him to run away and never return. As Sarabi, Young Nala, Rafiki and the lionesses mourn the loss of Mufasa and Young Simba ("The Mourning"), Scar assumes the throne, uniting lions and hyenas under his dark reign. Lost in the desert, Young Simba meets TIMON and PUMBAA, who take him to their "worry-free" jungle home ("Hakuna Matata").

Under Scar's reign, the Pridelands are nearly destroyed. Now grown, NALA decides to leave and seek help ("Shadowland"). To her delight, she finds SIMBA alive in the jungle ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight"). Nala urges him to take his rightful place as king but, still ashamed, Simba refuses. Rafiki appears and helps Simba remember his father ("He Lives in You"). With newfound courage, Simba agrees to return to the Pridelands. Timon and Pumbaa distract the hyenas ("Luau Hawaiian Treat") while Nala rallies the lionesses. Simba confronts his uncle, the truth of Mufasa's murder is revealed and Scar runs away, pursued by angry hyenas. With peace restored in the Pridelands, Simba takes his place as king and the circle of life continues ("Finale").

Casting
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Cast Size: Large (21 or more performers)
Cast Type: Children
Dance Requirements: Standard

Character Breakdown

Young Simba

The protagonist of the story, is an adventurous and endearing cub who can't wait to be king of the Pridelands. Simba is playful, energetic, and naive, but after his father Mufasa's death, Simba struggles with shame and his destiny. Cast a strong singer and dynamic performer in this role.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Rafiki

A wise mandrill who acts as healer of the Pridelands and guides Simba on his journey home. She is an omniscient character, evincing an air of mystery. Rafiki has significant solos in "Circle of Life" and "He Lives in You," and leads the African chants throughout the show, so cast a confident performer with a strong singing voice.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Young Nala

A courageous lion and Young Simba's best friend. She is not afraid to speak her mind. While Young Nala does sing a little, look for a strong female performer who can portray this confident cub.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: A3
Mufasa

The strong, honorable, and wise lion who leads the Pridelands. Mufasa should command respect onstage and also show tenderness with his son, Simba. Cast a mature actor who can convincingly portray the king.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Scar

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 sarcastic sense of humor. As his solos can be spoken, opt for an actor over a singer.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: A3
Zazu

The anxious yet loyal assistant to Mufasa who is always busy trying to do his duty. Zazu's lyrics are spoken rather than sung, and the role can be played by a boy or girl.

Gender: any
Shenzi

One of Scar's hyenas who plot to take over the Pridelands. She is the sassy one of the trio and is always looking out for herself. With Banzai and Ed, she should be able to laugh loudly and long, as well as be menacing to Young Simba and Young Nala.

Gender: female
Banzai

A slick yet childish hyena who works for Scar. He would be the leader of the group if hyenas weren't so lazy. Look for an outgoing and confident actor who can portray nastiness and gruffness. As banzai is always featured with Shenzi and Ed, consider audit

Gender: male
Ed

The third member of Scar's trio of lackeys. He has a loud, cackling laugh that is his only form of communication. Ed should be played by an actor who can laugh unabashedly and communicate through physicality and facial expressions rather than words. This role can be played by a boy or girl.

Gender: any
Sarabi

A featured lioness, Mufasa's mate, and Simba's mother. Sarabi has a few key speaking lines for an actor who can deliver the care and command of a queen.

Gender: female
Sarafina

A featured lioness and Nala's mother. She has one short, spoken line, so consider giving this part to an actor who is putting in a lot of effort and hard work in rehearsal as a lioness.

Gender: female
Simba

Grows from a cub to lion in "Hakuna Matata." Older Simba has more complex moments as he reunites with Nala, mourns his father, and returns to confront Scar, so cast a more mature actor. Be sure that the change in actors is clear: Try having Young Simba hand-off a costume piece, such as a medallion, to older Simba. Also be sure that Simba and Young Simba share a movement vocabulary.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Nala

Grows from a cub to a lioness before she confronts Scar, so cast a more mature actress to play the character beginning in Scene 10, As with older Simba and Young Simba, ensure that this switch in actors performing a single role is clear. Direct the actors to share a mask or costume piece that distinctly represents Nala, as well as a movement vocabulary.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Timon

An outcast meerkat who lives in the jungle with Pumbaa. He is afraid of his own shadow, but pretends to be the confident, relaxed leader of the duo. Timon is one of the funniest characters in the show and should be played by a charismatic actor who understands comic timing. This part can be played by a boy or a girl.

Gender: any
Vocal range top: B4
Vocal range bottom: B3
Pumbaa

A kindhearted, sensitive warthog who enjoys his simple life of grubs and relaxation. Cast a boy or girl who can portray this loveable and loyal friend to Timon and Simba with deadpan humor.

Gender: any
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: D4
Lionesses

The fierce hunters of the Pridelands and featured in "The Lioness Hunt," "The Mourning," and "Shadowland." These actors should be strong singers, as the material can be challenging. Depending on the complexity of your choreography, particuarly for "The Lioness Hunt," strong dancers may be desirable as well.

Gender: female
Hyenas

Scar's army, helping carry out his evil plot to take over the Pridelands. Hyenas are mangy, mindless creatures who sing in "Be Prepared." Cast actors who are able to sing the background parts of that song while playing the loud and raucous characters. Your hyenas can double as animals of the Pridelands or lionesses.

Gender: any
Ensemble

The ensemble plays various inhabitants of the Pridelands, such as giraffes, elephants, antelopes, wildebeest, and other creatures you choose to include. This group can have as few or as many performers as your production permits. Be sure to cast many strong singers. There are also several moments to showcase individual dancers in "The Lioness Hunt" and "I Just Can't Wait to Be King."

Full Song List
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: Circle of Life with Nants' Ingonyama
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: Grasslands Chant
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: The Lioness Hunt
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: I Just Can't Wait to Be King
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: Be Prepared
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: They Live in You
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: The Stampede
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: The Mourning
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: Hakuna Matata (Part 1)
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: Hakuna Matata (Part 2)
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: Shadowland
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: Can You Feel the Love Tonight
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: He Lives in You
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: Luau Hawaiian Treat
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: Finale
Lion King Jr(no Drums), Disney's: Bows

Billing

Based on the Broadway production directed by Julie Taymor.

Requirements

You must give the authors/creators billing credits, as specified in the Production Contract, in a conspicuous manner on the first page of credits in all programs and on houseboards, displays and in all other advertising announcements of any kind.
Percentages listed indicate required type size in relation to title size.

Author Billing – Disney’s The Lion King JR.

In accordance with the Dramatic Performing Rights License, all advertising, such as posters and program covers, must include the show logo as provided in the ShowKit® Director’s Guide and all of the following author billing.
It is a violation of your contract if you crop or edit this logo in any way. You may keep this page for your records.
[name of school]
Production of

 
Music and Lyrics by
ELTON JOHN & TIM RICE
 
Additional Music and Lyrics by
LEBO M, MARK MANCINA, JAY RIFKIN,
and HANS ZIMMER 
 
Book by
ROGER ALLERS & IRENE MECCHI
 
Based on the Broadway production directed by 
Julie Taymor
 
The name of your organization must be billed in the form specified above, including the words “Production of” below your billing, which shall be visually contiguous with the title, all so that the audience is informed that you are the producer. Your billing shall be no less than 50% of the size of the logo or artwork title, as measured by the proportion of the average size of their names to the largest letter in the logo or artwork title. The size of the credits to the authors (listed above) shall be no less than 20% of the artwork or logo title as measured by the proportion of the average size of your name to the largest letter in the logo or artwork title.
The following credits should be included with MTI billing:
 
Music Adapted & Arranged and Additional Music & Lyrics and
“Luau Hawaiian Treat” written by Will Van Dyke
 
“It’s a Small World” written by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman

Video Warning

In accordance with the Performance License, you MUST include the following warning in all programs and in a pre-show announcement:
ANY VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

If you purchase a video license to allow non-commercial video recording of this production, then you MUST include the following warning in all programs and in a pre-show announcement:
ANY VIDEO RECORDING MADE OF THIS PERFORMANCE IS AUTHORIZED FOR PERSONAL, AT-HOME, NON-COMMERCIAL USE ONLY. THE SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF SUCH RECORDING IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED UNDER FEDERAL COPYRIGHT LAW.

Included Materials

ItemQuantity Included
ACTOR'S BOOK30
DIGITAL SHOWKIT1
DIRECTOR'S GUIDE1
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES AND MEDIA1
GUIDE VOCAL AND PERF TRACKS DIGITAL1
PIANO VOCAL SCORE1

Production Resources

Resource
ACTOR'S BOOK TENPACK