Disney's The Lion King KIDS
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

Five Rafiki narrators enter ("They Live in You -- Prologue") to share their favorite story. The Rafikis gather all the animals of the Pridelands to welcome the newborn cub of the king, Mufasa, and queen Sarabi ("Circle of Life with Nants' Ingonyama"). Mufasa's jealous brother Scar refuses to attend the ceremony, which angers the king. As time passes, Young Simba grows into a curious young lion. Mufasa explains the circle of life to his son and how one day he will become king of the Pridelands. Out for revenge, Scar encourages his nephew to visit the forbidden Elephant Graveyard. Young Simba takes his best friend Young Nala there after ditching Zazu, Mufasa's loyal advisor ("I Just Can't Wait to Be King"). At the graveyard, three hungry hyenas -- Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed -- corner the cubs, but Mufasa arrives just in time to rescue the young lions and takes them home. Scar emerges to recruit the Hyenas in his murderous plan to claim the throne and become king himself ("Be Prepared"). 

Back in the Pridelands, Mufasa scolds Young Simba and teaches him and important lesson: the great kings of the past will always be there in the stars to guide him. The next day, Young Simba gets trapped in a wildebeest stampede orchestrated by Scar. Mufasa rescues his son but is pushed by Scar into the stampede, where he is trampled to death. Scar blames Young Simba and tells him to run away and never return. Scar then assumes the throne, consolidating lions and hyenas under his dark reign. Lost in the desert, Young Simba meets Timon and Pumbaa, who teach him their "worry-free" life philosophy and take him to their home in the jungle ("Hakuna Matata -- Parts 1 & 2"). 

Many years pass, and under Scar's rule the Pridelands are nearly destroyed. Nala, now grown, leaves to get help and finds Simba alive in the jungle ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight"). She urges him to come back home to take his rightful place as king, but Simba refuses, still ashamed. The Rafikis appear and help him remember his father ("He Lives in You"). With newfound courage, Simba returns to the Pridelands. Timon and Pumbaa distract the hyenas while 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
← Back to Disney's The Lion King KIDS
Cast Size: Large (21 or more performers)
Cast Type: Teens
Dance Requirements: Standard

Character Breakdown

Rafiki

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.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: C4
Mufasa

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.

Gender: male
Zazu

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.

Gender: any
Scar

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. 

Vocal range top: B4
Vocal range bottom: B3
Young Simba

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.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: B3
Vocal range bottom: C3
Young Nala

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.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: C4
Simba

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.

Gender: male
Vocal range top: C#3
Vocal range bottom: Bb4
Nala

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.

Gender: female
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: Bb5
Timon
Gender: any
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: Bb3
Pumbaa
Gender: male
Vocal range top: E5
Vocal range bottom: B3
Sarabi

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.

Gender: female
Banzai

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.

Gender: any
Shenzi

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.

Gender: female
Ed

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.

Gender: any
Ensemble

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.

Full Song List
Lion King Kids 2025, Disney's: They Live in You - Prologue
Lion King Kids 2025, Disney's: Circle of Life with Nants' Ingonyama
Lion King Kids 2025, Disney's: I Just Can't Wait to Be King
Lion King Kids 2025, Disney's: Be Prepared
Lion King Kids 2025, Disney's: Hakuna Matata (Part 1)
Lion King Kids 2025, Disney's: Hakuna Matata (Part 2)
Lion King Kids 2025, Disney's: Can You Feel the Love Tonight
Lion King Kids 2025, Disney's: He Lives in You
Lion King Kids 2025, Disney's: Finale
Lion King Kids 2025, Disney's: Bows

Curriculum Connection

  • Science - The Animal Kingdom
  • Language Arts - Text Analysis and Context Clues
  • Music - Composition and Story
  • Visual Arts

Billing

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 KIDS

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 Organization]
Production of
 
The Lion King Kids black and white logo
 
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
 
Originally produced on Broadway by
Disney Theatrical Group
 
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 by
Will Van Dyke
 
“Let It Go” written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez
The size of the foregoing credits shall be no less than 20% of the size of the logo or artwork title, as measured by the proportion of the font point size to the height of the largest letter in the logo.
Further examples of proper billing can be found in Sample Poster and Program found in Section G of the Director’s Guide.

MTI Billing

In accordance with the Performance License, all advertising materials (posters, programs, websites, etc.) MUST include the following credit:
Disney's The Lion King KIDS
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
  • www.mtishows.com

In addition, all press releases and press kits MUST indicate the production is licensed by Music Theatre International.

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
CHOREOGRAPHY VIDEOS DIGITAL1
DIRECTOR'S GUIDE1
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES AND MEDIA1
GUIDE VOCAL AND PERF TRACKS DIGITAL1
PIANO VOCAL SCORE1
SHOWKIT1
STUDENT BOOK30

Production Resources

Resource
Music Theatre International - Copyright 2026