

Full Synopsis
EXPLORE
A complete curriculum, including detailed lesson plans and corresponding student materials, allows you and your students to explore the varied aspects of theater: Acting, Design, Directing, Writing, Music and Dance.
Each session launches with a video introducing the day's theme through backstage access and on-screen instruction. After a teacher-facilitated, full class activity, students work in groups to solve a creative challenge, then share their work, reflect as a group and learn from one another.
As a holistic arts education program, The Lion King Experience fulfills many educational standards, including some Common Core State Standards and National Core Arts Standards.
CREATE
Apply what you've learned! Use the foundations of theatre-making, explored in the curriculum to rehearse, produce and build your own version of The Lion King — adapted and developed expressly for school students. A comprehensive ShowKit® provides all the materials you need to get started.
SHARE
See your hard work come to life on stage when your students put on the show! From acting and design, to creativity and collaboration, building a production allows your students to develop and experiment with a variety of skills that will stay with them long after the applause.
Includes a license to produce The Lion King JR., a 60-minute adaptation created especially for the strengths and skill level of middle school students (Show Synopsis Below), and an 18-session curriculum that explores fundamentals of theatre-making, including: ACTING, DESIGN, MUSIC, PLAYWRITING, CHOREOGRAPHY, DIRECTING, TECHNICAL THEATER and STAGE MANAGEMENT!
SHOW 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").
Connect
Curriculum Connection
SESSIONS AT A GLANCE: JR. Edition
Session 1: INTRODUCTION
Discover fundamentals of musical theatre, learn about jobs in the theatre, explore the characters and plot of The Lion King JR. and perform scenes.
Session 2: PRIDE
Explore the structure of The Lion King Experience, create an Ensemble Contract and develop a strong community.
Session 3: RHYTHM
Explore call and response, learn foundations of djembe drumming and create original rhythms.
Session 4: RITUAL
Understand the theatrical ritual of warming up, learn various physical and vocal warm-ups and create an Opening Ritual.
Session 5: STORY
Investigate the story of The Lion King, explore dramatic structure, experiment with adaptation and write in character voice.
Session 6: FOUNDATIONS
Learn the parts of the stage and experiment with foundational music, dance and acting concepts.
Session 7: PROCESS
Discover the audition, rehearsal and performance processes for The Lion King and bring them to life.
Session 8: OBJECTIVE
Explore characters objectives in The Lion King, investigate given circumstances and experiment with various acting techniques to perform strong objectives.
Session 9: CHARACTER
Explore various characters in The Lion King and develop strong characters through movement, improvisation and analysis.
Session 10: ENSEMBLE
Understand the importance of a strong ensemble in the theatre, and create original ensemble characters.
Session 11: VISION
Meet the director of The Lion King, explore the concept of a director's vision and create a directorial vision for The Lion King JR.
Session 12: IMAGE
Explore the design process, and discover how a director's vision can be realized through design. Create original mask, puppet and costume designs.
Session 13: TRANSITION
Understand the various transitions used in the theatre, and create original theatrical transitions through design, directing and performance.
Session 14: SPACE
Explore the use of space in the theatre, and use scene changes, set design and blocking to tell the story of The Lion King.
Session 15: SOUND
Explore the use of sound in the theatre, and experiment with microphones, Foley art and underscoring to create the aural world of The Lion King.
Session 16: ATMOSPHERE
Explore how atmosphere is created on stage, and use sound, lighting and movement to create atmosphere and mood for The Lion King.
Session 17: CUE
Discover how various people in the theatre work together to bring a show to life. Investigate the various cues that take place on stage, backstage and in the house.
Session 18: REFLECTION
Reflect on the various sessions and accomplishments of The Lion King Experience, and put everything together for a final performance.
Billing
- Music and Lyrics by
- Additional Music and Lyrics by
- Book by
Based on the Broadway production directed by Julie Taymor.
Requirements
Author Billing – Disney’s The Lion King JR

Video Warning
If you purchase a separate license to allow non-commercial video recording of this production, you must print the following in your program. 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. If you do not purchase the separate license for video recording, you must print the following in your program. The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibitedIncluded Materials
Item | Quantity Included |
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Production Resources
Resource |
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ACTOR'S BOOK TENPACK |
CUSTOMIZABLE SHOW POSTER |
DJEMBE (DRUM - SINGLE PIECE) |
FAMILY MATTERS |
FAMILY MATTERS (PACK OF 10) |
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON-10/CS |
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON? |
LOGO PACK DIGITAL |
LOGO TEES SIX-PACK ADULT LARGE |
LOGO TEES SIX-PACK ADULT MEDIUM |
LOGO TEES SIX-PACK ADULT SMALL |
LOGO TEES SIX-PACK ADULT X-LARGE |
LOGO TEES SIX-PACK CHILD LARGE |
LOGO TEES SIX-PACK CHILD MEDIUM |
LOGO TEES SIX-PACK CHILD SMALL |
PRIDE JOURNAL: LION KING EXPERIENCE |
SPECIALTY SHIRT ADULT LARGE |
SPECIALTY SHIRT ADULT MEDIUM |
SPECIALTY SHIRT ADULT SMALL |
SPECIALTY SHIRT AXL |
SPECIALTY SHIRT AXXL |
SPECIALTY SHIRT CHILD LARGE |
SPECIALTY SHIRT CHILD MEDIUM |
SPECIALTY SHIRT CHILD SMALL |
SUBPLOT CUSTOMIZED SHOW POSTER |
VIRTUAL STAGE MANAGER |