The Lion King Jr (musical)
The Lion King Jr is a one-act theatre MusicAL adapted from the animated Disney film The Lion King which is an Disney film that has a completely original idea. The production runs between 60 and 80 minutes and includes four female parts, three male parts, six boy or girl parts, and a chorus.
Description
The Lion King Jr is a part of the The Lion King Jr. Broadway by Music Theatre International (MTI). MTI's Broadway Jr. series adapts full length musicals into approximately 70-minute productions that are more manageable for middle school aged performers. The Lion King Jr rights come in a kit which includes scripts for the main cast and chorus books for the chorus. Also included is a choreography DVD and a performance/rehearsal CD. The performance tracks are first on the CD and include all the music without voices, whereas the rehearsal CD provides the music along with recorded voices. Also included is a director's book with the full script as well as area to make notes and suggestions for staging. The full score is included for music teachers or for a live orchestra.
Both the story and music in this truncated version closely follow the original film. Songs from the Disney film include Circle Of Life, Just Can’t Wait To Be King, Be Prepared, Hakuna Matata, & Can You Feel The Love Tonight. It also has two extra songs "They Live In You" & "He Lives In You" It was originally written for "The Lion King Sequel".
There are additional changes in the musical. For instance, the song Luau Hawaiian Treat has different words than the movie. Also, The ending doesn’t have Scar falling off a cliff and being eaten. The ending has Scar turning on the hyenas and giving up then being eaten by the hyenas.
There are also similar musicals based on The Jungle Book, Cinderella, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Aristocats and Sleeping Beauty but they have the word "Kids" at the end of the title instead of "Jr.". MTI's "Kids" musicals are written for even younger performers and are shortened further to run approximately 30 minutes. The musicals based on Alice in Wonderland, Mulan, and Aladdin are "Jr." versions, which like The Lion King Jr are more detailed.
Synopsis
Source: MTI Shows
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 [...] 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").
Musical numbers
- Act I
- "Circle Of Life" - Rafiki, Mufasa, Sarabi, & Ensemble
- "Grasslands Chant" – Ensemble, & Young Simba
- "The Lioness Hunt" – Lionesses, Young Nala, Sarabi, & Sarafina
- "I Just Can't Wait To Be King" – Young Simba, Young Nala, Zazu, & Ensemble
- "They Live In You" - Mufasa, Young Simba, & Ensemble
- "Be Prepared" – Scar, Shenzi, Bonzai, Ed, & Hyenas
- "The Stampede" – Ensemble, Young Simba, Mufasa, Zazu, & Scar
- "The Mourning" – Young Nala, Sarabi, Sarafina, & Lionesses
- Act II
- "Hakuna Matata" – Timon, Pumbaa, Young Simba, Simba, & Ensemble
- "Shadowlands" – Young Nala, Sarabi, Sarafina, & Lionesses
- "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" – Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, & Ensemble
- "He Lives In You" – Rafiki, Simba, Mufasa, & Ensemble
- "Luau Hawaiian Treat" - Timon, Pumbaa, Bonzai, Shenzi, Ed, & Hyenas
- "Finale" – Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, Sarabi, Sarafina, Lionesses, Mufasa, & Ensemble
Music by Elton John and Tim Rice
Characters
Young Simba/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. 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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
Young Nala/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. 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. |
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. |
Bonzai 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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
References
{{"The Lion King"}}