ACT 1 Inc. · 2026–2027 Season
The Lion King
Live On Stage
Take your place in the circle.
- April 9 – May 14, 2027
- Ages 8–18
- Performances May 13 & 14
From the sunrise over Pride Rock to the roar that echoes through generations, this is the story that brings every audience to its feet. Join Simba, Nala, Rafiki, Timon, Pumbaa, and the entire Pridelands in a celebration of family, courage, and finding the strength to become who you were born to be. This is the show everyone has been waiting for, and your moment to be part of it.
The ACT 1 Standard
Every performer has a place in the circle.
Join the Pride
Step into a cast that becomes a family. From the youngest cub to the oldest lion, everyone belongs in the Pridelands.
Move to the Rhythm
Thundering rhythms, soaring music, and storytelling that turns performers into a stampede, a sunrise, and a kingdom.
Rise Like a King
Grow in courage, voice, and presence. Leave this stage knowing exactly who you are and what you are capable of.
The Commitment
The Road to Pride Rock
Every kingdom is built one rehearsal at a time. Here is the full journey, from our first gathering to the moment the sun rises over Pride Rock. Cast members are expected at every call.
April 2027
May 2027
A note on commitment: this is an intensive, and the schedule is the training. Full attendance is what allows us to hold a professional standard, and what makes the sunrise over Pride Rock unforgettable. Please review these dates carefully with your family before registering to audition.
Rehearsal dates and times are subject to change.
The Cast
Meet the Pridelands
From the throne of Pride Rock to the shadows of the elephant graveyard, this story is filled with some of the most iconic characters ever brought to the stage. Kings and cubs, sages and scoundrels, a meerkat and a warthog with impeccable comic timing. There is a place in the Pridelands for every performer.
Lead Roles
Simba
The Rightful KingThe cub who ran from his past and the young king who must return to claim it. The heart of the entire story, from playful beginnings to a roar that shakes the kingdom.
Nala
The Fierce HeartSimba’s best friend and the bravest lioness in the Pridelands. She never stopped fighting for her home, and she is the one who calls the king back to it.
Mufasa
The Great KingThe wise and mighty king of Pride Rock, a father whose love and lessons echo long after the stampede. One of the most powerful roles a young actor can take on.
Scar
The VillainThe brilliant, bitter brother lurking in Mufasa’s shadow. Silky, sarcastic, and dangerous. One of the greatest villains in theatre, and an absolute gift to play.
Rafiki
The StorytellerThe wild, wise shaman who opens the show, guides the story, and knows exactly who Simba really is. Part sage, part trickster, all joy.
Timon & Pumbaa
The Comic DuoA meerkat with all the answers and a warthog with all the heart. The funniest friendship in the savanna and the roles the audience quotes on the way home.
Zazu
The MajordomoThe king’s prim, proper, and perpetually exasperated hornbill advisor. Dry wit at full altitude and a comic highlight of every scene he flaps into.
Featured Roles
Young Simba
The playful cub who just can’t wait to be king. A star role for a younger performer.
Young Nala
Fearless, quick, and always one step ahead of Simba. Another shining spot for a young star.
Sarabi
The queen of Pride Rock, Simba’s mother, and the quiet strength of the pride.
Sarafina
Nala’s mother and a leading voice among the lionesses.
Shenzi
The sharp-tongued leader of the hyena pack. Scary and hilarious at the same time.
Banzai
The loudmouth of the hyena trio, always hungry and always scheming.
Ed
The hyena who says everything without a single word. A physical comedy playground.
Circle of Life Soloists
Featured voices who lift the show’s biggest musical moments to the sky.
Ensemble
Lionesses of the Pride
The hunters, protectors, and soul of Pride Rock, carrying some of the show’s most beautiful movement and music.
The Hyena Clan
The cackling, scheming shadows of the elephant graveyard. Big physical roles with big laughs.
Animals of the Pridelands
Gazelles, zebras, giraffes, birds, and every creature great and small in the Circle of Life.
The Wildebeest Stampede
The most thrilling moment in the show, built entirely from ensemble movement and thunder.
Grasslands & Skies
The living scenery of the savanna. Performers become the sunrise, the grass, and the world itself.
Casting Philosophy at ACT 1
At ACT 1, we believe every performer deserves meaningful opportunities to shine. The Lion King offers a flexible cast structure that allows us to expand roles, reduce doubling, and showcase the unique talents of our students. While not every performer plays a lead, every performer plays an essential role in bringing the Pridelands to life. In this story, the ensemble is not the background. The ensemble is the world.