The Story

Act One

Pride Rock
Sunrise on the savanna. Rafiki, the wise old baboon, calls the animals to Pride Rock, singing about the circle of life ("Circle of Life"). She greets Mufasa, the lion king, and his queen, Sarabi. Climbing the great rock, Rafiki lifts their newborn son for all to see.

Scar's Cave
Mufasa's brother, Scar, laments the unfairness of his life, and is about to attack Mufasa’s majordomo, the hornbill Zazu, when Mufasa confronts him. Scar resents the new prince and the cub's place as next in line to be king.

Rafiki's Tree
Meanwhile, in a giant tree, Rafiki calls upon the spirits to conjure the new prince’s name: Simba. She draws a picture of young Simba on the tree’s trunk.

The Pride Lands
Time has passed, and Simba has grown into a cocky young cub. Mufasa leads his son to the summit of Pride Rock. Mufasa and Simba look down on the Pride Lands, the kingdom that one day, when he is king, Simba will rule. Mufasa tells Simba that everything lives together in a delicate balance called the "circle of life." He warns Simba never to go beyond the boundaries of the Pride Lands.

Zazu arrives to give Mufasa the report on all activities in the Pride Lands ("The Morning Report"), but Simba would rather practice his pouncing. Zazu learns that hyenas have crossed the borders of the Pride Lands, and Mufasa leaves immediately.

Scar's Cave
Playing on Simba’s curiosity, Scar tells his nephew that the forbidden land beyond the border of the Pride Lands is an Elephant Graveyard.

The Pride Lands
After the lionesses of the pride have hunted ("Lioness Hunt"), Simba invites his best friend, Nala, to join him in exploring a mysterious new place. Their mothers give them permission to go, with Zazu as a chaperone.

As Simba joyfully describes how he will someday rule the kingdom ("I Just Can’t Wait to Be King"), Simba and Nala are able to slip away from Zazu.

Elephant Graveyard
Now alone, Simba and Nala explore the creepy Elephant Graveyard. Zazu catches up and begs them to leave. Too late! Three hyenas surround them: Banzai, Shenzi, and Ed. The hungry hyenas gloat over their prey ("Chow Down"). Suddenly Mufasa appears, beating the hyenas back. The king takes Simba, Nala, and Zazu back to the Pride Lands.

Under the Stars
Mufasa is very disappointed in Simba; he could have been killed, and he put Nala in danger. Simba tells his father he was only trying to be brave, like Mufasa. Mufasa tells Simba that bravery doesn’t mean looking for trouble. When Simba asks his father if they will always be together, Mufasa looks up at the stars in the night sky and tells Simba that the great kings of the past will always be there to guide him ("They Live in You").

Elephant Graveyard
Back in the Elephant Graveyard, Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed are licking their wounds. Scar appears and tells them to be prepared for the death of Mufasa and the coming of a new king -- Scar ("Be Prepared"). Zazu apologizes to Mufasa for Simba’s behavior. Mufasa jokes with his aide, but admits he is worried about Simba. Zazu reminds the king of his own headstrong youth.

The Gorge
Scar brings Simba to the Gorge, telling his nephew that Mufasa has a surprise for him. As Scar leaves, he signals the hyenas. They have been instructed by Scar to start a stampede of wildebeests. The wildebeests thunder into the canyon, and Simba runs for his life.

Scar tells Mufasa that Simba is trapped in the Gorge, and the lion king races to save his son. Mufasa leaps into the Gorge toward Simba, who is hanging onto the branch of a dead tree. Mufasa manages to get Simba to safety, but is pulled back into the mass of wildebeests. Mufasa is wounded, but succeeds in leaping to safety, clinging desperately to a cliff by his claws. Scar looks down at his brother, who begs him for help. Scar digs his claws into Mufasa’s arms and whispers, "Long live the king," then throws Mufasa beneath the hooves of the stampeding wildebeests.

When the dust clears, Simba finds Mufasa’s lifeless body. Scar appears and makes Simba believe Mufasa’s death was his fault. Scar tells Simba to leave the Pride Lands and never return. Scar orders Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed to kill Simba, but the lazy hyenas decide to let the cub go and not tell Scar.

Pride Rock
Rafiki and the lionesses mourn the loss of their king ("Eulogy"). They also believe that Simba has been killed. Scar climbs to the top of Pride Rock with the hyenas and assumes the throne ("Be Prepared Reprise").

Rafiki's Tree
Rafiki, Sarabi, and Nala are left alone. As they sing a mourning chant, Rafiki wipes away the drawing of Simba. The young prince, and the hope he stood for, is gone.

The Desert/The Jungle
Exhausted from running away, Simba collapses on the parched earth under a hot sun. Buzzards swoop down to dine on the cub. Timon, a wisecracking meerkat, and Pumbaa, a big hearted warthog, charge at the birds, scattering them into the sky. Timon and Pumbaa befriend Simba, sharing their philosophy of life: "hakuna matata," which means "no worries" ("Hakuna Matata"). Simba stays with his new friends in the jungle, growing from a cub into a young lion.


Act Two


Entr'acte
The chorus welcomes the audience back to their seats with a song ("One By One"). The song is full of hope. Beautiful birds fly high above the Pride Lands. But as the song ends, the birds are replaced by buzzards, and the skeletons of gazelles. Under Scar’s rule, the Pride Lands have become dry and lifeless. He has ignored the circle of life.

Scar's Cave
With Zazu his prisoner, Scar complains that being king is not enough -- he wants to be loved.

Scar is haunted by the memory of Mufasa, and decides to secure his immortality by having children. When Nala enters to protest the pride being forced to overhunt, Scar notices that she has grown into a beautiful young lioness. When Scar tries to force himself on her, Nala runs away.

The Pridelands
Rather than submit to Scar, Nala leaves home, vowing never to forget her family or her pride ("Shadowlands"). Rafiki blesses Nala before she leaves.

The Jungle
Simba leads Timon and Pumbaa through the jungle in search of a place to rest. His friends want to sleep, but Simba feels the need to keep moving. The young lion can’t help playfully pouncing on his two friends; he is starting to feel the restlessness of adolescence.

Simba leaps easily over a river, and dares Timon to follow. The meerkat falls into the swiftly moving water, hanging from a branch over a roaring waterfall. Hungry crocodiles wait below.

Simba doesn’t react. The sight of his friend in danger sends Simba into a flashback: Mufasa falling to his death. Timon loses his grip and tumbles into the water below. Simba snaps out of his nightmare and helps Timon to the shore. Simba is stunned and ashamed: Timon nearly died because of the young lion's recklessness.

Under the stars Timon, Pumbaa, and Simba stare up at the night sky and wonder what the stars are. Simba remembers Mufasa’s words: The great kings of the past look down from the night sky, watching over him. Timon and Pumbaa don’t think much of this story.

Alone, Simba looks up at the sky, remembering his father, and Mufasa’s promise to always be there for him ("Endless Night").

Rafiki's Tree
Back on her tree, old Rafiki hears Simba’s song on the wind, and realizes "He's alive!" She again conjures Simba’s image on the tree trunk, this time with the mane of an adult lion.

The Jungle
Pumbaa enters, chased by a lioness. Simba comes between them, and the two lions fight. The lioness flips Simba, which allows him to recognize his old friend -- Nala. Nala is shocked to find Simba alive -- she tells Timon and Pumbaa that he is the true king. When Simba and Nala are alone, they start to realize the depth of their feelings for each other ("Can You Feel the Love Tonight?"). Timon and Pumbaa look on unseen, lamenting the loss of their pal to love.

Nala tells Simba of the Pride Lands' devastation, that he must return and reclaim the throne. Simba, hiding his guilt over Mufasa’s death, refuses and stalks away.

Simba meets Rafiki in the jungle. The old baboon tells Simba his father is still alive ("He Lives in You"). As Simba protests, a vision of his father appears. Mufasa tells Simba to remember who he is, and that he must take his place in the circle of life. As Mufasa’s image fades, Simba realizes that he must learn from his mistakes and return to the Pride Lands.

Pride Rock
Simba returns to Pride Rock with Nala, Timon, and Pumbaa. They find the land barren and dry. While Timon and Pumbaa distract the hyenas, Simba looks for Scar.

Scar calls for Sarabi, demanding she and the lionesses improve their hunting. Sarabi tells him there is no food or water left, and that they must leave Pride Rock. Scar refuses and strikes Sarabi. In a flash of heat lightning, Simba charges towards Scar, who cannot believe his eyes when he sees the young lion alive. When Simba, Nala, and the lionesses confront Scar and the hyenas, Scar forces Simba to say in front of the other lions that he had caused his father’s death. Scar backs Simba to the edge of a cliff and, in a moment of arrogance, whispers the truth: He killed Mufasa. Overcome with rage, Simba leaps up and catches Scar by the throat. He makes Scar tell the other lions the truth. A battle rages, with Nala, Rafiki, Timon, Pumbaa, and the lionesses fighting the hyenas.

Finally, Simba confronts Scar on the summit of Pride Rock. Scar begs Simba for his life, blaming the hyenas for everything. Simba tells Scar to run away and never return. In a final moment of treachery, Scar attacks Simba again, but Simba manages to flip his uncle over the side of the cliff. Scar lands at the foot of Pride Rock, surrounded by the hungry hyenas.

As the dawn breaks, Simba’s friends come forward, acknowledging him as the new king. He embraces Rafiki, who adorns him with the king’s mantle. Simba climbs to the top of Pride Rock and lets loose a mighty roar. Herds of animals come in answer to his call, rejoicing in his victory ("King of Pride Rock"). Nala joins him. Rafiki holds up their newborn cub for all to see as the animals dance and sing ("Circle of Life").



Synopsis taken from the official Lion King site.


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