The Lion King JR - Principal Cast (GR 5-12)

Tuition: $450 includes souvenir cast t-shirt - tuition assistance available - APPLY ONLINE

Payment plans are available for The Lion King JR tuition during checkout. 

Directed by: Rebekah Hirons

Rehearsals begin: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Performances: Eight performances May 29-31 and June 5-7, 2026

 

ALL REGISTERED STUDENTS WILL BE CAST IN THIS PRODUCTION!
Before you register your student for this production, please review the rehearsal and performance schedules, audition dates, and parent volunteer requirements(all below), as well as our Attendance Expectations and UCYT Casting Policy.

 

The African savanna comes to life on stage with Simba, Rafiki and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle and back again in this inspiring, coming-of-age tale. The Lion King JR. features classic songs from the Broadway musical and animated feature film, including “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” “He Lives in You,” and “Hakuna Matata.”
 

Rehearsal Schedule:
All rehearsals and performances will be held at our new Eugene location: 2101 Bailey Hill Road (between Fitness 1440 and ATOS NW Jiu Jitsu)

Rehearsals begin Tuesday, March 31
Tuesday/Thursday 6:30-8:30pm
Friday 5:00-9:00pm
Saturdays 4/4, 4/11, 5/9 10:30am-3:00pm

Sunday 5/17 1:00-5:30pm
No rehearsal: Tuesday-Friday 4/28-5/1

Not all cast members will be called for every rehearsal. On any given rehearsal day, cast members may be called for the full rehearsal call, a portion of the day’s schedule, or none of the day’s scheduled rehearsal - depending on what songs or scenes we will be working on that day. In general, Tuesdays will be choreography rehearsals, Thursdays will be vocal rehearsals, Fridays will be blocking rehearsals, and our Saturday/Sunday rehearsals can include a little bit of everything.

Finalized rehearsal schedules will be posted two days in advance.

Rehearsal Schedule Conflicts:
The following dates are required for participation in The Lion King JR. and conflicts will not be accepted:
Tuesday, 5/19/26 Rehearsal (Full run-through rehearsal)
Thursday, 5/21/26 Rehearsal (Full run-through rehearsal)
Monday-Thursday, 5/25-5/28 Tech week rehearsals
Friday-Sunday 5/29-5/31 and 6/5-6/7 Performances
If your cast member has a conflict with any of those dates, they aren’t eligible to participate in this production.

Cast families must respond to the Rehearsal Conflict Survey before casting and declare any conflicts with the published rehearsal schedule. Cast members may have a limited number of pre-approved rehearsal conflicts and still have a successful experience if those conflicts are submitted before casting. 

Review UCYT Rehearsal Attendance Expectations.

ALL CAST FAMILIES MUST RESPOND TO THE REHEARSAL CONFLICTS SURVEY HERE no later than Wednesday, 3/18.
Note: Students will NOT be included in the cast list if we do not receive a response to the rehearsal conflicts survey.

The Lion King JR - Tech Week Schedule
No conflicts accepted
Monday, 5/25: 5:00-9:00 pm - No conflicts accepted
Tuesday, 5/26: 5:00-9:00 pm  - No conflicts accepted
Wednesday, 5/27: 5:00-9:00 pm - No conflicts accepted
Thursday, 5/28: 5:00-9:00 pm - No conflicts accepted

The Lion King JR - Performances
No conflicts accepted - cast members must be available for all performances
The Lion King JR will be double-cast. This means that most roles will be played by two different actors. For example, one actor will play the Pumbaa in the Hakuna Cast and a different actor will play Pumbaa in the Matata cast. In the opposite cast those actors will play roles in the ensemble. All cast members will perform in both casts but they may play different roles in the Hakuna Cast vs. the Matata Cast.

Friday May 29, 8pm Hakuna Cast Performance
Saturday, May 30, 2pm Matata Cast Performance
Saturday, May 30, 7pm Hakuna Cast Performance
Sunday, May 31, 2pm Matata Cast Performance
Friday, June 5, 8pm Matata Cast Performance
Saturday, June 6, 2pm Hakuna Cast Performance
Saturday, June 6, 7pm Matata Cast Performance
Sunday, June 7, 2pm Hakuna Cast Performance
Call times for performances are typically 1.5 hours before the show begins. Note: When we return for our second Friday performance we will call actors 2.5 hours before the show begins so we have time to review - in lieu of a pick-up rehearsal.

Parent Volunteer Hours:

Principal cast families are required to volunteer at least 8 hours for this production or to buyout the required volunteer hours at $15 per hour. Volunteer opportunities include helping make costumes, set painting, set building, costume or prop shopping, providing supervision at dress rehearsals and performances, ushering, selling concessions, etc. All volunteer hours must be submitted within one week of the show’s closing date. If required hours are not met or hours are not submitted by the deadline, a charge of $20 per unfulfilled hour will be applied to your account. Per our new board policy, future registrations will not be allowed with a balance still remaining on your account.
 

Costume Fittings: 

Costume fittings will be held during Friday rehearsals. Cast members will be scheduled for their fittings by UCYT staff. Fittings will be included on the rehearsal schedule and cast members will be instructed to arrive for that rehearsal wearing their backstage undergarments. Review the UCYT COSTUME/HAIR/MAKEUP HANDOUT.

 

AUDITIONS FOR THE LION KING JR

 

Auditions consist of TWO PARTS on two separate days.
Audition requirements are based on your student’s status of NEW vs. RETURNING and whether they would like to be considered for a specific role.

There are two parts to our audition process - INDIVIDUAL auditions and GROUP auditions.
 

INDIVIDUAL AUDITIONS - Individual auditions include an acting audition and a vocal audition.
Does everyone need to prepare an individual audition?
All returning students who have previously participated in the principal cast of a UCYT production are required to submit an individual audition.
Students who are new to UCYT or have only participated in one of our Squad or Crew casts (not principal cast) are not required to submit an individual audition UNLESS they would like to be considered for a specific role.
Any student who would like to be considered for a specific role (principal or supporting role), must prepare an individual audition, whether they are a new or returning principal cast member. 

 

Individual auditions are by appointment only and will be held in the evening on 3/16, 3/17, and 3/18. A link to sign up for your audition appointment will be included in the detailed audition instructions. If you aren’t able to attend in-person, individual auditions, students may sign up for a video audition. Video auditions are due by 3/18 at 10pm.

Group auditions will be held Thursday, March 19 from 5:30-9:00. All cast members should attend group auditions. We will get to know each other, learn a short segment of the show choreography together, and participate in cold reads. Bring a snack and a water bottle, wear comfortable clothes and shoes you can move in, and be prepared to have fun!

 

DETAILED AUDITION INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE INCLUDED IN YOUR REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION EMAIL.

 

ROLES in The Lion King JR:

Students may audition for roles of any gender. 

 

Rafiki

Rafiki is a wise mandrill who acts as a healer of the Pridelands and guides Simba on his journey home. She is an omniscient character, evincing an air of mystery. 

Character Gender: female

 

Mufasa

Mufasa is the strong, honorable, and wise lion who leads the Pridelands. Mufasa should command respect onstage and also show tenderness with his son, Simba. 

 

Character 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. 

 

Character 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. The actor in this role will bring out this villain's dark side while handling Scar's sarcastic sense of humor.

 

Character Gender: male

 

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 after his father Mufasa's death, he struggles with shame and questions his destiny.

 

Character Gender: male

 

Young Nala

Young Nala is a courageous lion and Young Simba's best friend who is not afraid to speak her mind. 

 

Character Gender: female

 

Simba

Simba, having grown from a cub to 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. 

 

Character Gender: male

 

Nala

Nala has grown into a brave, empowered lioness with a courageous, determined nature. Nala is fiercely protective over her pride and homeland. 

Character Gender: female

 

Timon

Timon is an outcast meerkat who lives in the jungle with his best friend Pumbaa. This anxious mammal pretends to be the confident, relaxed leader of the duo but is actually afraid of their own shadow. 

Character Gender: any

 

Pumbaa

Pumbaa is a kindhearted, sensitive warthog who enjoys his simple life of grubs and relaxation. This actor should portray this loveable and loyal friend to Timon and Simba with deadpan humor.

Character Gender: male

 

Sarabi

Sarabi is a featured lioness, Mufasa's partner, and Simba's mother. The actor playing Sarabi's few speaking lines should have the warmth and command of a queen.

Character 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 should be an outgoing and confident actor who can portray nastiness and gruffness. 

Character 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 should be able to laugh loudly and long, as well as be menacing to Young Simba and Young Nala.

Character 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.

Character Gender: any

 

Ensemble

The Ensemble plays various inhabitants of the Pridelands, such as giraffes, elephants, antelopes, wildebeest, and more! They even become part of the environmental landscape, portraying the swaying grasslands and leafy jungle.