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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 major domo, 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 Pridelands
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 Pridelands 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 Pridelands.
Zazu arrives to give Mufasa the report on all
activities in the Pridelands ("The Morning Report"), but Simba would rather practice his pouncing. Zazu learns that hyenas
have crossed the borders of the Pridelands, 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 Pridelands is an Elephant
Graveyard.
The Pridelands
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 Pridelands.
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 on to 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 Pridelands
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.
Entr'acte
The
chorus welcomes the audience back to its seats with a song. ("One By One") The song is full of hope. Beautiful birds fly high
above the Pridelands. But as the song ends, the birds are replaced by buzzards, and the skeletons of gazelles. Under Scar’s
rule, the Pridelands 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: that 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 Pridelands' 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 Pridelands.
Pride Rock
Simba
returns to Pride Rock with Nala, Timon and Pumbaa. They find the land bare 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 with 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. ("The Circle of Life")
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