DISNEY’S THE LION KING JR - Davis Musical Theatre Company Non Equity Auditions

AUDITION DATES

Attend one of the following:

Monday, September 14, 2026 from 4:30–7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 from 4:30–7:00 p.m.

Actors should arrive by 4:15 p.m. to complete the required paperwork and should expect to remain for the entire audition period. Actors only need to attend one audition date.

Callbacks, if invited, will be held Wednesday, September 16, 2026 from 4:00–7:00 p.m.

LOCATION

Davis Musical Theatre Company
Jean Henderson Performing Arts Center
607 Pena Drive, Davis, CA 95618

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

Performances run November 14–December 13, 2026.

School matinees will be held December 1 and December 8, 2026, with performances at 9:15 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. on both dates.

Actors must be available for all technical rehearsals, public performances, and school matinees. A complete rehearsal and performance schedule will be provided at auditions.

ELIGIBILITY

Actors ages 7–17 as of the first performance are eligible to participate. Actors who are 18 and currently enrolled in high school are also eligible.

No previous theatrical experience is required. Casting is determined by audition and is based on each actor’s ability and suitability for the available roles.

Cast size is limited to 35 actors.

AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

Please prepare 16–32 bars, or approximately one minute, of a song in the style of the show. Bring sheet music in the appropriate key for the accompanist. A cappella singing and recorded accompaniment are not permitted.

Auditions will also include a dance combination taught by the choreographer. Please wear or bring clothing and shoes that allow you to move safely and comfortably.

Please bring:

• Sheet music for your prepared vocal selection
• A complete list of rehearsal conflicts
• A completed audition form signed by a parent or guardian

Walk-ins are welcome, but auditioners are encouraged to sign up online at dmtc.org. The audition form may be completed digitally in advance or on paper at the audition.

The callback list will be posted on the DMTC website following Tuesday evening’s auditions.

All rehearsal conflicts must be disclosed at auditions. Conflicts are not permitted during technical rehearsals, performances, or school matinees.

PARENT OR GUARDIAN COMMITMENT

Davis Musical Theatre Company is an all-volunteer organization. Every YPT production depends on active participation from the parents and guardians of cast members.

For each child cast in the production, a parent or guardian is required to:

• Complete 25 volunteer hours
• Attend required parent meetings
• Ensure the actor arrives at rehearsals and performances on time and prepared
• Communicate promptly with the production team
• Meet with the costume coordinator as required
• Provide costume pieces according to the costume coordinator’s instructions
• Complete all required forms and signatures

Parents and guardians should consider their own availability before their child auditions. The actor’s participation requires a commitment from the entire family.

For questions or additional information, contact
ypt@dmtc.org or visit
https://dmtc.org.

PLOT SYNOPSIS

In the Pride Lands of the African savanna, an adventurous lion cub named Simba is destined to succeed his father, Mufasa, as king. When Simba’s jealous uncle Scar causes Mufasa’s death, he manipulates Simba into believing he is responsible. Overcome with guilt, Simba flees his home, leaving Scar to seize control of the kingdom.

Years later, Simba must confront his past and decide whether he is ready to accept his identity, return to the Pride Lands, and fulfill his responsibilities. Featuring beloved songs including “Circle of Life,” “I Just Can’t Wait to Be King,” “Hakuna Matata,” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” Disney’s The Lion King JR. is a vibrant story of family, courage, identity, and discovering one’s place in the world.

Recommended for audiences of all ages.

*Disney’s The Lion King JR. includes the death of a parent, grief, family conflict, and moments of theatrical peril.*

AVAILABLE ROLES

All roles are open. DMTC does not pre-cast. DMTC welcomes performers of all backgrounds and encourages actors to consider any role with which they identify.

Listed vocal ranges and casting requirements are approximate and may be adjusted at the discretion of the production team.

Rafiki: A wise and mysterious mandrill who serves as a healer and spiritual guide to the animals of the Pride Lands. Rafiki recognizes Simba’s true identity and helps guide him home. Requires a confident performer with a strong singing voice, commanding stage presence, and the ability to balance wisdom, humor, and theatrical energy. Rafiki has significant solos and leads several African chants throughout the production. Vocal range: A3–C4.

Mufasa: The strong, honorable, and compassionate king of the Pride Lands and Simba’s father. Mufasa commands respect as a leader while showing warmth and tenderness toward his son. Requires a mature performer who can convey authority, dignity, and genuine parental affection. Vocal range: B3–C4.

Zazu: Mufasa’s anxious but fiercely loyal assistant. Dutiful, talkative, and determined to maintain order, Zazu tries to protect Simba and uphold the rules of the kingdom—even when no one listens. Requires excellent diction, energetic characterization, and strong comedic timing. May be cast without regard to gender.

Scar: Mufasa’s bitter and calculating brother. Jealous that Simba stands between him and the throne, Scar uses manipulation and cruelty to seize control of the Pride Lands. Requires a mature performer with strong dramatic instincts, sharp comedic timing, and the ability to portray an intelligent and threatening villain. Vocal range: A3–A4.

Young Simba: An adventurous, energetic, and endearing lion cub who cannot wait to become king. Playful and impulsive at first, Young Simba must confront profound guilt and grief following Mufasa’s death. Requires a confident singer and dynamic actor with strong movement ability, emotional range, and high energy. Vocal range: B3–E5.

Young Nala: A courageous, confident young lioness and Young Simba’s closest friend. Clever, outspoken, and unafraid to challenge Simba, Young Nala is both playful and brave. Requires a spirited performer with strong acting, singing, and movement skills. Vocal range: A3–C5.

Simba: The older Simba, now living far from the Pride Lands. Although he appears carefree, he continues to struggle with guilt, grief, and fear about his past. Simba must eventually find the courage to return home, confront Scar, and accept his responsibility as king. Requires a mature actor and strong singer capable of portraying vulnerability, warmth, and emotional growth. Vocal range: B3–E5.

Nala: A brave and determined lioness who leaves the Pride Lands in search of help after Scar’s rule devastates her home. Fiercely protective of her pride, Nala challenges Simba to confront his past and recognize the leader he can become. Requires a strong singer and actor with confidence, emotional depth, and commanding stage presence. Vocal range: G3–E5.

Timon: A fast-talking meerkat who lives in the jungle with Pumbaa. Timon projects confidence and insists on living without worries, but is far more anxious than they would ever admit. One of the production’s primary comic roles, Timon requires a charismatic performer with excellent timing, physical comedy skills, and energetic stage presence. May be cast without regard to gender. Vocal range: B3–B4.

Pumbaa: A kindhearted and sensitive warthog who enjoys a peaceful life filled with friendship, relaxation, and grubs. Pumbaa becomes a loyal friend to Timon and Simba and often provides humor through complete sincerity. Requires warmth, strong comedic instincts, and the ability to deliver deadpan humor. Vocal range: D4–G5.

Sarabi: Mufasa’s partner, Simba’s mother, and a respected lioness of the Pride Lands. Warm, dignified, and courageous, Sarabi stands up to Scar even as his rule places the pride in danger. Requires a performer who can convey the strength, compassion, and authority of a queen.

Banzai: A sly, gruff, and childish hyena who serves Scar. Banzai acts as the closest thing the chaotic trio has to a leader but is still impulsive, lazy, and easily distracted. Requires a confident performer with strong characterization, physical comedy, and the ability to be both funny and threatening. May be cast without regard to gender.

Shenzi: The boldest and most self-interested member of Scar’s hyena trio. Brazen, intimidating, and always alert to an opportunity, Shenzi eagerly participates in Scar’s plan to seize the Pride Lands. Requires a strong character actor with commanding energy, comic timing, and the ability to work closely within the hyena trio.

Ed: The wildly expressive third member of Scar’s hyena trio. Ed communicates primarily through an unmistakable cackling laugh, facial expressions, and physicality rather than traditional dialogue. Requires a fearless physical performer with exceptional comic instincts and the ability to communicate clearly without words. May be cast without regard to gender.

Ensemble: The ensemble brings the Pride Lands to life by portraying lionesses, hyenas, giraffes, elephants, antelopes, wildebeest, birds, and other animals of the African savanna. Ensemble performers may also become part of the landscape itself, creating the grasslands, jungle, and movement of the natural world through imaginative physical storytelling.

The ensemble is essential to the production’s music, choreography, atmosphere, and theatrical spectacle. Featured vocal lines, dance moments, character opportunities, and specialty movement may be assigned from the ensemble.