The Lion King

Act One

The curtain rises on the Pride Lands of Africa. Rafiki, a baboon, sings about the natural cycle of life, and she is accompanied by the ensemble of animals who also inhabit the savanna (“Circle of Life”). Rafiki is announcing the birth of Simba, the first child of the king and queen of the Pride Lands, the lion Mufasa and the lioness Sarabi. Rafiki, Mufasa, and Sarabi rise to the top of Pride Rock, the tallest mountain in the savanna, and present the newborn cub to the animals. The Pride Land animals then celebrate Simba’s birth with a song and dance (“Grasslands Chant”). The scene then shifts to the cave of Scar, Mufasa’s younger brother. Zazu, a hornbill and Mufasa’s right-hand man, warns Scar that Mufasa is on his way and that he better have a good reason for missing the presentation of Simba that morning. When Mufasa arrives, Scar reveals his jealousy for Simba--he was the first in line for the crown until Simba was born--and he feels no remorse for how he feels.

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