- March 6, 2026
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Co-directors Bryan Burckle and Nicole Freeman thanked the crew members for their hard work.
Volunteer Erica Altavilla painted Amelia Dugin's face to make her character Timon come to life.
Students were filled with energy before the performance.
Mariah Jose Graterol Riera, Ana Luisa Vieira, Lydia Underwood and Melanie Castro Solano Juca were ready to take the stage as part of the grasslands. "I like the dancing," Castro Solano Juca said.
Gustavo Ferroni played Pumbaa while Chase Jordan took on two roles, first as a snake and later as adult Simba.
Chandler Jordan and Ranya Laaroussi showed off their inner lion, preparing them to play young Simba and young Nala respectively.
Various animals took the stage including Sabrina Escobar as a zebra, Giovana Carvalho as a snake and Mia Pacheco as a giraffe.
Pedro Martinho is in his first year with the Drama Club. He played a bird, hyena and wildebeest.
Sophia Branco, who played Rafiki, and Max Meibuhr, who played Mufasa, stood with tall on pride rock before presenting baby Simba.
Every student moved in unison to demonstrate the grasslands.
Max Meibuhr, who played Mufasa, told Chandler Jordan, who played young Simba, that anything the light touches is their kingdom.
The lionesses danced with energy.
Chandler Jordan, who played young Simba, and Ranya Laaroussi, who played young Nala, were thick as thieves on stage.
Ranya Laaroussi, who played young Nala, brought moments of comedic relief and innocence to the musical.
August Moore had the audience laughing with his performance as Zazu.
Giovana Carvalho slithered around the stage as a snake.
Young Nala, played by Ranya Laaroussi, Zazu, played by August Moore, and young Simba, played by Chandler Jordan, were caught by hyenas Ed, played by Maria Paula Graterol Riera, Banzai, played by Kavi Patel, and Shenzi, played by Dash Wojcik.
Scar, played by Ryker Jimenez Altavilla, fed a piece of wildebeest to hyenas Ed, played by Maria Paula Graterol Riera, Banzai, played by Kavi Patel, and Shenzi, played by Dash Wojcik.
Ryker Jimenez Altavilla perfectly brought Scar's sarcastic, narcissistic and conniving personality to life on stage.
Emma Hoffmann lit the stage as a lioness.
Max Meibuhr commanded the stage as Mufasa.
Hyenas Shenzi, played by Dash Wojcik, Ed, played by Maria Paula Graterol Riera, and Banzai, played by Kavi Patel, waited for their chance to attack.
Mirroring the classic scene from the movie, Scar, played by Ryker Jimenez Altavilla, killed Mufasa, played by Max Meibuhr.
Young Simba, played by Chandler Jordan, checked to see if Mufasa, played by Max Meibuhr, was alive after a stampede of wildebeests crushed him.
Amelia Dugi had the audience laughing numerous times with her performance of Timon.
Gustavo Ferroni's dedication to his role as Pumbaa paid off as audience members laughed after each of his comedic lines.
Aubrey Zelek was graceful as a lioness.
Ryker Jimenez Altavilla played the conniving villain, Scar.
Hyenas Giovana Carvalho and Mariah Faria used bones as props for their dance during "Be Prepared."
Madeline Dawson is in her first year of Drama Club, and she played a lioness in "Lion King Jr."
Norah George sang with all her heart as Nala.
Chase Jordan, who played Simba, looked up at the stars as Simba, Timon and Pumbaa discussed what the bright lights were in the sky.
Rafiki, played by Riham Gara, instructed Simba, played by Chase Jordan, to look into the water, where Simba saw his reflection.
Ryker Jimenez Altavilla commanded the stage as Scar and as the king of Pride Rock.
Simba, played by Chase Jordan, took down Scar, played by Ryker Jimenez Altavilla.
From back left, Amelia Dugin, Anson Wehri, Abigail Siefker, Mariah Faria, Santiago Orellana, Renata Corredor Viera, front left, Pedro Martinho, Dominic DeLuca and Sofia Rojas gave it their all during the performance.
Simba, played by Chase Jordan, took his rightful place as king with Nala, played by Nora George, by his side.
The lionesses celebrated Simba becoming king.
The crew of "Lion King Jr." worked hard to ensure the show ran smoothly.
Students were eager to bring their talents to the stage.
Students gathered in a circle to hype themselves up before the show.
It was the hard work and dedication of more than 70 cast and crew members that made "Lion King Jr." a reality at Castleview Elementary School.
Daniela Graterol, Mariah Jose Graterol Riera, Juan Carlos Graterol and Maria Paula Graterol Riera reunited after the stellar performance.
The Dawson family beamed with pride after watching Madeline Dawson perform as a lioness.
Pedro Martinho, Ryker Jimenez Altavilla, Luke Andolina and Gustavo Ferroni celebrated the completion of their second performance of "Lion King Jr."
Audience members of Castleview Elementary School's "Lion King Jr." said hakuna matata and left all their worries at the door to enjoy an energetic performance Friday, March 6.
More than 70 students performed in the musical.
"Watching them step into these roles — some of them for their first time, some of them for their final elementary school year — they support one another, they grow in confidence, and they bring this story to life, and it's been nothing short of magical," said Director Nicole Freeman.
Chase Jordan, who played a snake and Simba, said he’s seen the theater program at the school only become “bigger and better.”
“It’s just been so amazing to see the cast grow each year and to see all the teamwork that goes into it,” Jordan said.
Chandler Jordan, who played young Simba, said it was incredible to see everyone’s hard work paid off.
The cafeteria was packed for the performance that included vibrant costumes, stage lights fitting every mood of each scene, beautifully painted sets and more.
Freeman said everything on stage from pride rock to the king’s throne to the backdrops was “built, handmade, created from scratch, designed here in this cafeteria.”
All the students gave their all for every song and dance, leaving family and community members beaming with pride and applauding after every scene.
Whether it was on stage or behind the scenes, each student worked hard to make the performance one that resulted in an uproar of thunderous applause at the end.
"This production is so much bigger than what has happened under these lights," said Bryan Burckle, the co-director and choreographer. "It is parents painting sets late into the night. It's families rearranging schedules, driving to rehearsals, running lines at the dinner table. It's volunteers who said yes before they even knew how much would be asked of them. It's emails and texts answered, costumes sewn, props built, pizza delivered and hands always raised when needed. This show is a reflection of something very rare. In a world that can sometimes feel heavy, we have a supportive community here. Thank you."
