Original subtitles

Disney had an idea to make a film called King of the Jungle.

After years of drawing and pitches, a stampede scene involving two lions,

and Simba, caught everyone's attention.

From that, in 1994, Disney released The Lion King.

I can't believe it's been 30 years.

I remember when I got the phone call from Tim Rice.

to write songs from the original film, I had no idea it would turn into this

massive global phenomenon.

The film and the music were a huge success and went on to win two Academy

Awards. I remember writing some of the songs for that movie very, very clearly.

The one that I remember most, of course, was Hakuna Matata, which I had to start

off singing, if I was a young hot hog.

And I thought, has my career come to this? I'm singing about being a warthog.

It was hilarious.

Anyway, in 1997, the Lion King musical took stages around the world by storm

became a Tony and Grammy award -winning production.

Since its premiere, it has played in over 100 cities on almost every

helping the Lion King franchise become the biggest entertainment property in

whole wide world. Wow.

It's led to producing two sequels, a prequel, and two television series.

to follow new stories of our favorite characters.

And tonight, for the first time ever, we're reuniting the voices of our

characters from all over the globe, from the films and the musical on the same

stage, to celebrate the unforgettable music of The Lion King.

Welcome to the 30th anniversary celebration of The Lion King at the

Bowl. Yes!

The King stepped into the sun.

There is more to see than can never be seen.

More to do than can ever be done.

There is far too much to take in me.

More to find than can never be found.

But with the sun rolling high Through the sapphires

some spectacular musical performances celebrating Disney's 30 -year history of

The Lion King.

Right up next is the amazing Lebo M with He Lives in You.

And the spirit of life.

And for.

The Lion King.

Whoa! They have great cars.

Mind blown.

Mr. Pig!

It's going to be a hit.

This is the Lion King production.

Nathan Lane as Timon, take one.

Oh, I'm like standing here. You're waiting for me?

I believe we were the first two actors Disney allowed to record together.

I travel at night.

He would ad -lib, and I'd ad -lib, and we fed off each other. Ernie, he does a

very high, raspy sound.

He's so cute and all along, can we keep him? And I just made Timon a Brooklyn

Jewish meerkat.

He's a lion. He eats guys like us. But he's so little. The voice I chose, you

can only do about an hour before you get hurt.

And he was just doing New York, you know? Who's the brains in this outfit?

My point exactly.

Good choice.

My name is Jason Weaver, and I'm the original singing voice of Young Simba.

Everybody look left.

This is the first time that Ernie and Nathan and I have had the opportunity to

actually sing these songs together.

When I did my parts, I was just in there, you know, solo dolo.

We just know the voice. We never met him.

It's just amazing.

Amazing opportunity.

Holy cow.

Ernie. Oh, my God.

You don't look a day over 30 years later.

What? What is it?

I smell the meerkat.

Hello, dear.

How are you?

That's great.

Long time no see.

We never met. We never met.

This is wonderful.

I'm grateful.

Well, it was like a good therapy session, wasn't it?

Rehearsal. I mean, it was a nervous feeling for me. Haven't done this in a

while. Let's see if we can walk and talk.

Ernie and I, we've had a long history together, so it's lovely to be working

together again.

I thought we'd never sing this song together again. You feel the Disney

all through it, man, and it's just amazing.

Performing together on stage for the first time ever, please welcome the

original singing voices of Simone, Pumbaa, and Simba, Nathan Lane, Ernie

Sabella, and Jason Weaver.

Hakuna Matata.

Ain't no passing crane.

It means no worries for the rest of your days.

It's our problem -free philosophy.

Hakuna Matata.

Hakuna Matata? Yeah, that's our motto.

What's a motto?

Nothing. What's a motto with you?

Kid,

kid, kid. These two words will solve all your problems.

That's right. Take Pumbaa, for example. Why, when he was a young warthog.

When I was a young warthog.

Very nice.

Thanks.

He found his aroma lacked a certain appeal. He could clear the savannah

every meal. I was sent to the soul.

Though I sing thick skin.

And it hurt that my friends never stood down with me.

30 years to hear you say that.

I waited 30 years to let it out.

But not in front of the kids.

Sorry.

What a wonderful phrase.

Hakuna Matata. Welcome to our humble home.

Wait, did you live here? We live wherever we want.

Home is where your rump rests.

Right. Me too.

Beautiful.

I'm so hungry, I could eat a whole zebra.

Ah, we're fresh out of zebra.

Well, any hippos?

Ay, carnivores. Listen, Bess, you gotta eat like us. And this looks like a good

place to rustle up some grub.

Ew, what's that?

A grub. What's it look like?

Ew, gross.

Tastes like chicken.

Sly! That's satisfying.

These are rare delicacies.

Mmm, pecans with a very pleasant crunch.

Oh, you'll learn to love them.

I'm telling you, kid, this is the great life. No rules, no responsibilities.

Ooh, the little cream -filled kind.

And better... No worries, Jatarian.

Well?

Oh, well.

Hakuna Matata.

Yeah,

slimy, yet satisfying.

That's it.

Oh,

the fun never stops.

on the Perengeti. Woo!

Hakuna Matata. Hakuna Matata. Hakuna Matata.

Hakuna Matata. Hakuna Matata. Hakuna Matata. Everybody, sing along. You know

words to this. Come on. Hakuna Matata.

It means no worries for the rest of your day.

Say, patata. Hakuna. Batata. Potato.

We started on the movie, and I was the first producer on it. And by the summer

of 1994, Lion King is a giant hit.

Why aren't we doing Lion King on stage?

When they told me they were doing a stage version, I was like, well, how are

they going to do a wildebeest stampede?

It was unbelievable.

Animation and theater.

are in many ways arts of the invisible.

The power of The Lion King is in that humanity.

The irony is, it's a story with no people in it. And I always say, all

people made this.

The stage production of Lion King is an experience like no other.

You can enter and you can rise. Yeah, that would be beautiful. So other people

are turning and you're entering.

In the movie, Nala's there, and she has a significant role.

But I think Julie Taymor really wanted to puff Nala out.

Because when you think about it, Nala's the Lion Queen behind the Lion King.

We spent a lot of time looking at animals.

I remember Julie Taymor saying, I want you to go and just study documentaries.

Just see how they move.

Just trying to figure out, well, how would Nala walk and what would she do

her hands and how does her head move?

There's the human and there's the animal.

And that we are not trying to completely hide the human in the animal.

You're the moving piece of the mask. How to make that translate and how to make

an audience feel like...

They can look beyond the human that's on stage.

That was a big task.

In the beginning, you're just like, I cannot get this.

But then, within three or four weeks of doing it, it was seamless.

Our next performer was the original Nala from the Broadway production of The

Lion King. Please welcome Heather Headley.

Please welcome to the stage the voice of Timon from the 2019 movie and Mufasa

movie, Billy Eichner.

somebody out. Please welcome back my friend, the legend, Nathan Lane.

Oh, what a night, what a crowd.

All right, fellas, see you later at the after party.

Ladies and gentlemen, how about a big hand for Sarah Hicks and this

orchestra.

And of course, the lovely and talented Billy Eichner, who has done a fantastic

job of bringing Timon to a whole new generation.

Billy Eichner. Thank you. It is an honor, my friend.

All right. Are you ready for the song?

Now is the big moment. We're all going to sing along.

I know people get shy. Don't be shy.

Seven -year -old children and 45 -year -old Disney fanatics, we're counting on

you.

So the lion...

Lion King was a huge part of my childhood. See, I was about 11 to 12

when Lion King came out. It definitely hit close to home for me.

I sang Circle of Life on the Disney Wonder Cruise ship. I feel like that is

my career started.

And then fast forward to American Idol.

And there I am singing Circle of Life with Elton John himself.

Jennifer Hudson blew me away.

She sent chills up my spine.

It was my favorite performance out the whole lot.

If that's not a full circle, I

don't know what is, okay?

To be able to sing here at the Hollywood Bowl on the anniversary of Lion King is

beyond a dream. I have to put it outside of my mind just to get through the

song. Okay? Okay.

I can see what's happening, and they don't have a clue.

They'll fall in love, and here's the bottom line. Our trio's down to two.

The sweet caress of twilight.

There's magic everywhere.

It's good for us as artists to take chances and do things that are not

not obvious.

I just thought an animated picture. I've never done that.

There's a good laugh.

You run long now and help fast.

Scar is the mix of many people, many things.

Jeremy Irons is an actor who can make anything that he reads sound

Alas, how will it be?

I treat him well.

There are certain features, his eyes, his mouth configurations, that I thought

might be able to use.

Oh, goody. So I kind of based my design of Scar on his look.

When I saw the film, I couldn't believe it, because James Earl Jones, he was a

rippling lion with his fantastic mane, and me, Scar?

thin, with this manky old tail and this terrible mane.

Sure, that can't be copied on me, can it? But, yeah, it was.

Oh, I feel simply awed.

I'm absolutely scared out of my pants.

No, I'm not. Fortunately for the audience, I don't have to dance. Bad

know.

I've just got to sing and remember the words.

And that isn't easy, you know, because I recorded this in studio 30 years ago. I

will deal whatever happens.

They throw cabbages at me or whatever, it's fine.

I never thought hyenas essential.

They're crude and unspeakably plain.

But maybe they've a glimmer of potential.

If allied to my vision and brain.

Know that your powers of retention are as wet as a warthog's backside.

But sick as you are, pay attention.

My words are a matter of pride.

It's clear from your vacant expressions.

The lights are not all on upstairs.

But we're talking kings and successions.

Even you can't be caught unawares. So prepare for a chance of a lifetime.

Be prepared for sensational news.

A shining new era is tiptoeing nearer.

And where do we feature?

Just listen to teacher. I know it sounds sordid, but you'll...

Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected to take certain duties on board.

The future is littered with crises.

And though I'm the main addressee, the point that I must emphasize

is...

Meticulous planning, tenacity spanning Decade of denial is simply why

I'll be king Undisputed, respected, saluted, and steamed Oh, wonder I

am Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bad Keep prepared

I said my teeth and ambitions are bad

from South Africa, from Soweto.

And Hans Zimmer brought him into the studio to record.

I slept in the streets in Los Angeles for the first two years when I came

I was called in to do a demo.

The first take I did is still the take that's still there today, the iconic

introduction of the Lion King.

If the Lion King has been this ever -evolving equation,

Lebo is the constant.

Lebo's the only guy that really worked on everything.

He contributed to arranging and bringing in the choruses, and he brings it to

the Broadway stage show.

Lion King is the longest successful Broadway African content in history.

It's very emotional for me.

The music of South Africa that Lebo did is... so rich and

organic.

It's mind -blowing.

First two, three years, I used to drive a cab here.

I used to literally park my taxi and look at this venue and dream that one

I'm going to play this venue.

So I have no words to explain how and what that means to me.

Jason Weaver.

Yo, yo, yo, yo.

What's up, everybody?

So, listen, I was 12 years old when I recorded the singing voice of Young

for the 1994 production.

And this movie literally changed my life, okay? And since then, The Lion

has touched so many generations and families across the globe.

And I never would have imagined people would still be listening and singing

along. to the music 30 years later i'm so honored to be here tonight to

introduce our next performer who is making her hollywood debut she's only 10

years old and she's here to perform i just can't wait to be king okay please

welcome the brilliant northwest

of beasts.

I wouldn't say about.

This child is getting wildly out of way.

special song from the new movie, Mufasa, is the incredible Leboeuf!

Lion King has been a part of my life for what feels like my entire life. It was

my first Broadway show, and it was the very first time I saw a cast of people

that looked like me.

Then it ended up being my first big leading principal role on Broadway, and

changed my life. I sing Endless Night for all the great men that sang it

me and the great men that will sing it after me. Lion King will live forever.

Bradley Gibson.

Thank you.

Only after touring the stage production and going all over the world that I

started seeing and feeling the global impact of the work we've done with The

Lion King.

We're able to change lives on and off stage with this project, with the talent

on stage.

In Taiwan, I came across Tahila. She brought something very organic and I

her.

My name is Tahila Alfonso.

I am 25 years old. Having grown up in Nebraska, and my parents are both

immigrants as well, seeing The Lion King at 15 was the first time I actually

felt a connection to home and felt a sense of belonging.

The impact is astounding.

I love Beyonce. I love the song. To be able to step in in this capacity is so

beyond special.

I'm excited for how the audience is going to react to her because you could

she's an unknown.

Her voice is so spectacular and very unique.

I didn't see myself as being a solo artist in any capacity. I work as a

background singer.

Especially because of her tone and her range. She's going to be a star.

You know, this random girl from Omaha, Nebraska is now singing at the Hollywood

Bowl for her favorite Disney movie of all time.

I couldn't have dreamt this in my wildest dreams.

Painting pictures of...