Wireless Mics and Projection for Disney's The Lion King JR.
Show guide · JR. · 12 principals plus a large animal ensemble · Reviewed by Stage Gear staff, October 2026
Short answer: plan on 14 channels. 12 body mics for Rafiki, the royal family, both sets of cubs, Timon, Pumbaa and two hyenas, plus 2 spares. Cover the animal ensemble with 3–4 area mics at the stage edge.
Stage Gear supplies wireless mics, rentals and projection to school and community theatres across the U.S. Our staff work in theatre; this guide is how we'd mic Disney's The Lion King JR.
Who gets a mic
We counted roles that sing solos or carry lines over music: Rafiki, Mufasa, Scar, Zazu, Young Simba, Young Nala, Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, Shenzi and Banzai. That is 12 body mics plus 2 spares, for 14 channels.
Borderline: Sarabi has a few important lines, and MTI notes Ed communicates through laughter rather than words. Shenzi's and Banzai's mics usually catch Ed in hyena scenes, and Sarabi can work from an area mic or a spare. Young and grown Simba and Nala often share the stage at the handoff, so keep them on separate packs.
Bigger budget: add Sarabi, Ed and a lioness or ensemble soloist for about 17 channels. If Mufasa's later appearance is voiced from offstage, a wired or handheld mic in the wings works and frees his pack.
Mic plot
| Ch | Role | Mic | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Channel 1 | Rafiki | Hairline, brown | Big chants and solos; hide the element under the head wrap. |
| Channel 2 | Mufasa | Earset, brown | Mane headdress covers the hairline; an earset clears it. |
| Channel 3 | Scar | Earset, beige | Headdress or mask; earset, or hairline under its edge. |
| Channel 4 | Zazu | Hairline (3 mm), beige | Rapid comic dialogue; keep the bird puppet clear. |
| Channel 5 | Young Simba | Hairline (3 mm), beige | Young, very active cub; belt the pack firmly. |
| Channel 6 | Young Nala | Hairline (3 mm), brown | Young performer; scenes and songs with Young Simba. |
| Channel 7 | Simba | Earset, beige | Mane headdress; an earset sits below the piece. |
| Channel 8 | Nala | Earset, brown | Sings "Shadowland"; headdress sits over the hairline. |
| Channel 9 | Timon | Headset, beige | Very active comic role; a headset survives the romping. |
| Channel 10 | Pumbaa | Earset, beige | Bulky costume and headpiece; an earset stays clear. |
| Channel 11 | Shenzi | Earset, brown | Hyena mask or headpiece; prowling and crouching. |
| Channel 12 | Banzai | Earset, beige | Hyena mask or headpiece; leads the trio's dialogue. |
| Channel 13 | Spare | Earset, brown | Fits any headdress role in a hurry. |
| Channel 14 | Spare | Hairline (3 mm), beige | Small-element spare for a cub. |
Every Bodymic is wired for one transmitter family: Shure, Sennheiser, Audio-Technica, AKG, MiPro or Creative Audio. Build your Bodymics to match the packs you own. Cast Pack: every 4 Bodymics of the same style and capsule size earn a 5th free. This plot is a starting point; change any row to suit your cast.
The ensemble
The ensemble plays the animals of the Pride Lands and even the grasslands and jungle, and it carries big choral moments like "Circle of Life with Nants' Ingonyama" and "Shadowland." Cover it with 3–4 area or choir mics along the stage edge. Masks and headdresses muffle voices, so stage group singing downstage and facing out, and give a featured chant leader or soloist a spare body mic.
Show notes from our team
- Masks and headdresses. Most lead animals wear a mask or headdress on top of the head. Fit mics with the full piece on, use earsets where it covers the hairline, and listen for rubbing before tech.
- Two Simbas, two Nalas. Young and grown Simba and Nala hand off mid-show. Label packs by actor name, not just role, and label your mixer channels the same way so nobody fades up the wrong cub.
- The opening chant. "Circle of Life with Nants' Ingonyama" opens with Rafiki's chant and a full-cast entrance. Ring out Rafiki's mic at full volume in rehearsal; that big solo is where feedback shows up first.
- The stampede. The stampede is mostly music, movement and effects. Build it as a sound cue with a rumble on playback, and keep Mufasa's and Young Simba's mics up for their lines inside it.
Projection
The Lion King JR. travels from Pride Rock and the savanna to the elephant graveyard, the gorge and the jungle, and the sunrise opening and the stampede are natural fits for projected scenery. Most school auditoriums need 7,000–10,000 lumens with the right lens; smaller black boxes need less.
Our sister company Broadway Media makes Scenic Projections for Disney's The Lion King JR. Not sure which projector? Read Stage Projectors for Digital Scenery.
Rent it for the run, or own it
| What you get | Next step | |
|---|---|---|
| Rent for the show | A 14-channel wireless rental, Monday to Monday around tech week. Tested before it ships, return labels in every case. | See rental systems |
| Own it | Creative Audio Show-Ready, 16 channels: receivers, bodypacks and antennas racked, programmed and tested. $ 11,190.38. | See the system |
| Mics for the packs you have | Bodymics for the whole cast: hairline from $79, earsets and headsets from $99. | Build your Bodymics |
Buying for a school? U.S. public schools can pay by purchase order. How school ordering works.
Common questions
- How many wireless mics does The Lion King JR. need?
- Plan on 14 channels: body mics for Rafiki, Mufasa, Scar, Zazu, both Simbas, both Nalas, Timon, Pumbaa, Shenzi and Banzai, plus 2 spares. Sarabi and Ed can usually work from area mics.
- Does the animal ensemble need body mics?
- Usually not. The ensemble sings as a large group, so 3–4 area or choir mics at the stage edge cover it. Masks muffle voices, so stage group singing downstage and facing out, and give any chant leader a spare body mic.
- How do we mic actors wearing lion headdresses or masks?
- Use a skin-tone earset, which sits on the cheek below the headdress. If you prefer a hairline mic, tuck it under the front edge of the piece and test it with the full costume on, since headdresses rub and muffle.
- Can we rent mics just for our show week?
- Yes. Stage Gear rentals run Monday to Monday around tech week, so you have mics for rehearsals and every performance. Systems arrive tested with return labels, and school purchase orders are welcome.
Doing Disney's The Lion King JR. this year?
Get mic tips for your show and a reminder before rental season books up.
Stage Gear is not a show licensor. Disney's The Lion King JR. is licensed through Music Theatre International (MTI); production rights come from them. Stage Gear sells and rents the equipment. See you on stage!
