Student Spotlight: Julian Villela Returns to Dr. Phillips Center for Lion King Tour

In 2023, Dr. Phillips Center’s AdventHealth School of the Arts student Julian Villela landed the role of a lifetime as Young Simba in the Broadway National Tour of Disney’s The Lion King! Now, the 12-year-old returns to his hometown for a four-week run of Disney’s The Lion King inside Walt Disney Theater.

“It feels like a full circle moment!” exclaimed Julian. “Now I get to come back and perform in the #1 show in the world on the same stage that I trained in!”

Before hitting the road, Julian began his acting journey at the center, where he was part of multiple education programs including the Quarter Notes and Take It From The Top. He shares that, each summer, his mom would sign him up for different camps like sports and martial arts, but it was theater, that he ended up falling in love with! Funny enough, his first show ever was performing in Disney’s The Lion King Jr. at his school.

Julian credits the AdventHealth School of the Arts and his teachers for guiding him on how to prepare for auditions and train in a professional setting. His parents, Walter and Susan Villela, say that being in the Dr. Phillips Center’s programs boosted Julian’s confidence—enough to get the leading role of young Simba.

Now with nearly 300 shows under his belt over the past 18 months, Julian says he’s gone from being “nerve-cited,” (meaning nervous but excited) to exuding confidence and professionalism.

Julian has traveled to nearly 20 states and 25 different cities across the United States. And it's a family affair as he tours the country alongside his mom, dad and sister. Once they are done with Disney’s The Lion King tour, it will have been a full two years on the road for him and the Villela family—something they will treasure for a lifetime.

“Every city we’ve visited has brought its own unique culture, food and experiences,” explained Walter and Susan. “We’ve had the chance to enjoy outdoor adventures like water rafting, seeing the stunning beauty of Niagara Falls and even snow tubing!”

With all the highlights also come sacrifices for the Villela family as, “this journey requires a lot of time, dedication and flexibility.” Touring means traveling a lot, but they are so happy that it has given them “the chance to support Julian every step of the way and create unforgettable memories.”

“What makes these memories even more special is being able to share them together as a family while watching Julian live his dream on stage,” adds Susan Villela. “As parents, it’s such a privilege to help your child chase their dream and watch them soar.”

As for advice for families who want to support their young actors with similar aspirations: “Support your kids wholeheartedly and encourage them to try different activities from sports to theater, so that they can discover what they truly love. Don’t forget to focus on character-building and life lessons beyond performing. And most importantly, always remind your child to enjoy the process.”

Get tickets to see Julian and the talented cast of Disney’s The Lion King through May 18, 2025.

If you are interested in getting involved in our educational programs, visit AdventHealth School of the Arts.