FOR YOUNG ACTOR, 'LION' ROLE A MATTER OF FAMILY PRIDE.

Byline: Evan Henerson Staff Writer

His voice displaying an anxiousness worthy of a slightly harried CEO, Adrian Diamond turns to his mother for help.

Crisis time, this isn't. Adrian has simply drawn a blank when asked about his elementary school acting credits. There's ``Annie Jr.,'' ``Cinderella,'' a school Christmas show and ... and ...

``Work with me here,'' the 11-year-old Stevenson Ranch resident begs. ``Do you remember, Mom?''

``The one in La Canada. 'Earth Day,' '' offers his mother, Helena Diamond.

``Oh yeah. It was called 'Earth Day Everyday,' to help the Earth,'' says Adrian. ``I was part of the ensemble kind of thing. It was like we had to make quick changes. It was really preparing me for something like this.''

As much, that is, as anything can prepare you for being part of a cultural phenomenon. For six months, Adrian will play young Simba, the precocious cub destined to inherit the throne in Disney's musical ``The Lion King'' at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood. Adrian works four performances a week, sharing the role with KaRonn Henderson. The two boys, along with Jazmn and Lisa Tucker who alternate as Simba's playmate, Nala, were among 500 children who auditioned for the two roles.

And if you thought things like sports and video games were fun, that's nothing compared to spending the evening romping in the grasslands and being chased by malevolent hyenas in front of an audience of more than 2,000 people. Young Simba's songs include ``The Morning Report,'' ``Hakuna Matata'' and ``I Just Can't Wait to Be King.''

``I'm having the time of my life,'' says Adrian two hours before curtain on a Thursday night - one of his performance nights. ``I love to perform. It was something I was born with, I guess.''

His mother agrees.

`'When he got the part, his reaction went like crazy,'' said Helena. ``He just went from one side of the house to the other, jumping, `Mom I got it!' Since he was little, he's always been a little performer in the house. Always dancing.''

Needless to say, Adrian's routines have become rather different from those of a typical Stevenson Ranch Elementary School sixth-grader. Six days a week he has to be at the Pantages, whether he's performing or not. Early exits from school mean making up work with a tutor who works with the four children in the company. There are vocal exercises and stretches to be done. On performance nights - every day except Monday - Adrian doesn't get to bed until close to midnight.

His contract expires in March, at which time the Diamonds and Disney can negotiate a renewal. Child performers often outgrow a role - both physically and vocally - after a year.

Outside his Disney duties, Adrian says being a regular kid isn't too difficult. Basketball, video games and skateboarding are still part of his life, and he's a king nowhere except on stage.

``My friends, they don't even care. They stick with me,'' he says. ``Some people who aren't exactly my friends, sometimes they get this jealous vibe that comes off. It's not good.''

During the months leading up to the ``The Lion King's'' October opening, Adrian was shuttled back and forth primarily by his mother, a real estate agent who works out of her home. That meant that Adrian's two younger siblings were often in the care of his 21-year-old older brother. Now that the routine is established, Adrian's father, Harold - a travel manager - can take some shifts.

``It's hard because I have other children,'' admits Helena. ``But we made a commitment to go all the way, and we're going all the way.

``Before we signed the contract - and this is the honest to God truth - we all sat down and made a decision. It was like a family meeting from the littlest to the oldest. We all agreed to do this for him. This is his dream.''

``THE LION KING''

Where: Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood.

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, occasional Wednesday matinees; through Sept. 30, 2001.

Tickets: $12 to $127. Call [phone].

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2 photos

Photo: (1 -- 2) Left, Adrian Diamond (Simba) frolics in the grasslands in Disney's ``The Lion King'' at the Pantages Theatre. Below, Adrian, 11, outside his Stevenson Ranch home.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer