this is "nightline." >> tonight, the hollywood a-listers sounding the alarm. >> save the world, it's not too late! >> fighting against climate change with civil disobedience. now one on one with jane fonda. >> this idea of protesting, getting arrested, isn't new for you. >> leading the pack of celebrities. >> putting your body on the line? >> i'm putting it on the line. >> and celebrating her birthday in handcuffs. why she wouldn't have it any other way. plus "the lion king" effect. the circle of life coming full circle. our journey to africa with the cast of the broadway hit. witnessing how the show is giving back, transforming lives of those in need and inspiring

hope for the next generation. but first the "nightline 5." ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ wherever we want to go, we just have to start. autosave your way there with chase. chase. make more of what's yours. good evening. thank you for joining us. hollywood is taking the good fight to washington. celebrities banding together and getting arrested in the battle

against climate change. now leading the charge is actress and long-time activist jane fonda. here's abc's deborah roberts. >> reporter: jane fonda still pushing bou pushing boundaries. >> we are all here today because we know what lies ahead. >> reporter: lately a fixture on capitol hill. sounding the alarm on climate change. >> shut it down! >> reporter: bringing together average folks along with activists like gloria steinem and hollywood a-listers like joaquin phoenix and rosanna arquette. >> two, four, six, eight, save the world it's not too late! >> reporter: fonda's voice now part of a growing chorus of celebrities concerned about our planet, including leonardo dicaprio, who spoke at this year's global citizens festival in new york. >> our future is being gambled away. >> reporter: russell crowe,

whose comments delivered at the golden globes by jennifer aniston talked about the wildfires in australia. >> make no mistake, the tragedy unfolding in australia is climate based. >> are fonda's mission is different. she's leading weekly protests in washington, d.c. with her group fire drill fridays hoping to inspire others to take action in any way they can. >> it's a tough time right now. a lot of people are feeling hopeless about our world. are you hopeful at this moment? >> yes, yeah. i mean, activism makes you hopeful. i was very depressed until i decided to come here and do this. the minute i came here and began to engage in activism with my whole body, i overcame the depression. that's what activism can do. when you're doing something that you think can possibly make a difference, it lifts despair. >> reporter: you might expect this privileged hollywood icon to be slowing down. enjoying the fruits of an illustrious career. instead, on the eve of her 82nd

birthday, fonda's being led out of the hart senate building in handcuffs, arrested for civil disobedience. >> how many times have you been arrested since september, since you began this? >> i think five? i'm not sure, i've lost count. >> reporter: she began her recent crusade back in october. inspired by teen activist greta thunberg, who's been boycotting school every friday since last year to protest climate change. >> all these young people striking on friday saying, come on, adults, where are you? we didn't cause this. so i thought, well what can i do? i want to be able to put my body on the line and kind of role model what the next step should look like. >> specifically what would you feel successful about, if you saw something changed? >> here's the thing. in cities all over the country and states, they're all at the table figuring out what has to be done to reduce the carbon

footprint.in happen global. >> reporter: fonda, born into hollywood royalty, made her mark in the iconic film later she built a workout empire. her personal fitness videos selling millions worldwide. but her activism has garnered just as much attention along the way. she's grown accustomed to being arrested, becoming a regular at protests for years. both revered and reviled for her efforts. fonda found her voice back in th aftering a stand against the vietnam war. a trip to hanoi landed the actress in hat water with veterans who believed she was anti-american. but that was just the beginning for jane fonda. >> you've been putting your body on the line for a very long time

for a lot of causes. the vietnam war, civil rights, teen pregnancy, reproductive rights, indigenous people's rights, violence against women, the expansion of the west bank settlements, the ira wa change.u is it diffe >> what's different is what it is i'm protesting about. there's never been a ticking time bomb hanging over our heads. you know, this isn't one war or one issue in one place. this is the future of the entire planet. it's a global thing, and it's very, very, very urgent. >> this idea of protesting, getting arrested, isn't new for you. but you're not in your 30s anymo anymore, when you started this kind of activism. how tough is it now getting arrested and spending a night in jail? >> most of the time we're engaging in civil disobedience,

which is a time-honored, noble thing to do. you get held awhile, pay $50, you get let go. but it does attract media attention. that's why you're here. >> which is why you're here. >> yeah. which is what we need to do. people tend to say, my god, she's almost 82, if she can do it, i can do it. it's the next step up. >> reporter: for fonda, it's important that she's not just talking the talk. >> a lot of people notice you and they certainly notice you in your red coat. that's gotten to be your signature. >> i had to get something read. i went to neiman's and it was on sale. so i bought it. never buying anything new again. it's easy for me to say, i'm 82, and i don't have that much time to worry about it. it's becoming a thing, consumerism. and so i thought, well, that's another way that i can try to be a role model. no more. well, i might buy underwear. and socks. i seem to put holes in socks. >> you're not going to do any major fashion purchases, you're not shopping really? >> no. i try to fly less.

i've gotten rid of single-use plas tibs, i've gotten rid of the car. >> reporter: she's been joined by people like taylor schilling of "orange is the new black," ice cream bigwigs jerry cohen and ben green field, lily tomlin, her "grace and franky" costar. >> two, four, six, eight, save the world it's not too late! >> reporter: she marched with photographer annie leibovitz. and of course some hollywood star power. >> i think the best way to honor jane is maybe on her birthday, to be here. >> it's our right as american citizens to be able to protest things that are unjust. and killing the planet, we need to wake up and do something about it. >> there's so many fantastic people that are coming and going to engage in civil disobedience with me. it moves me so much. i think that together we're going to be braver and stronger. to then go out each in our own

way and step it up. >> a very different kind birthday celebration. >> yeah. >> reporter: when we sat down to talk, fonda's long-time friend and fellow activist sally field joined in. >> i'm here today because i know jane is right. it's now we have to get loud. i live in california. if you think climate change isn't happening, come live in california for a few months. the whole state is being burnt to the ground. it's terrifying. in the united states, there is not a region that is left untouched. it has to be done now. this is about me maybe not so much, it's about my children and my grandchildren. >> you say you've been passionate and you've been an activist in some ways, but this idea of protesting and getting arrested, that's new for you. >> oh, yeah. it's 73, it's time to get arrested with jane. >> putting your body on the line. jane is sitting there nodding so proudly like a teacher.

>> but it's right, she's so right to get excited. >> putting it on the line. i love this woman, i admire her so greatly. and you know, it's time. >> reporter: later that afternoon, true to her word, she was led down the steps of the capitol in zip tie handcuffs. >> it's a very transformative experience because it's art in life these days to be able to align your body with your deepest values. when the two parts of your selves, your physical self and your spiritual self, can align. that's very empowering and transformative. that's what happens when you engage in civil disobedience and risk getting arrested. >> how much did your faith impact what you're doing? >> it gives me a lot of strength. and i believe in the power of prayer. >> you light up when you talk about this. >> it's true. you can ask the people that have joined me. you can ask the young people that inspired me, that have been out there every friday. i wish it didn't take a celebrity to get people to pay attention. because what they're doing is

awesome. >> reporter: i'm deborah roberts for "nightline" in washington, d.c. ♪ >> our thanks to deborah. up next, how the circle of life is coming full circle for one village in need. ♪ and wondering if that was the last time i was going to do that thing. i thought i'm not letting anything take me away from my family that loves me and needs me without a fight. when i came to cancer treatment centers of america, it felt so different from any other hospital we'd ever been to. whether it be spiritual, physical, emotional, they take it all into consideration in healing you.

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"the lion king." the timeless disney story turned broadway hit captivating millions across the globe, now inspiring new beginnings for residents in one remote south african village. abc's ginger zee joining cast members on the ground, seeing firsthand how a new chapter is open for children at one school. [ speaking foreign language ] ♪ >> reporter: for this husband and wife, this moment is about honoring the beauty and culture of south africa. >> we look at it as a master dance to represent a culture. ♪ these are d want the world to see that this is who we are.

♪ it's important for us to come back and show our people what we are doing overseas. >> reporter: both are current ensemble cast members -- ♪ >> reporter: in "the lion king" on broadway. which has been mesmerizing audiences on stage for more than two decades. with 25 total productions to date in 20 different countries, more than 95 million people have seen the musical. ♪ and there's been a conscious effort to stay true to the culture it represents. since its premiere there have been more than 250 south african cast members in shows around the world. including this couple who are here tonight raising money for broadway cares, a nonprofit that works with the theater community to support causes like hiv and aids, and family service organizations. >> "the lion king" has raised over $10 million for broadway

cares. of that, $5.4 million has literally gone back to about 68 organizations in cities and small towns all across south africa. >> reporter: after the show these intricately beaded animals are sold. but they're more than souvenirs. they are helping change lives more than 8,000 miles away. abc's parent company disney invited us to south africa to meet the women behind these handmade mementos. we traveled to a small rural village called inkonye. >> i grew up coming here, got married, left, went overseas. >> reporter: she left africa for broadway, eventually landing the role in the late '90s. she was inspired by the work broadway cares was doing, and it was her idea to connect her vith this village where her family was from. >> i remember when i first came, oh my god, how do people live

like this? >> reporter: no electricity, no running water. >> i used to sleep on the floor. >> within these homes, there are some people without beds? >> absolutely. >> reporter: she founded her own organization, creating jobs for these women. they didn't want handouts, they wanted a job. they'd bead carved animals sold on broadway. >> every purchase you make, you're feeding a child in southern africa. you may never get there, but the dollars that you're spending on this are feeding somebody. >> could you have imagined seeing your dream become this reality? >> no. >> what does it make you feel like? >> i'm afraid to look deep into

the emotional side of it. i haven't lived -- i haven't been in their shoes. but i have been exposed. i've been exposed to the difficulties that they go through. they don't complain. oh god, i'm going to cry. they don't complain. if it's not doable, it's not doable. you know, just have to live with it. >> reporter: in addition to helping create jobs, broadway cares also donated $10,000 to the village to build its first preschool. the school is very necessary because it helps parents in this community and grandparents work, so that they can have jobs. now we're here and you see the money, but it must inspire you to think there's so much more. >> there is really so much more to do. this is just a step. >> just standing here, just

looking, we can help with this, we can help with that. you know. when you're around something like this, you can't think but what you can improve and make it better for the kids. you know, for the community. >> reporter: they show me inside. where we show them "the lion king." the kids here don't have tvs, let alone know what "the lion king" is. ♪ their laughter lights up the room. >> i think they will remember this. >> oh, yes. >> definitely will remember this. that's why you have them say, play the game! the full girl again. it is a full girl. >> reporter: ginger zee, south africa. ♪

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finally tonight, the wedding crasher everyone was okay with. here's abc's david muir. >> reporter: this is steven and lauren miric on their wedding day in fall brook, california. everything had come together for their dream day. everything except for one thing. steven's best friend and best man a.j., anthony white, was unable to make it. two months before the wedding a.j., a member of the u.s. army, got word he would be deployed overseas. steven decided he would not replace his best man. it turns out he didn't have to. >> congratulations. >> reporter: there he was, in uniform, congratulating mr. and mrs. merrick. >> oh god. >> reporter: turns out two days

before the wedding, a.j. found his deployment was getting pushed back. he kept it a secret till this moment. the best man, the group hug, the bride and groom thankful for the wedding gift they did not expect. that's a good moment, a good friend. henry david thoreau said, friends. they cherish one another's hopes and they are kind to one another's dreams. that's "nightline." you can catch our full episodes on hulu.

i'climate is the number 1ove priority.sage. i would declare a state of emergency on day 1. congress has never passed an important climate bill, ever. this is a problem that continues to get worse. i've spent a decade fighting and beating oil companies... stopping pipelines... stopping fossil fuel plants, ensuring clean energy across the country. how are we going to pull this country together? we take on the biggest challenge in history, we save the world and do it together.