Give My Regards To Broadway...

As we come to the celebrating the 20th anniversary of "The Lion King" on Broadway, I deem it appropriate to say how Broadway has changed the lives of many South Africans. "Over the last two decades, 263 South Africans, many with little formal training in singing or acting, have been dispatched all over the planet to “Lion King” productions staged in Dutch, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese and Spanish."  Back in the '90's when the production was being put into action, the president of Disney's theatrical division, Thomas Schumacher and Ms. Taymor, wanted to help persuade "Actor's Equity" to a allow a contingent of South African performers to keep the authenticity alive throughout the show.  Since then, every year, Disney teams visit Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town to cast more.  Ma. Taymor says that " it's like the spiritual foundation of The Lion King".

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/15/theater/the-lion-king-south-africa.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fafrica&action=click&contentCollection=africa&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=35&pgtype=sectionfront

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