Rejection is a constant in this business, even when you’ve had success. Some days you take it in stride, other days it can really sink in deeper than you expect. I’ve had plenty of moments where I questioned whether I was on the right path, wondering if I should leave New York or perhaps find another career altogether.
Photos: Beyonce Meets THE LION KING on Broadway's Nala, Sydnee Winters
|
|
The lion queens have united!
Beyoncé, who will play Nala in the upcoming remake of the classic The Lion King, and Syndee Winters, who plays Nala in Broadway's The Lion King, recently met at WACO Theater Center's Lion King-themed Wearable Art Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 1st.
Winters and cast members from the Broadway production of The Lion King sang Nala's moving "Shadowland" for an audience that also included Jay Z, Blue Ivy, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Tiffany Haddish, Tyler Perry, Anthony Anderson, and Magic Johnson.
Check out the photo of Beyonce with Winters below!
Disney's "The Lion King, directed by Jon Favreau ("The Jungle Book"), journeys to the African savanna where a future king is born. Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub's arrival. Scar, Mufasa's brother-and former heir to the throne-has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba's exile. With help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba will have to figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.
Staying true to the classic story, director Jon Favreau utilizes pioneering filmmaking techniques to bring the iconic characters to the big screen in a whole new way. Featuring the voices of Donald Glover as Simba, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter as Nala, James Earl Jones as Mufasa, Chiwetel Ejiofor as Scar, Seth Rogen as Pumbaa and Billy Eichneras Timon, Disney's "The Lion King" opens in U.S. theaters on July 19, 2019.
Photo Credit: Mason Poole for Parkwood Entertainment

Beyonce and Syndee Winters
Breaking Broadway alerts by text
Get the biggest stories sent straight to your phone.
Weekly top stories - unsubscribe anytime.
BroadwayWorld Merch
Shirts, mugs, phone cases & more
Podcasts
Gilbert Domally Leads The Lion King Tour As Simba On The National Tour!
Gilbert Domally joins The Roundtable with Robert Bannon for a BroadwayWorld Exclusive conversation as he leads the national tour of The Lion King as Simba. Domally shares the inspiring journey that took him from Miami to the Broadway company of this legendary production and now across the country as the king of the Pride Lands.
Cameron Amandus Jones, a Michigan alum, and member of Lion King on Broadway joins us on BFTS Podcast! More on Cameron here: @i.amandus. Try your own Broadway fitness program on a mobile app!
Episode #133: Shereen Pimentel 👸🏾
This Afro-Latina queen has made her roar be heard ever since she started performing! 🤩 In this episode, the incredible Shereen Pimentel shares her Broadway journey from The Lion King as the first Afro-Latina Young Nala to her work in West Side Story, the 2020 revival, Into the Woods at New York City Center, and regional productions of Evita.
#186 - Joaquin Pedro Valdes - LION KING UK Tour
Joaquin Pedro Valdes / @joaquin.pedro.valdes is a Filipino actor living in the United Kingdom. He started his career at a very young age in the Philippines and has extensively worked in the TV, Concert, Film and Theatre industries in Manila.
For nearly two decades Ray Mercer has been a cast member of 'The Lion King' on Broadway. One of the longest-running male dancers in Broadway history, Mercer, who plays one of the iconic 14 foot giraffes at the top of the show, is also the show's fight captain.
Ep21 - Julie Taymor (The Lion King - 1998)
Julie Taymor made history being the first female director to win a Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical. One of the most iconic directors of our generation, Julie is also a writer of theater, opera and film.
Ray Mercer (Broadway’s Lion King) on Being a Veteran Cast Member
In this Artist Exploration, Ray and Charlie discuss: How he had his first dance class at 17 years old. The Lion King audition experience. Maintaining a dual career as Performer and Choreographer. The experience of being with a show for 20 years.
Director Julie Taymor celebrates the Disney musical’s Broadway birthday, revealing how she did it, what she learned and what’s next.
S8 Ep7 The Lion King Cubs from Broadway
Broadway's The Lion King cubs Mariama Diop, Evie Winter Lee, Donovan Louis Bazemore and Jayden Theophile perform with Joshua Turchin and talk about what it's like to be in The Lion King on Broadway.
#13 Do It Scared: Gregory Butler & Ray Mercer
Gennean Scott returns for season two with dancers/choreographers Gregory Butler and Ray Mercer as they dig into topics such as fear, shame, value, and what it takes to find your path. Take a listen to learn the wise words from Ray’s Grandma Emma Turner: ”If you can’t beat fear, do it scared.” Edited by Justin Payne.
Jelani Remy, Curtain Up! Jelani and Eli talk about: Lion King. Ain't Too Proud. Emcee in Cabaret. High School Musical. Papermill Playhouse. Audience is your scene partner. Touring vs Broadway. Learning from Experience. Gone Forgotten Year in Tribeca Film Festival.