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.
The Lion King's Rafiki at Ars Nova February 6
By: BWW News Desk
Ars Nova presents Tales From the Sun, a story-telling celebration with singing and dancing, starring Tony Award Nominee Tsidii Le Loka (original "Rafiki" in The Lion King), The Harlem Youth Ensemble and dancers from the cast of The Lion King. In an effort to create a cultural exchange with less developed areas of Southern Africa, this event will also showcase children's artwork created and donated for presentation by Artists from Turner Towers, Brooklyn, and will benefit Camp of Good Hope. This is an interactive and imaginative event that children and parents alike won't want to miss! Sunday, February 6th at 3:00 PM at Ars Nova (511 West 54th Street, just west of 10th Ave.).
Tsidii Le Loka originated the role of "Rafiki" in the Broadway production of The Lion King, for which she received numerous accolades including: Outer Critics Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, EW Award, Drama League Award for Outstanding Performance in a Musical and a Tony Award nomination. Le Loka founded Camp of Good Hope in an effort to give back to the Southern African Kingdom of Lesotho and surrounding regions by generating awareness of the AIDS epidemic among children and adults.
At the age of 18, Le Loka was considered the most promising Artist in South Africa. Her concert career performances, festivals, international tours, and recordings, include a roster of world-class stars such as Sting, Elton John, Madonna, Harry Belafonte, Miriam Makeba, Dionne Warwick, Youssou N'Dour, Roberta Flack, Max Roach and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Le Loka started her career as a member of the top South African Trio, SHADIII with Anneline Malebo and Faith Kekana. Film and TV credits include "Rose Red," "The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer" and "Law & Order." She was the only Performer invited to perform at Dr. Nelson Mandela's first International Press Conference in Johannesburg after his release from Prison.
Camp of Good Hope (501c3) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to bring aid and hope to desperate and impoverished communities in Southern Africa. This will be achieved through cultural fundraising activities aimed to educate and inspire. Camp of Good Hope seeks to assist forgotten communities in finding a voice in the wider world. Their immediate and urgent focus is the assistance / education of AIDS infected and affected orphans in Southern Africa, particularly Lesotho, now the worst and little-known crisis in the world.
Ticket & Schedule Information
TALES FROM THE SUN plays Sunday, February 6th at 3 PM. Tickets are $15 in advance, $18 at the door. To purchase, call SmartTix at 212-868-4444 or go to www.SmartTix.com. Box office will open 30 minutes before show time. Ars Nova is located at 511 West 54th Street, just west of 10th Ave. Subway: C, E, to 50th Street, N, R, Q, W to 57th Street, or 1, 9 to Columbus Circle. Beer, wine and refreshments are available at the bar.
Ars Nova was built in the memory of Gabe Wiener to provide artists a space to develop and perform new works in an intimate audience setting. Ars Nova produces theater, comedy and music events, making premium live entertainment accessible to a New York audience at affordable prices. Ars Nova offers a free play reading series (Out Loud), an alternative music and comedy series (Thursdays at 10), a musical theater series (Broadway Spotlight), a singer/songwriter series (Uncharted) and in-house writers' workshops. For more information, visit www.arsnovanyc.com.
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