BLACK EXCELLENCE: After 25yrs and over 9000 performances as "Rafiki" Tshidi Manye is leaving "The Lion King"
Few shows are as beloved as "The Lion King," which has been captivating Broadway audiences with the story of Simba, Scar and the Pride Lands for nearly three decades.
For most of those decades, Tshidi Manye has been the heart and soul of the production as Rafiki.
"When I open my mouth and say, no, it's me waking people up. Hey, you are about to see something you've never seen in your life," Manye said.
Over the years, the Broadway star has seen cast members come and go, while staying a steady rock for everyone.
"Some of them, you connect with them in such a way that they become your own kids because this is family now. I'm not looking at them as my colleagues. I'm looking at them as my brothers and sisters," she said.
Manye has performed over 9,000 shows, a milestone, motions never achieved.
"Maybe few people can say they performed for George Bush, Michelle Obama, J. Lo," Manye said. "I wasn't tired. I think I was having too much fun."
Starring in "The Lion King" changed everything, not just for Manye, but for her family.
"I was able to take my nieces and nephews through school," she said. "Through college. Growing up in South Africa, right, being in a theater was not even considered as a career. Never in my wildest dream have I thought that I was gonna be here. It changed my way of living, my siblings, my family, everybody."
Now after nearly a quarter of a century, Manye is ready for the next chapter.
"The first thing that I that came into my mind was, oh, I'm gonna have to go to South Africa. This now has given me an opportunity to go home and just be with family again," Manye said.
As one chapter closes, another begins with Gavin Lee, a two-time Tony nominee who will be joining the production as Scar.
"Maybe in the last five or six years, I've been putting it out to the world that one day, if the role comes out anywhere in the world in any production, I hope I can get seen for the role of Scar," Lee said.
For Lee, stepping into the Minskoff Theatre felt like coming home. As for playing Scar, he says it is pure joy.
"It's so great to play a role that's bitter, disgusting, mean," he said.
Beyond the puppetry and spectacle, both actors understand the deeper message of this timeless story. And as Manye prepares for her final performance, she has advice for Lee and future cast members.
"Never stop having fun. Always enjoy. Always be yourself," she said. "When you go on that stage, you don't just say the lines because they're supposed to be said. You feel them. You deliver the message. You feel because it has to start with you. If you can feel it in your heart, they will feel it."
As for the magic of "The Lion King," Manye says that will live on.
"Sit back and listen. Cry if you have to. You can still be a kid because we still have those little kids in ourselves that says, oh my god, this touched me. 15, 20 years from now, they will call me and say, hey, do you can you still walk? Yeah. I would still go. You know what I mean? I feel like this show is going to still live in me for years to come," she said.
For most of those decades, Tshidi Manye has been the heart and soul of the production as Rafiki.
"When I open my mouth and say, no, it's me waking people up. Hey, you are about to see something you've never seen in your life," Manye said.
Over the years, the Broadway star has seen cast members come and go, while staying a steady rock for everyone.
"Some of them, you connect with them in such a way that they become your own kids because this is family now. I'm not looking at them as my colleagues. I'm looking at them as my brothers and sisters," she said.
Manye has performed over 9,000 shows, a milestone, motions never achieved.
"Maybe few people can say they performed for George Bush, Michelle Obama, J. Lo," Manye said. "I wasn't tired. I think I was having too much fun."
Starring in "The Lion King" changed everything, not just for Manye, but for her family.
"I was able to take my nieces and nephews through school," she said. "Through college. Growing up in South Africa, right, being in a theater was not even considered as a career. Never in my wildest dream have I thought that I was gonna be here. It changed my way of living, my siblings, my family, everybody."
Now after nearly a quarter of a century, Manye is ready for the next chapter.
"The first thing that I that came into my mind was, oh, I'm gonna have to go to South Africa. This now has given me an opportunity to go home and just be with family again," Manye said.
As one chapter closes, another begins with Gavin Lee, a two-time Tony nominee who will be joining the production as Scar.
"Maybe in the last five or six years, I've been putting it out to the world that one day, if the role comes out anywhere in the world in any production, I hope I can get seen for the role of Scar," Lee said.
For Lee, stepping into the Minskoff Theatre felt like coming home. As for playing Scar, he says it is pure joy.
"It's so great to play a role that's bitter, disgusting, mean," he said.
Beyond the puppetry and spectacle, both actors understand the deeper message of this timeless story. And as Manye prepares for her final performance, she has advice for Lee and future cast members.
"Never stop having fun. Always enjoy. Always be yourself," she said. "When you go on that stage, you don't just say the lines because they're supposed to be said. You feel them. You deliver the message. You feel because it has to start with you. If you can feel it in your heart, they will feel it."
As for the magic of "The Lion King," Manye says that will live on.
"Sit back and listen. Cry if you have to. You can still be a kid because we still have those little kids in ourselves that says, oh my god, this touched me. 15, 20 years from now, they will call me and say, hey, do you can you still walk? Yeah. I would still go. You know what I mean? I feel like this show is going to still live in me for years to come," she said.
