Disney on Broadway partnered with photographer Darnell Bennett to celebrate Black History Month with more than 50 cast members from The Lion King, Aladdin, and Frozen. Check out the video above for a behind-the-scenes look.
The Lion King, now in its 21st year on Broadway, has remained one of the most popular, lucrative, and beloved musicals in the world, with 24 global productions and an accumulative audience of 95 million people. Since its 1997 premiere, the Tony-winning show has grossed over $1.6 billion and seen stagings on every continent (except Antarctica).
“It’s a big deal that The Lion King has been on Broadway for 21 years, and that people look like me in the cast,” says Bravita Threatt, a swing from the Broadway cast.
Aladdin opened in February 2014 and has since gone on to enchant audiences with its spectacle and theatrical magic. After over 2,000 performances, the production not only remains one of the top-selling shows on Broadway, but also a leading employer of diverse performers.
“When they look up onstage and see not only the set being colorful, but the cast being colorful, people can sort of see themselves in the show,” says Dennis Stowe, a standby for the roles of Jafar and Sultan.
Based on the 2013 smash hit film, Frozen has been running since February 2018 and has been among the top-grossing shows on Broadway each week. A North American tour is set to launch in Los Angeles this fall.
“To celebrate Black History Month on Broadway is beautiful,” says cast member Aisha Jackson, a standby for the role of Anna. “I think that representation matters.”
Celebrating Black History Month in 2019: Angelica Edwards, India Bolds, Bonita Hamilton, Tshidi Manye, and Bravita Threatt from Disney's The Lion King on Broadway
