Filed under: Theater
Bringing to life the music composed by Elton John and Tim Rice, the stage adaptation of 'The Lion King' tells the story of young lion prince Simba and how he becomes king.
Director Julie Taymor has effectively captured the nuances of the film for the stage musical and the crowd is transported from the Mandalay Bay Casino & Resort to the grasslands of Africa while enjoying the chants and traditional vocal arrangements of African composer Lebo M.
BlackVoices.com sat down with the jubilant Kissy Simmons, who plays Nala in the Las Vegas production of 'The Lion King,' to talk about life in Sin City and what its like to be a queen on the Vegas strip.
What is it like being a queen on the Vegas strip?
It's a great feeling. I love it, and I wouldn't have it any other way. It's awesome. I've been Nala for eight years total. I've gone from the tour to the Broadway company and now to Las Vegas, and I love it.
You've played Nala on Broadway and even in the touring production of 'The Lion King.' What's the difference playing the character in Las Vegas?
People seem to think that the tour is more hustle and bustle, but actually 'Lion King' sits for six to 10 weeks in every city so it doesn't feel like we're packing it up and going again. However, I will say that when it's a touring production versus a sit-down production, which is what we have in Vegas, the rock that you see is different. It travels on and off stage because you can't drill a hole in everybody's theater when you go. This Vegas company has more cast members, the stage is wider and bigger and that's pretty much one of the biggest differences with any other production.
How have you adapted to living in Las Vegas?
At first I really noticed the dryness, and I was ashy so I just took in a lot more water. You take it back to the roots and get some Vaseline, but it was an easy adjustment. Once you get over the fact that you're in the desert and you need to really rehydrate yourself, it's an easy adjustment.
I hear a lot of singers say the dryness of Vegas can affect your voice. What are you doing for voice preservation?
A lot of rest. I'm not consuming a lot of things that will affect my voice, and lots of water. I haven't found it to be super-detrimental because in my experience I go through my bout of allergies whether I'm in New York, Nashville or anywhere. It just comes with the territo
ry of being a singer. When you perform live eight shows a week, sometimes you get up there and wish there was a button that they could push and you could mime it out, but that's not the case. Sometimes you sound like a barking dog, but you just drink some water, say a prayer and go on about your business. Have you had a chance to check out any of the other shows on the Vegas Strip?
'Jersey Boys,' which is another Broadway show, but I didn't get to see that when I was in New York. I saw that here and just fell in love with it. The Cirque shows are spectacular to just see. You're like, "Are you really about to jump way from above the clouds?" They're great and they do a good job at sharing tickets with the shows among each other. They'll say, "Oh, we'll give you guy's tickets" and our show will say, "Well, we'll give you guys some tickets, too." So everybody gets to see all of the shows.
Is there a show that you'd like to see come to Vegas that maybe hasn't been here yet?
Yes, the 'Kissy Simmons Show Live.' I think if I were to do a show it wouldn't be one woman. I would be headlining the show, but it would be a show full of singing, comedy and it would be a full-on production with dancers in the background and full of things that involved athleticism, but mainly singing. I think any show could come to Vegas actually.
Do you think 'The Color Purple' production could play here on the strip?
I'm not sure about 'The Color Purple.' I think anything depends on how it's marketed. I think that's the key to anything.
In general, since I've been performing, I've always wanted to dibble and dabble in the recording industry. I would love to do movies and TV. I've done some television, modeling and, of course, I've done Broadway. But I've never done a movie, and I've never had a recording contract.
Musically, once you begin to record your own CD, what will it sound like?
It would be a mixture. I love rock and roll, and I love old-school R&B/soul music. I think that caters to my voice. I like anything that's big and grand. I love Whitney Houston, Ella Fitzgerald and Patsy Cline. I have such a wide range, so I think it would be between those genres. I grew up singing gospel music. I was playing the keyboard in church from age 12. I grew up Pentecostal so you always have to stay true to your roots.
Disney's 'The Lion King' Performance Times at Mandalay Bay
Tuesday - Friday at 7:30pm
Saturday & Sunday at 4:00pm and 8:00pm
For additional details, go to: Disney's 'The Lion's King' Website.
WHERE TO EAT: If you need to catch a meal before seeing 'The Lion King' at Mandalay Bay, consider RM Seafood, a fine-dining experience just steps away from the theater. "RM is a good seafood restaurant here in Mandalay Bay," Simmons said of the establishment. BlackVoices.com exper
ienced the decadent offerings there as well. Owner Chef Rick Moonen, who was recently seen on Bravo's 'Top Chef Masters,' has created a stellar menu that includes such mouthwatering interpretations of beef, chicken and everything imaginable from the ocean. We recommend the 2 pound steamed Lobster, Moonen's mash and the Fuji apple salad. A spacious establishment with a friendly, knowledgeable staff, RM Seafood offers a finger-licking butter-dipping dining experience. For more information, go to www.RMseafood.com.
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