Jen Bender is the Resident Director of Broadway's The Lion King and the Artistic Director of Broadway in South Africa. She was the Assistant Director of Avenue Q (Broadway and Las Vegas), The Wedding Singer, and the revival of Steel Magnolias. Regional: Godspell (St. Louis Muny). She has taught theatre students of all ages at The Broadway Experience, Camp Broadway, The Artist's Crossing, and the BFA program at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She is one of the founders of the New York Musical Theatre Festival and a graduate of the theatre program at Northwestern University.
Sean Bradford is the Executive Director and co-founder of the Broadway in South Africa initiative. He is currently in the Broadway Company of Disney's The Lion King as a swing and Simba cover. Recent credits include The Yellow Wood directed by B.D. Wong, and Junie B. Jones for TheatreworksUSA. He was also a Finalist for CBS's "My Broadway Debut" television special. He is a graduate of Northwestern University. Originally from Texas, this will be his third time doing arts education outreach in South Africa.
Frankie James Grande graduated with a triple major, Biology/Theatre/Dance, from Muhlenberg College in 2005, and then toured the country in the Equity production of Dora the Explorer Live! (Boots the Monkey) before returning to NYC to make his Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! (ensemble, Eddie u/s). While in college he appeared in regional theatre productions of A Chorus Line (Mike) and George M! (George) as well as performing as a principal dancer with Charles Anderson's dtX, a Philadelphia based Afro-Modern dance company. In 2007 Frankie earned the title of "Mr. Broadway." Thanks and love to all my friends and family for their unwavering love and support!
Adam Kantor is the Director of Development for Broadway In South Africa. He made his Broadway debut as Mark Cohen in the closing cast of RENT, the final performance of which can be seen on the Sony DVD "RENT: Filmed Live On Broadway." He guest starred in an episode of The Good Wife on CBS in the role of "Ezra". He is the co-producer of the 2009 Fringe hit production of "A Contemporary American's Guide To A Successful Marriage ©1959."
Tracy McDowell might be most known for her work on RENT, whether it be as Maureen on the National Tour or Mrs. Cohen in Japan, the closing Broadway cast, and on the live DVD recording. She was Alice in the world premiere of TAKE TWO at Northern Stage in VT, the “Day by Day” soloist in GODSPELL at the MUNY St. Louis, and is currently working on the new musical, JAWBREAKER as Courtney and BORN BLUE directed by Anthony Rapp. Tracy is very proud to be a founding member of Broadway in South Africa.
Courtney Reed is currently playing Carla (Understudy Nina/Vanessa) in IN THE HEIGHTS. She was last seen on Broadway in MAMMA MIA! understudying Ali/Lisa. She received her BFA from the Theater Conservatory of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She is thrilled and proud to be a founding member of Broadway in South Africa.
Lisa Nicole Wilkerson is currently making her Broadway debut in The Lion King. Her national tours include Mamma Mia! (Ali) and The Lion King (Nala). Regionally, Lisa has performed as Lily in Abyssinia (Goodspeed, North Shore), TiMoune in Once On This Island (Gallery Players), Robin in Godspell (St. Louis Black Rep), and ensemble in River Deep: Tribute to Tina Turner (Playwrights Horizons), Play On! (Arena Stage, Goodman, Seattle Rep), and Purlie (City Center ENCORES!, Pasadena Playhouse) starring Blaire Underwood and Loretta Devine, respectively. Her TV and film credits include “Oprah,” “Jay Leno” and Unconditional Love. A native of St. Louis, MO, Lisa earned her B.S. in journalism from Northwestern University. All praises up!
Lilli Cooper Is thrilled to be a part of Broadway in South Africa. She was in the original Broadway cast of Spring Awakening and now attends Vassar College where she studies film. Born and raised in NYC, Lilli has performed in numerous benefit concerts at venues such as Joe's Pub, Laurie Beechman Theater, and Birdland. Other Credits include Godspell, Hair, Crazy Head Space, and the upcoming original play Haarlem Berlin at Vassar College.
Christopher Spaulding was a member of the Original Broadway Cast of Curtains. Off-Broadway: Rock of Ages. Principal Regional credits include Godspell and High School Musical (St. Louis MUNY), High School Musical 2 (NCT), Footloose (Marriott Lincolnshire), and Sweeney Todd (NYC's Skirball Center). Television performances include the Tony Awards and the 81st Annual Academy Awards. BFA: NYU, Tisch School of the Arts (CAP21). Christopher is honored and thrilled to be a part of such an incredibly inspiring Initiative!
Jared Stein currently serves as Associate Music Director of American Idiot. Recently, he was the Music Director and Conductor for the First National Tour of Spring Awakening. Prior to that, he conducted the Broadway National Tour of Rent. Other Music Direction credits include A New Brain, The Who's Tommy, Serenade, Urinetown, and Children of Eden. He has recorded with Lauren Molina ("doo-be-doo"), David Reiser ("A Storyteller's Ball"), and Declan Bennett ("An Innocent Evening of Drinking" and "The LoFish Sessions"), with whom he continues to play. Jared holds a BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He is thrilled and honored to be a part of Broadway in South Africa.
Bongi Duma
Evan Ensign
Eden Espinosa
Hazel Feldman
Doug Fischer
Rachel Frankenthal
Jonathan Reid Gealt
Asmeret Ghebremichael
Renee Elise Goldsberry
Matt Gould
Frankie James Grande
Adam Gwon
Brad Haak
David J. Hahn
Joe Iconis
Carly Jibson
Adam Kantor
Kendra Kassebaum
We would like to thank the following artists who have donated their time and talent to the development of Broadway in South Africa
Uzo Aduba
Scott Alan
Sebastian Arcelus
Stanley Bahorek
Zach Bandler
Shoshana Bean
Jen Bender
Sean Bradford
Jim Caruso
Allison Case
Kristy Cates
Lilli Cooper
Bobby Cronin
Steven Cutts
Stephanie D’Abruzzo
Lindiwe Dlamini
Steve Doyle
Natalie Douglas
Tom Kitt
Talia Kodesh
Chelsea Krombach
Ron Kunene
Michael John LaChiusa
Christopher Lane
Darren Ledbetter
Norm Lewis
Aubrey Lynch
Tshidi Manye
Tracy McDowell
Melissa Menezes
Julia Murney
Joel B. New
S’bu Ngema
Selloane Nkhela
Samantha Peo
Billy Porter
Sibu Radebe
Mark Rayment
Courtney Reed
Julie Reiber
Brett Schrier
Jeremy Schonfeld
Kate Shindle
Nikki Snelson
Chris Spaulding
Georgia Stitt
Katie Thompson
Tiffany
Pieter Toerien
Shaun V
Andre Ward
Sally Wilfert
Lisa Nicole Wilkerson
Zachary Zirlin
Ariana Grande currently appears as Cat on the hit Nickelodeon series VicTORIous. On Broadway, she originated the role of Charlotte (u/s Patrice) in Jason Robert Brown’s musical 13. As a vocalist, she has performed with the Boca Raton Philharmonic and the Sunshine Pops Orchestra, and concerts benefitting the St. Jude’s Charity and the Rally for Darfur. She has also appeared on the tv series Brain Surge (Nickelodeon) and as herself on news station PIX 11.
