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| Contemporary theatre from South Africa. WOZA
ALBERT! is a satire that imagines the second coming of Christ in apartheid-ridden
South Africa. Written by Percy Mtwa, Mbongeni Ngema, and Barney Simon in
1979, the play opened to critical acclaim at Johannesburg’s Market
Theater and toured in Europe and America as the most successful play to
come out of South Africa, winning more than 20 prestigious awards worldwide. Lucky Ngema, Director and co star of WOZA ALBERT! was born and raised in Hlabisa, South Africa. He began to perform as a child and eventually joined Committed Artists and appeared in both the original stage production of Sarafina and the movie version of the acclaimed work. Lucky has graced the statges of his homeland and his adopted home, New York City. The multi-faceted artist can be seen nightly in the Tony winning musical The Lion King, a show that he has appeared in since its inception. Lucky is also the co-creator, with Patrick Ssenjovu, of the forthcoming inspirational theater piece Six Lines Bafana. Along with his extensive theater and play writing experience, Lucky is an accomplished musician and currently heads up Lucky Ngema and Friends; a contemporary South African band that gigs throughout New York and which is currently recording its debut album. Patrick Ssenjovu, was born and raised in Kayunga, Uganda. In 1994, he joined Impact International, a Ugandan dance and theater troupe, and toured throughout Europe and the United States. Upon moving to the U.S., Patrick performed in Meredith Monk's 1999 production Celebration, African Globe Studio's A Raisin in the Sun and with director Ping Chong in Undesirable Elements and Secret History. He also appeared at the 2002 National Black Arts Festival opening gala. Currently he is a guest of Ellen Stewart's Great Jones Repertory Company at La Mama etc. |
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