Austin Monthly
On an average morning this past May, Round Rock ISD alum Vincent Jamal Hooper had just finished eating breakfast and was playing video games with his girlfriend when he noticed a missed call from his agent. A couple of weeks prior, Hooper had tried out for one of the most revered and longest-running shows in Broadway history, The Lion King—but as a seasoned stage actor, he’s learned to give an audition your best and then shed any expectations.
“We’ve got everyone on the line, and we want you to hear something,” announced his agent as he answered the call. After a beat of silence, a sudden burst of sound rang out: “Nants ingonyama bagithi Baba!” These iconic Zulu words that open Disney’s classic musical aren’t just seared into the brain of everyone who’s ever seen the play or movie. In English, the phrase translates to “Here comes a lion, father.” In this case, the arriving big cat was Hooper. “You’re going to be Simba,” the agent told the stunned actor.