TO BE EDITED

The original text

It tells the story of the son of a minister, Jacob Zulu, who is slowly drawn to membership in the African National Congress. Originally committed to non-violence, he is gradually radicalized and trained in militant tactics, he sets off a bomb in a mall that kills three children and injures many. The play deals with his trial and feelings of guilt.

Directed by Eric Simonson (1960-)[], with a cast including K. Todd Freeman, Zakes Mokae and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the play opened at the Steppenwolf Theater in Chicago, them moved to Broadway in New York in the spring of 1992. Scenic design was by Kevin Rigdon, costumes by Erin Quigley and lighting by Robert Christen.

Despite some negative reviews, the production was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Music for a Play, with performers Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo receiving the prestigious Drama Desk Award for Best Original Score.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

Sources

ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Shabalala

Richard Christiansen. 1995. "Nomathemba raises hopes, and fulfills them", The Chicago Tribune 10 April 1995.[1]

J. Wynn Rousuck. 1996. "Nomathemba sings of hope, wariness, Theater Review: Musical is joyous storytelling, but offers a reminder of what was in apartheid South Africa", The Baltimore Sun, 23 April, 1996[2]

https://calperformances.org/learn/program_notes/2005/pn_Ladysmith.pdf

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