Le Loka, Tsidii

(Tsidii Leloka)

PERSONAL

Born in Lesotho; daughter of Temperance (a health education professor); father, a history and literature professor. Education: University of Massachusetts, B.A. (magna cum laude), music and economics, 1997; also attended Berklee College of Music.

Addresses: Office—Le Loka Arts Management and Productions, P.O. Box 737260 Elmhurst, NY 11373. Agent—Cornerstone Talent Agency, 37 West 20th St., Suite 1108, New York, NY 10011; Arthur Shafman International, 163 Amsterdam Ave., Suite 121, New York, NY 10023-5001.

Career: Actress and singer. Performed in concerts, tours, at a press conference following Nelson Mandela's release from prison, weddings, and other events. Performer in the musical trio Shadiii. Appeared in advertisements. Founder of Le Loka Arts Management and Productions, Elmhurst, NY. Affiliated with the charity the Tsidii Le Loka Foundation and the cultural organization and charity Camp of Good Hope. Also known as Tsidii Leloka.

Member: Actors' Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

Awards, Honors: Iris Award, best local program, c. 1995, for Caught in the Act; Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, both outstanding featured actress in a musical, Drama League Award, outstanding performance in a musical, other awards, and Antoinette Perry Award nomination, best featured actress in a musical, all 1998, for The Lion King; Grammy Award (with others), best musical show album, National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, c. 1998, for the cast album The Lion King; Leon Rabin Award, best actress in a musical, Dallas Theatre League, c. 1999, for South Pacific; Ivor Novello Award, international achievement in musical theatre, British Academy of Composers and Songwriters; called the most promising artist in South Africa, Star (South Africa).

CREDITS

Stage Appearances:

Rafiki, The Lion King (musical), New Amsterdam Theatre, New York City, 1997–98, some sources cite other productions.

Bloody Mary, South Pacific (musical), Dallas Theater Center, Dallas, TX, 1999.

Featured performer, Riverdance-On Broadway (dance performance), Gershwin Theatre, New York City, 1999–2000.

A Tony Celebration, Arci's Place, New York City, 2001.

An Evening with Tsidii Le Loka Featuring a Tribute to Miriam Makeba, Colorado Festival of World Theatre, Stars at the Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, CO, 2005.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Sukeena, Rose Red (also known as Stephen King's "Rose Red"), ABC, 2002.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Sukeena, The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer, ABC, 2003.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Appeared in Tsidii Le Loka in Concert.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The 52nd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1998.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Herself, Caught in the Act, WGBY (PBS affiliate), 1995.

Mrs. N'Dabe, "Whiplash," Law & Order, NBC, 2001.

Film Work:

Fund-raiser for On the Wings of Joy: Artists, AIDS and Africa (documentary).

RECORDINGS

Albums:

Here's to the Night, Bei Music, 2005.

Also recorded When Doves Cry, Blue Note Records.

Albums with Others:

Yusef Lateef, Heart Vision, 1993.

The Lion King (cast album; also known as The Lion King on Broadway), Walt Disney Records, 1997.

WRITINGS

Albums; with Others:

Here's to the Night, Bei Music, 2005.

Songs:

Wrote songs, and provided the lyrics for the song "Beyond the Isle" (music by Francois Breant).