[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] to dream the impossible dream to fight
to dream the impossible dream to fight
to dream the impossible dream to fight the unbeatable foe to bear with
the unbeatable foe to bear with
the unbeatable foe to bear with unbearable sorrow to run where the brave
unbearable sorrow to run where the brave
unbearable sorrow to run where the brave dare not call the impossible dream
dare not call the impossible dream
dare not call the impossible dream there’s one of my favorite songs to sing
there’s one of my favorite songs to sing
there’s one of my favorite songs to sing I love songs they talk about tapping
I love songs they talk about tapping
I love songs they talk about tapping into your courage and breaking through
into your courage and breaking through
into your courage and breaking through to the other side of a challenge I mean
to the other side of a challenge I mean
to the other side of a challenge I mean we all have our own versions right goals
we all have our own versions right goals
we all have our own versions right goals and ambitions that sometimes seem so far
and ambitions that sometimes seem so far
and ambitions that sometimes seem so far away but they’re not it’s all inside of
away but they’re not it’s all inside of
away but they’re not it’s all inside of us I as a young kid growing up in
us I as a young kid growing up in
us I as a young kid growing up in Cincinnati Ohio the youngest of seven
Cincinnati Ohio the youngest of seven
Cincinnati Ohio the youngest of seven kids and the only boy in the household
what she said um I had a lot of what
what she said um I had a lot of what felt like impossible dreams and they
felt like impossible dreams and they
felt like impossible dreams and they would come to me in the form of
would come to me in the form of
would come to me in the form of questions like how am I going to make it
questions like how am I going to make it
questions like how am I going to make it out of the housing projects and make
out of the housing projects and make
out of the housing projects and make something out of my life how am I ever
something out of my life how am I ever
something out of my life how am I ever gonna get over my painful shyness and
gonna get over my painful shyness and
gonna get over my painful shyness and fear and learn how to speak up for
fear and learn how to speak up for
fear and learn how to speak up for myself I was a kid who would sit in the
myself I was a kid who would sit in the
myself I was a kid who would sit in the back of the classroom and the teacher
back of the classroom and the teacher
back of the classroom and the teacher would put a problem on the board and I
would put a problem on the board and I
would put a problem on the board and I would know the correct answer but I’d be
would know the correct answer but I’d be
would know the correct answer but I’d be too afraid to raise my hand and give it
too afraid to raise my hand and give it
too afraid to raise my hand and give it I don’t want to draw attention to myself
I don’t want to draw attention to myself
I don’t want to draw attention to myself I didn’t want to get teased for trying
I didn’t want to get teased for trying
I didn’t want to get teased for trying to show off or bullied about it after
to show off or bullied about it after
to show off or bullied about it after school which happened pretty often it’s
school which happened pretty often it’s
school which happened pretty often it’s a confusing thing as a kid to crave
a confusing thing as a kid to crave
a confusing thing as a kid to crave attention but be afraid of it at the
attention but be afraid of it at the
attention but be afraid of it at the same time I didn’t have any friends and
same time I didn’t have any friends and
same time I didn’t have any friends and I felt like a trust growing up but I did
I felt like a trust growing up but I did
I felt like a trust growing up but I did have two friends who were always there
have two friends who were always there
have two friends who were always there for me no matter what the radio and the
for me no matter what the radio and the
for me no matter what the radio and the tell
tell
tell I feel really grateful that when I was
I feel really grateful that when I was
I feel really grateful that when I was growing up my family always listened to
growing up my family always listened to
growing up my family always listened to the radio station that played all kinds
the radio station that played all kinds
the radio station that played all kinds of music not to soul music also jazz
of music not to soul music also jazz
of music not to soul music also jazz rock country easy listening everything
rock country easy listening everything
rock country easy listening everything from the Motown sound to the Beatles to
from the Motown sound to the Beatles to
from the Motown sound to the Beatles to Billy Joel Elton John Glenn Campbell to
Billy Joel Elton John Glenn Campbell to
Billy Joel Elton John Glenn Campbell to this day I can be riding in a car with a
this day I can be riding in a car with a
this day I can be riding in a car with a friend and if we’re listening to the
friend and if we’re listening to the
friend and if we’re listening to the classic rock station or easy listening
classic rock station or easy listening
classic rock station or easy listening station I’ll sing along with just about
station I’ll sing along with just about
station I’ll sing along with just about every song that comes on and my friends
every song that comes on and my friends
every song that comes on and my friends are like how do you know the words to
are like how do you know the words to
are like how do you know the words to all these songs I’ve never even heard I
all these songs I’ve never even heard I
all these songs I’ve never even heard I taught myself how to sing singing along
taught myself how to sing singing along
taught myself how to sing singing along with many of those same songs in the
with many of those same songs in the
with many of those same songs in the radio but always to myself nobody and my
radio but always to myself nobody and my
radio but always to myself nobody and my family knew that I loved to sing I was
family knew that I loved to sing I was
family knew that I loved to sing I was too embarrassed and I never thought in a
too embarrassed and I never thought in a
too embarrassed and I never thought in a million years that I would ever have the
million years that I would ever have the
million years that I would ever have the courage to sing in front of anybody ever
courage to sing in front of anybody ever
courage to sing in front of anybody ever let alone onstage my other good friend
let alone onstage my other good friend
let alone onstage my other good friend was the television and this is where I
was the television and this is where I
was the television and this is where I got to see many of my favorite stars on
got to see many of my favorite stars on
got to see many of my favorite stars on TV I’m so blessed that variety shows
TV I’m so blessed that variety shows
TV I’m so blessed that variety shows were still on when I was a kid not
were still on when I was a kid not
were still on when I was a kid not competition shows like American Idol or
competition shows like American Idol or
competition shows like American Idol or The Voice these shows were for
The Voice these shows were for
The Voice these shows were for entertainment and enjoyment shows like
entertainment and enjoyment shows like
entertainment and enjoyment shows like The Ed Sullivan Show The Carol Burnett
The Ed Sullivan Show The Carol Burnett
The Ed Sullivan Show The Carol Burnett Show the Sonny & Cher our laugh-in and
Show the Sonny & Cher our laugh-in and
Show the Sonny & Cher our laugh-in and the groundbreaking Flip Wilson show the
the groundbreaking Flip Wilson show the
the groundbreaking Flip Wilson show the first successful variety show hosted by
first successful variety show hosted by
first successful variety show hosted by an African American I can’t begin to
an African American I can’t begin to
an African American I can’t begin to describe how powerful it was for me as a
describe how powerful it was for me as a
describe how powerful it was for me as a young black kid to see people on TV who
young black kid to see people on TV who
young black kid to see people on TV who look like me presenting themselves so
look like me presenting themselves so
look like me presenting themselves so beautifully whether they were singing
beautifully whether they were singing
beautifully whether they were singing dancing acting or just being interviewed
dancing acting or just being interviewed
dancing acting or just being interviewed they became my heroes my role models and
they became my heroes my role models and
they became my heroes my role models and something to look up to and strive for
something to look up to and strive for
something to look up to and strive for after many failed attempts I finally got
after many failed attempts I finally got
after many failed attempts I finally got over my fear of singing in public and I
over my fear of singing in public and I
over my fear of singing in public and I made peace with the fact that I had been
made peace with the fact that I had been
made peace with the fact that I had been bitten by the showbiz bug and all of my
bitten by the showbiz bug and all of my
bitten by the showbiz bug and all of my heroes from the radio and television
heroes from the radio and television
heroes from the radio and television they helped to set me on a path to
they helped to set me on a path to
they helped to set me on a path to achieving my ultimate
achieving my ultimate
achieving my ultimate impossible dream performing the role of
impossible dream performing the role of
impossible dream performing the role of King Mufasa in the Lion King four
King Mufasa in the Lion King four
King Mufasa in the Lion King four thousand three hundred and eight times
thank you thank you
thank you thank you the number one question I’m asked is how
the number one question I’m asked is how
the number one question I’m asked is how on earth did you perform four thousand
on earth did you perform four thousand
on earth did you perform four thousand three hundred and eight performances of
three hundred and eight performances of
three hundred and eight performances of the same character in the same show and
the same character in the same show and
the same character in the same show and I say I didn’t count really my focus was
I say I didn’t count really my focus was
I say I didn’t count really my focus was on doing the best I could for every
on doing the best I could for every
on doing the best I could for every performance in gratitude for being a
performance in gratitude for being a
performance in gratitude for being a working actor doing what I loved in a
working actor doing what I loved in a
working actor doing what I loved in a show that I loved so much it was truly
show that I loved so much it was truly
show that I loved so much it was truly truly a dream come true but it was doing
truly a dream come true but it was doing
truly a dream come true but it was doing my role my run as Mufasa that the big
my role my run as Mufasa that the big
my role my run as Mufasa that the big challenges became how do I maintain a
challenges became how do I maintain a
challenges became how do I maintain a consistent high level of performance
consistent high level of performance
consistent high level of performance without burning out without letting
without burning out without letting
without burning out without letting boredom creep in and sabotage my
boredom creep in and sabotage my
boredom creep in and sabotage my performance how do i how do i nurture
performance how do i how do i nurture
performance how do i how do i nurture and protect this dream and all of my
and protect this dream and all of my
and protect this dream and all of my dreams come true the lots of things help
dreams come true the lots of things help
dreams come true the lots of things help me gratitude discipline passion faith
me gratitude discipline passion faith
me gratitude discipline passion faith but the one thing that really shifted
but the one thing that really shifted
but the one thing that really shifted things for me and continues to do so is
things for me and continues to do so is
things for me and continues to do so is the act of service and re perceiving and
the act of service and re perceiving and
the act of service and re perceiving and redefining what service means to me what
redefining what service means to me what
redefining what service means to me what a service means to me I see service as a
a service means to me I see service as a
a service means to me I see service as a gift a free will offering that I share
gift a free will offering that I share
gift a free will offering that I share without the stress of expectation
without the stress of expectation
without the stress of expectation service puts the focus on sharing
service puts the focus on sharing
service puts the focus on sharing sharing our gifts our talent our
sharing our gifts our talent our
sharing our gifts our talent our expertise sharing our time and service
expertise sharing our time and service
expertise sharing our time and service doesn’t mean doing anything you don’t
doesn’t mean doing anything you don’t
doesn’t mean doing anything you don’t already want to do it’s about your
already want to do it’s about your
already want to do it’s about your attitude in doing it as an actor I’m in
attitude in doing it as an actor I’m in
attitude in doing it as an actor I’m in service to a writer a director a
service to a writer a director a
service to a writer a director a choreographer and approach in my work
choreographer and approach in my work
choreographer and approach in my work with the mindset of service it makes me
with the mindset of service it makes me
with the mindset of service it makes me want to show up and do the best I can
want to show up and do the best I can
want to show up and do the best I can every time because I’m not giving power
every time because I’m not giving power
every time because I’m not giving power to the challenging aspects of work
to the challenging aspects of work
to the challenging aspects of work the things I can’t do anything about but
the things I can’t do anything about but
the things I can’t do anything about but non-negotiables the things that may not
non-negotiables the things that may not
non-negotiables the things that may not really be that even be any of my
really be that even be any of my
really be that even be any of my business they still affect me but are
business they still affect me but are
business they still affect me but are none of my business service also helps
none of my business service also helps
none of my business service also helps me to stay grounded in the reason that I
me to stay grounded in the reason that I
me to stay grounded in the reason that I wanted to be a performer in the first
wanted to be a performer in the first
wanted to be a performer in the first place is to share to share the blessings
place is to share to share the blessings
place is to share to share the blessings I’ve been given and to offer them as a
I’ve been given and to offer them as a
I’ve been given and to offer them as a gift if I had not been able to
gift if I had not been able to
gift if I had not been able to acknowledge and accept service there’s
acknowledge and accept service there’s
acknowledge and accept service there’s no way that I could have performed with
no way that I could have performed with
no way that I could have performed with us all those times I’d had to
us all those times I’d had to
us all those times I’d had to acknowledge that was there to serve the
acknowledge that was there to serve the
acknowledge that was there to serve the role to serve the show to share to serve
role to serve the show to share to serve
role to serve the show to share to serve the audience to serve my talent to serve
the audience to serve my talent to serve
the audience to serve my talent to serve my self service like discipline is a
my self service like discipline is a
my self service like discipline is a gift that you give yourself and we all
gift that you give yourself and we all
gift that you give yourself and we all know there is no greater feeling than
know there is no greater feeling than
know there is no greater feeling than knowing that you have done your very
knowing that you have done your very
knowing that you have done your very best and made yourself proud of yourself
best and made yourself proud of yourself
best and made yourself proud of yourself for doing so there’s no greater
for doing so there’s no greater
for doing so there’s no greater validation it’s self validation you’re
validation it’s self validation you’re
validation it’s self validation you’re your own best role model you are your
your own best role model you are your
your own best role model you are your own hero service has bled into every
own hero service has bled into every
own hero service has bled into every aspect of my life and I am so grateful
aspect of my life and I am so grateful
aspect of my life and I am so grateful it helps me to keep vital space sacred
it helps me to keep vital space sacred
it helps me to keep vital space sacred space for compassion for joy for comfort
space for compassion for joy for comfort
space for compassion for joy for comfort as I pursue new dreams a couple of
as I pursue new dreams a couple of
as I pursue new dreams a couple of summers ago I hit the four thousand mark
summers ago I hit the four thousand mark
summers ago I hit the four thousand mark as Mufasa and I started writing and
as Mufasa and I started writing and
as Mufasa and I started writing and journaling mainly out of frustration
journaling mainly out of frustration
journaling mainly out of frustration because people kept telling me how lucky
because people kept telling me how lucky
because people kept telling me how lucky I was watching you’re so lucky you’re so
I was watching you’re so lucky you’re so
I was watching you’re so lucky you’re so lucky
lucky
lucky and I was like luck didn’t do 4,000
and I was like luck didn’t do 4,000
and I was like luck didn’t do 4,000 performances hmm I mean there’s no skill
performances hmm I mean there’s no skill
performances hmm I mean there’s no skill involved in luck you know so I started
involved in luck you know so I started
involved in luck you know so I started writing this is what it really took to
writing this is what it really took to
writing this is what it really took to stay focused you know learning to delay
stay focused you know learning to delay
stay focused you know learning to delay gratification sacrificing weakens and
gratification sacrificing weakens and
gratification sacrificing weakens and personal time and personal relationships
personal time and personal relationships
personal time and personal relationships and checking in to make sure that I’m
and checking in to make sure that I’m
and checking in to make sure that I’m reading my passion
reading my passion
reading my passion over and over and over again to protect
over and over and over again to protect
over and over and over again to protect this work so I took the next vulnerable
this work so I took the next vulnerable
this work so I took the next vulnerable step and started sharing it with
step and started sharing it with
step and started sharing it with colleagues and friends some in the
colleagues and friends some in the
colleagues and friends some in the business some not and just as as to help
business some not and just as as to help
business some not and just as as to help to see if they could relate to it see if
to see if they could relate to it see if
to see if they could relate to it see if they could I could help them with my
they could I could help them with my
they could I could help them with my journey the next thing you know I have a
journey the next thing you know I have a
journey the next thing you know I have a literary agent next thing you know I
literary agent next thing you know I
literary agent next thing you know I have a book deal and now I have a book
have a book deal and now I have a book
have a book deal and now I have a book coming out in a few months and nobody
coming out in a few months and nobody
coming out in a few months and nobody nobody is more surprised than I am I
nobody is more surprised than I am I
nobody is more surprised than I am I mean I never thought I could write a
mean I never thought I could write a
mean I never thought I could write a book I never thought I could be patient
book I never thought I could be patient
book I never thought I could be patient enough to sit down and hunt in Peck and
enough to sit down and hunt in Peck and
enough to sit down and hunt in Peck and entire manuscript service is what
entire manuscript service is what
entire manuscript service is what brought me here service and if I hadn’t
brought me here service and if I hadn’t
brought me here service and if I hadn’t Reaper sieved and redefined what service
Reaper sieved and redefined what service
Reaper sieved and redefined what service means to me there’s no way that I could
means to me there’s no way that I could
means to me there’s no way that I could have conquered probably my all-time
have conquered probably my all-time
have conquered probably my all-time greatest fear standing on stage speaking
greatest fear standing on stage speaking
greatest fear standing on stage speaking to a crowd of people like I’m doing at
to a crowd of people like I’m doing at
to a crowd of people like I’m doing at this very moment service I hope you can
this very moment service I hope you can
this very moment service I hope you can relate to what I’ve shared I thank you
relate to what I’ve shared I thank you
relate to what I’ve shared I thank you for your time I think you for your
for your time I think you for your
for your time I think you for your attention and I thank you for allowing
attention and I thank you for allowing
attention and I thank you for allowing me to do my service thank you
me to do my service thank you
me to do my service thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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