Moderator
              Today we are proud to present two stars from "The Lion King: The Broadway Musical," the hottest show on Broadway right now.
 
              We'll be talking with Kajuana Shuford who plays young Nala and Heather Headley who plays Nala.
 
              Today we must stick strictly to our schedule and end the chat at exactly 7:00 PM Eastern
 
             Now I'll turn the stage over to Kajuana Shuford.
 Kajuana
              HI EVERYBODY!!!
 melissaaaa
              Kajuana, how old are you?
 Kajuana
              I'm 12 years old and I'll be thirteen in June.
 redvest
              Kajuana, do you still go to school?
 Kajuana
              Yes. I go to school every day and I get off a little early every Wednesday because the show starts early.
 Moderator
              What do your classmates think of you being on Broadway?
 Kajuana
              They think it's really cool and they think it's really cool seeing me on TV
 
              They always say I saw you on the Disney Channel!
 larissa
              How old were you when you started in show business, Kajuana?
 Kajuana
              I was about 11 or 10 and 1/2.
 Moderator
              How did you get started? What was your first job?
 Kajuana
              My first job was a commercial, a Pillsbury commercial and then I went for the open call for the Lion King where my mom's friend Debra Cooper, took me to the open call and I got picked out of 9,000 people!
 Moderator
              What did you do in the Pillsbury commercial?
 Kajuana
              I had to eat plain doughnuts and I had to peel them off and dance with them with four other kids.
 nownlater
              What are your make-up and costume like?
 Kajuana
              Well my make up is pretty easy. It only takes 10 minutes to get on.
 
              My costume is fairly easy also. I only have a body suit a corset and a pair of leggings.
 
              I don't have a puppet to carry and I don't have a mask.
 larry12
              Did you ever see The Lion King, the movie?
 Kajuana
              I LOVE Lion King the movie. I even cried when Mustafa died. I saw it with my sister Latoya.
 davenjeff
              How do you get along with the actor who plays the Young Simba?
 Kajuana
              We get along very well.  We don't really converse when we're together.
              But after the show we talk a lot.
 hotlove12
              where r u from
 Kajuana
              I'm originally from New York,  Manhattan and
 amandakarens
              Young Nala do you like being a lion
 Kajuana
              Yes. I love being a lion and it's a good character for me because it's a challenge and I can learn a lot from it.
 Moderator
              How many brothers and sisters do you have?
 Kajuana
              I have one sister Latoya and my brother Tyreek and two step sisters and a step brother and a step sister that come over every week named Lenny and Celease.
 Moderator
              Are they younger or older than you?
 Kajuana
              My sisters are 15. I'm the middle child and my brother is 8.
 Moderator
              What does your family think of you being a star?
 Kajuana
              My family loves it.
 
              Not all of my family has seen the play so they're trying to get tickets!
 ttoad
              i cried when Mustafa died to.
 hollyniki
              What's your favorite food?
 Kajuana
              Hi Holly. My favorite food is Chinese.
 duckley
              Was it hard to learn all your lines?
 Kajuana
              Well, it wasn't really that hard after I saw the movie. And when I found out I got the part I got the tape.
 gmgiron
              Did you play any other animal except for Young Nala?
 Kajuana
              Yes I do. I play an elephant at the beginning and at the end of the show.
 Moderator
              What is your elephant costume like?
 Kajuana
              My elephant costume is really heavy. It's grey. And it has all the features of an elephant.
 Moderator
              Do you have to change costumes really fast in the show?
 Kajuana
              Well not really fast, but in a certain amount of time so I can get on stage.
 Moderator
              Do you have people to help you?
 Kajuana
              Yes I have a dresser named Celeste, Sheila and Suli.
 danny12
              Is it hard to get around in your costume?
 Kajuana
              Not really. I'm pretty used to it.
 meggy5
              Do you have a boyfriend?
 Kajuana
              Hi Meggy. No.
 Kajuana blushes
 dsyl
              What does your name Kajuana mean?
 Kajuana
              Well, it doesn't really have a meaning so I made up a meaning. It means entrance to beauty.
 ttoad
              is anyone ecle in your family in show business
 Kajuana
              No, but my Uncle Hakim is going to college soon.  But he has to be in New York before he starts in show biz.
 ashleyray
              How many hours of practice does it take?
 Kajuana
              Well, I don't really practice anymore but when I started it was from 10 AM to 12 Midnight, but I didn't have to be there the whole day.
 Moderator
              Did you get tired with the long rehearsals?
 Kajuana
              yeah. Sometimes I got really tired, but it was a job that I had to do so I stuck to it.
 ttoad
              will you try and do more Broadway shows?
 Kajuana
              Maybe. But not after I finish Lion King because I want to go into movies and sitcoms.
 Moderator
              What is your favorite movie?
 Kajuana
              My favorite movie...I don't have one.
              I like a lot of movies.
 Moderator
              Do you have any favorite TV shows?
 Kajuana
              Yes. Although I don't get to watch TV too much. I like Moesha, Smart Guy, Wayans Brothers, and Seventh Heaven.
 adam56
              how do you like being a star
 Kajuana
              I love being a star.
 lanze
              what is your favorite disney character
 Kajuana
              Nala.
 Moderator
              Why?
 Kajuana
              Because I'M Nala!
 mckee521
              You're my favorite caracter from the lion king
 Kajuana
              Thank you very much and maybe one day I'll get to see you too and write an autograph!
 ttoad
              how long will you be playing young nala on Broadway?
 Kajuana
              Well, I have a contract for more than 2 inches! I think it goes to November or August.
 Moderator
              For anyone travelling to New York City anytime soon, remember that Kajuana and Heather can be seen in "The Lion King: The Broadway Musical" at The New Amsterdam Theatre, but be sure to make your plans well in advance because every night is a sellout.
 
              This production, as directed by the incredible Julie Taymor, is the hottest ticket on Broadway right now.
 
              We now have Heather Headley who plays Nala the Lioness with us as well.
 Heather
              Hello everybody!
 marshamarsha
              Heather, your voice is beautiful. Where did you learn to sing?
 Heather
              I don't know. I think it's a gift from God.
 
              I know it's a gift from God. It started in church, and then moved on to school. My best rehearsal is on stage.
 markey
              Did you have any idea this show as going to be such a big hit?
 Heather
              NO!
              Not really.
 
              Everyone said it was going to be. But we never thought it was going to be this much of a hit.
 
              I'm still amazed every night at how many people come to see it.
 louise
              How many shows do you do per week?
 Heather
              I do all 8.  Kajuana gets off. She does 5 shows a week. Her understudy gets to go on for her.
 Moderator
              Don't you ever get tired?
 Heather
              No.
              I keep looking for things to work on.
 susieq
              What is it like working with Julie Taymor?
 Heather
              Julie Taymor. It was a quite an experience She's a visualist.
 youbetcha
              Heather, you were wonderful in Ragtime. Did you enjoy that show?
 Heather
              Yes,
              I loved it.
              Ragtime took me out of Northwestern. When I was finishing up my junior year I got asked to do Ragtime. So Ragtime is my first love. It's the first show that I did. But I'm caught between two lovers feeling like a fool.
 JVance
              What does it feel like to get so many standing ovations?
 Heather
              Oh, It's scary now, because Kajuana thinks its natural.  Now you expect the audience to stand up when you go to others shows and the audience doesn't stand up you remember it's the audience's way of saying Thank you.
 ashleyray
              What do U suggest to other kidz that want to be in a play?
 Kajuana
              I suggest that you just go for it don't wait around. You should go out for it and do it!
 molly
              What is your favorite character, besides yourself, in the show?
 Kajuana
              Um, My favorite character beside myself.... that would have to be....Um...

              Timon I think.
 sooz2000
              What was your reaction when you heard you had been chosen for the show?
 Kajuana
              I was really really happy and thankful that they even remembered me and remembered to call me back.
 Moderator
              We have to let Kajuana leave so she can get ready for tonight's show.
 Kajuana
              GOODBYE EVERYONE!!!! I appreciate it!
 Moderator
              But Heather will still be with us for a little longer.
 yesmaybeno
              How long did you rehearse before the show opened?
 Heather
              Hmmm, we did three weeks in New York then we took it to Minneapolis. We teched for three weeks there. And then we put it up. I'd say it was a month and a half or more before we put it up.
 bigeddy
              How much time does it take for your make-up time?
 Heather
              Oh,.... bigeddy, I have a makeup person and she takes about 15 minutes to put the whole thing on but I base-up and I do my eyes before she comes in.
 ruredy4564
              Heather...will Lion King ever go on tour?
 Heather
              I think Lion King will on tour one day, I think the next company will open in Japan though. There's something to be said for them to see it in theatre in New York. It's part of the experience.
 merrily
              Is it exciting to be on Broadway?
 Heather
              Hi Merrily.
              Yes it is. As a performer, it's where you long to be. But it's also a very frustrating process.
 marnie
              Did you always want to be an actress?
 Heather
              Hee, hee
              Did I?
              I think I just wanted to perform first The acting came out of that. I've always wanted to be on stage before I wanted to act.
 brian
              What has been the hardest thing about doing this show?
 Heather
              The physical aspect of it. Trying to maintain being the best on Broadway.
 duckley
              How did you get picked to play Nala?
 Heather
              Oh, I was doing the other show across the street, the competitor and they came to ask me to audition in Toronto while I was doing the other show. I did. And the rest is history.
 the1dancer
              What advice would you give other young people interested in acting careers?
 Heather
              I would say..
              Be the best you can be.
              Find those people you consider good and that the world considers good.
              And study them.
              Find out what you hate about their performances and find out what you love about them.
 Moderator
              Who did you study, Heather?
 Heather
              I find myself looking at a lot of people like Robert Duvall and Angela Bassett John Travolta...the people who won the Oscars this year. I was fortunate enough to have very good people in front of me all the time. So, I didn't have to look at the movie screens and stuff like that I was brought up around performance.
 Moderator
              We have 10 more minutes remaining in our chat.
 docsmagic
              Were You Nerviouse to be on broadway
 Heather
              Yes, yes yes
 bigeddy
              Do you ever get nervous in front of all those people? If so, how do you cope with this problem?
 Heather
              I got nervous on opening night.  I was.
              I start praying. That helps. And I try to think very affirming thoughts, but now I get anxious rather than nervous. The only time I get nervous is when I'm sick.
 ttoad
              what is your favorite song in the show?
 Heather
              Besides my own... it would be He lives in you. And that was a hard one to answer because I have 16 of them.
 Moderator
              Which of your own songs?
 Heather
              It would be Shadowland.
 fishgirls
              how many hours a day do you practice?
 Heather
              You know, the play haunts you. The musical haunts you. When I'm on the train I think about the show.
 
              Oh, you mean, how much do I practice? Now, I don't usually practice unless I do something God awful.
 happydayz
              How many people are in the cast?
 Heather
              We have 48 people on stage, but there are forty two on stage. There are much more than a hundred backstage We have the best crew in back on Broadway.
 ginger
              I've heard the dancing is wonderful. Do you enjoy it?
 Heather
              Oh, dancing was done by my uncle Garth. And he's a concert choreographer and all the dances from our show are from Alvin Ailey. Dance Theatre of Harlem And he's spent many years in many serious companies. So the dancing is phenomenal.
 nancym
              What do you think of The New Amsterdam Theatre?
 Heather
              Hi nancym. I think it's the most beautiful theatre I've ever seen and ever performed in my life.
 sweetpea
              I saw the show and both of you were incredible. Thank you for the best night of theater I've ever experienced!
 Heather
              It means a lot to us.
              It really does.
              That's going to help me get through the next two and a half hours.
              Thank you very much.
              I really mean it.
 Moderator
              I'm very sorry, everyone, but we've run out of time for today's chat.
 Heather
              Goodbye and come see us anytime you're in New York.
              We'll be under the big yellow lion.
 Moderator
              I want to thank Kajuana Shuford and Heather Headley, stars of the hit show "The Lion King: The Broadway Musical" now playing at The New Amsterdam Theatre in New York, for visiting our Auditorium Chat today
 
              Thanks to all of you for your participation and cooperation today.