Cassidy Barnhardt - Mustang’s Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL)- Lakewood Ranch High School’s (LRHS’S)- performing arts classes learned from guest speaker Darian Sanders, who played Simba in “The Lion King” national touring show.
Sanders said he started doing serious theater when he was 33. Before that he was in smaller shows, singing in churches, preaching, and originally wanted to be a band director.
When asked about how he goes about acting he said, “Tell the story through your body.” Sanders shared he does still get nervous on stage, but it proves to himself that he’s still human and capable of emotions.
Sanders tore his meniscus during his first show as Simba; he continued to perform on it for a month. He left the show in December of 2019 and had surgery in January of 2020. He shared that he was afraid of not performing again and being confused on why he was set on this path just for it to be taken away.
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Sanders answered that the most surreal moment of his career was when he went back to his hometown to preach and sing at his church. After his performance, an older woman, who was blind, met him and said she didn’t like church music but while he sung, she claimed she started to see angels.
Sanders expressed that his faith in God was what pushes him to be the best he can. He said with the path he is on now his goal is to work towards an EGOT recognition (The award performers receive for winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).
Sanders plans to release new music, a new movie, and being in a play directed by Debbie Allen. He also has a book that come out in 2024 called, “Don’t Fear Your Roar.”