Zano is ready to step up to his role
Zano, originally from Embalenhle in Secunda, has built an impressive profile on the South African musical theatre stage, where he first started his career in 2005.
Actor and musician, Thokozani Nzima, also known as Zano, is ready to step up to his role in the musical, The Color Purple.
In 2008 he was cast in the supporting lead role of Sizwe in Soweto Story, which was a spin on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set in the iconic township of Soweto.
In The Color Purple, he will play the leading male role of Mister, previously played by top actors such as Danny Glover in the 1985 movie and Isaiah Johnson in the 2015 Broadway revival of the musical.
“I studied music at the then-Ochrim School of Music where I graduated top of my class with a diploma in jazz, majoring in vocals. I was discovered by the late Lebo Mathosa, who had heard me sing on a track with DJ Christos and Black Coffee,” he explained.
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He said after Mathosa’s death, he was able to continue working with DJs, producers and artists from different parts of the world such as Ralf Gum, Jullian Gomes, Riky Rick, DJ Cleo and others. The highlight of his career was getting the opportunity to work with Black Coffee on his multi-platinum-selling album, Home Brewed, and the Africa Rising Live DVD.
Zano is ready and excited about the musical. “I am extremely grateful to the director and executive producer for entrusting me with this role. It’s a dream come true. I will not disappoint as I will be working with some of the country’s seasoned actors. This is definitely another step in the right direction for my career,” he said.
