Nick Afoa

Last updated

Nick Afoa (born 1986 in Auckland) is a New Zealand tenor and former New Zealand age grade rugby union footballer of Samoan and Croatian heritage.

Contents

Early life

He grew up in Māngere and Papatoetoe. He was educated at Calvin Christian School, St Peter's College and King's College. He was a prominent junior rugby union footballer in Auckland Rugby. He was selected for the NZ Secondary Schools (2003/2004), NZ Under 17’s (2002) as well as many Regional representative teams. He played club rugby for the Ponsonby Rugby Football Union club in central Auckland. In 2004 he was selected for the NZ U19 World Cup team in South Africa when the NZ U19 side won that tournament. He was also contracted to the Auckland Rugby Football Union as a member of their High Performance Unit. He stopped playing rugby after a torn ACL. Afoa studied social sciences at Auckland University where he gained his Bachelor of Arts before helping to deliver a programme to South Auckland teens who had been affected by drugs and alcohol, using music as a therapeutic tool. [1]

Career

As a singer, Afoa was a soloist for the Rugby World Cup Choir who performed the National Anthems (for their respective countries) at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. In Auckland he performed at Christmas in the Park in 2003, Sky City Symphony Under the Stars in 2004, and has been the National Anthem singer for other international rugby sides. In 2013 he was cast (for a season due to last into 2015) as Simba [2] in a Sydney musical production of Disney's The Lion King , a role he last auditioned in 2004. [1] He was cast to play Simba in London’s West End musical The Lion King in 2016. His first performance in London was on 10 May 2016; and his last performance was on 14 March 2020. He recently played John in the Australian production of Miss Saigon . In 2024, he played Tom Collins in an Australian tour of Rent . [3]

Related Research Articles

The Australian national rugby league team, the Kangaroos, have represented Australia in senior men's rugby league football competitions since the establishment of the game in Australia in 1908. Administered by the Australian Rugby League Commission, the Kangaroos are ranked first in the IRL Men's World Rankings. The team is the most successful in Rugby League World Cup history, having won the competition 12 times, and contested 15 of the 16 finals, only failing to reach the final in the 1954 inaugural tournament. Only five nations have beaten Australia in test matches, and Australia has an overall win percentage of 69%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand national rugby league team</span> Sports team representing New Zealand

The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league since 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name. The team's colours are black and white, with the dominant colour being black, and the players perform a haka before every match they play as a challenge to their opponents. The New Zealand Kiwis are currently second in the IRL World Rankings. Since the 1980s, most New Zealand representatives have been based overseas, in the professional National Rugby League and Super League competitions. Before that, players were selected entirely from clubs in domestic New Zealand leagues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eden Park</span> Sports stadium in Auckland, New Zealand

Eden Park is a sports venue in Auckland, New Zealand. It is located three kilometres southwest of the Auckland CBD, on the boundary between the suburbs of Mount Eden and Kingsland. The main stadium has a nominal capacity of 50,000, and is sometimes referred to as New Zealand's national stadium. The stadium is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer, and has also hosted rugby league and association football matches, as well as concerts and cultural events. It is owned and operated by the Eden Park Trust Board, whose headquarters are located in the stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand Barbarians</span> Rugby team

The New Zealand Barbarian Rugby Club Inc., nicknamed the Barbarians, or Baa-Baas, is a rugby union club headquartered in Kingsland, Auckland. The idea came from the concept of the Barbarian F.C. The Barbarians played their home matches at Eden Park.

New Zealand Māori rugby league team is a rugby league representative side made up of New Zealand Māori players. The side represents the New Zealand Māori Rugby league. Like its union counterpart, the rugby league team previously competed in international competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stacey Jones</span> NZ international rugby league footballer and coach

Stacey William Jones is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He is currently the head coach of New Zealand national team. He played as a halfback, but he has also briefly played at five-eighth during his distinguished career, which includes 46 Tests for New Zealand (1995–2006). Stacey Jones is the first and only life member of the New Zealand Warriors club whose records for most appearances, tries and points he held at the time of his retirement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonny Bill Williams</span> New Zealand rugby player

Sonny William Williams is a New Zealand heavyweight boxer, and a former professional rugby league and rugby union player. He is only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the country in rugby league, and is one of only 43 players to have won the Rugby World Cup twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruben Wiki</span> New Zealand rugby league footballer

Ruben James Wiki is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative centre-turned-prop forward, he retired with the record for most international appearances of any rugby league player in history. As of 2023, he is still the highest capped Kiwi player ever. At club level Wiki played for the Canberra Raiders, winning the 1994 NSWRL Premiership with them before finishing his career with the New Zealand Warriors. He currently works as the NZRL's High Performance Manager and a High Performance Assistant with the New Zealand Warriors.

<i>The Lion King</i> (musical) Musical

The Lion King is a stage musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, with additional music and lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer. It is based on the 1994 Walt Disney Animation Studios' film of the same name. Directed by Taymor, the musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The show is produced by Disney Theatrical Productions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Afoa</span> Rugby player

Ioane Fitu "John" Afoa is a New Zealand professional rugby union player. His position of choice is at prop. Afoa currently plays for the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Freeman (rugby league)</span> New Zealand international rugby league footballer and coach

Gary Ross Freeman is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s, and coached in the 2000s, who both captained and coached the New Zealand national team. He was arguably one of New Zealand's greatest Test halfbacks and at the time of his retirement he was the most-capped New Zealand test player and also held the record for most consecutive tests for New Zealand with 37.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auckland Rugby League</span> The citys administrative body for rugby league

The Auckland Rugby League (ARL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. Founded in 1909, the ARL has played a central role in the development and promotion of rugby league in Auckland, contributing to the sport's rich history in the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerome Kaino</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Jerome Kaino is a former New Zealand rugby union player.

Terry Brian Hermansson, is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer. An international representative prop, he played club football in England, Australia and New Zealand.

Anthony Gilbert Swann is a former professional rugby league footballer who represented both New Zealand and Samoa in international rugby league.

Ben Lythe is a former professional rugby league footballer. His position of preference was at Halfback. He was also a noted goalkicker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tawera Nikau</span> Former NZ & NZ Māori international rugby league footballer

Tawera Nuieia Nikau is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative forward, he played club football at a number of different clubs in New Zealand, England and Australia during his career, including the Melbourne Storm's victory in the 1999 NRL season Grand Final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Emery</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Jason Emery is a New Zealand rugby union player who represents the Sunwolves in Super Rugby, as well as for Manawatu in the Mitre 10 Cup. He also plays for Rugby New York (Ironworkers) in Major League Rugby (MLR) in the United States. His position of choice is centre.

"Endless Night" is a song written by Lebo M, Hans Zimmer, Julie Taymor, and Jay Rifkin. It premiered in 1997 as part of the musical The Lion King, a stage adaptation of Disney's 1994 animated feature film of the same name. Mark Mancina produced the song and arranged by Mark A. Brymer. Taymor wrote the lyrics based on the melody from "Lala", a song from the 1995 soundtrack album Rhythm of the Pride Lands. Jason Raize, who first performed the role of Simba for the Broadway production, first performed and recorded "Endless Night"; his version is included on the original cast recording.

Sosefo Losino 'Apikotoa is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a prop for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and for Anthem Rugby Carolina in Major League Rugby (MLR). He previously played for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but represents Tonga internationally, for which he is eligible due to his Tongan descent.

References

  1. 1 2 Loren, Anna (22 October 2013). "Lion King easy fit for Afoa". Stuff News. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  2. Morris, Linda (17 October 2013). "Simba ran with Rugby pack". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  3. "Cast/Creatives". rentmusical.au. Retrieved March 26, 2024.