As the Disney Destiny prepares to welcome its first guests, castmember Regina LeVert stands at the center of one of the ship’s most ambitious and culturally resonant offerings: Pride Lands: Feast The Lion King. A lifelong performer who has traveled the world, Regina’s journey to the Disney Cruise Line is a beautiful story of artistry, authenticity, and profound heritage.
Regina recently sat down with a group of journalists to chat about her experience performing in front of dinner guests on the ship, and how her experience through Disney has shaped her as an artist.
Born in Los Angeles, Regina spent years performing across Japan and Europe before returning home in 2018 to be closer to family. That homecoming sparked a new chapter with Disney when she joined Frozen – Live at the Hyperion at Disneyland. Then came a pivotal moment: the first-ever all-Black production at Disneyland, A Tale of the Lion King, an early 25-minute incarnation of the show now staged aboard the Destiny. Under director Paul Bryant, that production planted the seeds for what would later become Pride Lands Feast.
“When Paul called me about workshopping the show for the Destiny, I immediately knew it was special,” Regina recalls. What began as a solo storytelling piece with a pair of dancers has since evolved into a fully collaborative ensemble experience. “I love this incarnation. It’s richer, more layered, and we get to pass the story between voices. That energy is everything.”
For Regina, the show’s cultural significance is inseparable from its artistry. She speaks with deep emotion about the responsibility of guiding guests—many of whom may be encountering African cultures for the first time—through a story rooted in tradition. “Disney brought in dialect coaches and cultural consultants. They made sure we understood the gestures, movement, and meaning. As African Americans, learning more about Africa has been a gift. And honoring it correctly is everything.”
She has experienced the impact of representation firsthand. At Frozen, she once locked eyes with a little Black girl during curtain call. “She wasn’t looking at Anna or Elsa. She was looking at me. And I knew what that meant.” It echoed a pivotal moment from her own childhood, seeing a touring production of The Wiz and realizing there was space for her onstage.
That sense of purpose informs her work on the Disney Destiny. Whether navigating the challenges of performing live while guests dine or adjusting to the movement of a ship at sea, Regina views every show as a chance to connect. “It’s always someone’s first time seeing it. They deserve your full heart.”
Her bond with the cast—and even the ship’s musicians—runs generations deep. Some collaborators she met as early as 2018 at Disneyland. Others she met only when rehearsals began in Toronto. But building something from scratch forged immediate intimacy. “You get to know each other sooner because you’re sharing parts of yourself every day.”
Asked why she chose Disney Cruise Line after performing across the world, Regina’s answer is simple: the opportunity to develop a new work rooted in culture, community, and authenticity. “I’d love to come back in five years and see how the show has grown. It feels like we’re shepherding this story into the world.”
What she hopes families take away from Pride Lands Feast is equally heartfelt. “The story is about facing challenges—every hero must. I hope families engage with each other, talk, share, sit together over a meal, and reflect. Live performance reminds us that nothing replaces real human connection.” Real talk!
As Disney continues expanding space for diverse storytelling, from Regina’s show to a Black actor leading Hercules on the Disney Destiny, she sees momentum building. “Let’s keep going. Keep expanding. Keep telling these stories the way they deserve to be told.”
Regina LeVert is redefining what it means to bring legacy, culture, and representation to the high seas.
Jamie Broadnax is the creator of the online publication and multimedia space for Black women called BlkCosmo Blerds. Jamie has appeared on MSNBC’s The Melissa Harris-Perry Show and The Grio’s Top 100. Her Twitter personality has been recognized by Shonda Rhimes as one of her favorites to follow. She is a member of the Critics Choice Association and executive producer of the BlkCosmo Blerds Podcast.
