South Africa's best musical export, The Lion King, did so well in Hong Kong that's it going back for an encore. The theatre production, which has run for 18 years, followed hot on the heels of the smash hit Disney movie of the same name."There has never been a showbiz production that has given so much opportunity to South Africans," said Duma Ndlovu, casting director for the show.Ndlovu was in Durban this week casting for the Hong Kong production of the musical that has grossed more money at the box office than any other film or stage show in history.More than 600 South Africans had found acting jobs in the different productions, he said."There are more than 10 productions running simultaneously around the world. The latest opened recently in Madrid and in Shanghai."Lebohang "Lebo M" Morake , who arranged the music and performance in both the movie and the theatrical productions, has an arrangement with Disney that all productions feature South Africans."Of the nine major characters Rafiki, the wise elder, is consistently played by a South African, as are the antelope," said Ndlovu. "While there were six South Africans in the first Broadway production there are now companies with more than 20 South African members."Ndlovu, who created, wrote and produced the popular soap opera Muvhango, says the local success lies in South Africa's "unique sound"."Anyone who runs music auditions here finds raw talent in Durban. There have been occasions where 80% of South Africans in a Lion King production were from Durban."South Africa's Lindiwe Dlamini has been in the cast of the Broadway production of The Lion King since its opening in 1997...