News

‘LION KING’ TOUR CAST MEMBER COMPETES ON
“Today Throws a Wedding”
 - 8/8/2006

When NBC’s “Today” morning show recently began soliciting entries for its seventh annual “Today Throws a Wedding” contest, an opportunity presented itself for Chaunteé Schuler and her fiancé Joshua Walker. Since their engagement in July 2005, the young couple has been unable to decide when or where to get married. However, if they somehow win the contest, they would not only have a confirmed wedding date, October 6th, and a destination, New York, but the wedding would be entirely free and take place live in front of millions of viewers to boot.

Having seen the wedding competition in previous years, Schuler and Walker enlisted a friend to make a videotape of them on a “whim” and they submitted a short clip the day before the deadline. And that, they thought, would pretty much be the end of it.

“It was kind of like a fun little project and we did it really quickly,” says Schuler. “But we didn’t think we’d be finalists.”

Well, surprise, they are.

Speaking via phone from Philadelphia where she is performing as Nala in the National Tour of Disney’s THE LION KING, Schuler is grateful to be included among the seven finalist couples but knows the upcoming weeks will be challenging. Literally. The finalists will have to compete in weekly challenges where one couple will be eliminated each Wednesday. The last remaining couple wins a wedding that will be planned by “Today” viewers in a lightning-fast seven day stretch. Every detail, from what dress the bride will wear to where the honeymoon will take place, will be determined by viewers casting their votes at www.today.msnbc.com.

Schuler is delighted that her fellow cast members have been really supportive and are offering their advice to help her succeed in winning it all. “They’re so excited,” says Schuler. “Everyone is giving me pointers.”

Though Schuler and Walker may ultimately come up empty-handed in their quest for the “Today Throws a Wedding” prize, all will not be lost. “We’re going to get married no matter what,” says Schuler. “As long as we have each other, that’s the most important thing.”

By: Kirk Wingerson

Photos
Top: Chaunteé Schuler and fiance' Joshua Walker, courtesy of NBC's "Today."

Bottom: S. J. Hannah as Simba and Chaunteé Schuler as Nala from THE LION KING National Tour. Photo by Joan Marcus.

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