By: Rachel Hawkins, NDG Contributing Writer
“This is the only role that exists today, in my opinion, that showcases the big black man in the way that it does,” Major Attaway said. “There are other roles where we “park and mark” or sing a beautiful ballad and bring tears to people eyes, but this is the only show that from the minute you see us we are the energetic force in the entire production. We are the push of energy, and that’s all coming from a big black man.”
Attaway is charming Dallas theater fans in the Dallas Summer Musical’s production of Aladdin which ends this weekend at the Music Hall at Fair Park.
If you have ever been to a party, club, or honestly just anywhere fun, you would know how hard it is to hype up the entire crowd, keep them entertained, while also wanting more. Well, in that case, it looks like Major Attaway may have just done that flawlessly.
Major Attaway, who plays the Genie on Aladdin’s U.S. tour, will completely engulf you into his character and role. And what makes it even better is he’s a Fort-Worth native!
In 2014, Attaway joined Aladdin.
“My first performance was the same day as opening night, two years later,” Attaway said. “My first performance was on March 20, 2016.”
Attaway originally joined as the standby for the Genie, Babkak, and the Sultan.
If you ever saw the original animated Disney movie and loved it, then you will be obsessed with the entire musical. Attaway gives off the charming and warm vibe, which was seen in the original. In one moment, Attaway can take us into the fictional world of Agrabah, and take us out in a couple of seconds by breaking the fourth wall.
But it’s not just his acting and charm that’ll keep the audience wanting more, it’s also his booming but yet calming voice which clearly sets the tone throughout the musical.
“I started singing when I was young,” Attaway said. “In church first, and classical music in the Texas Boys Choir. I also did live theater at Casa Manana. I was in the touring called the Casa Kids, we were like the ambassadors of Casa Manana. I got to go to a lot of different places and performed at different venues so I could gain a lot of experience across the board.”
In high school, he continued theater in and out of school. Because he was working as a semi-professional adult since middle school, they hired him as an adult to play in the background, which led him to gain a lot of experience early in life.
“I’m the first face people see in the show, so, I am without question going to be, especially if Aladdin is their first production, part of their memory, and their experience on Broadway,” Attaway. “I think that responsibility is incredibly important.”
Attaway takes and owns the role of the Genie. As he plays one of Disney’s most beloved characters, he brings back that feeling we had of looking up to him as kids and appreciating him as adults.
To Attaway, the audience has a special kind of energy. Some people have already seen it, and some have been waiting to see the show since it was created.
“They took the genie back to the original concept from the film where he’s based off of Fats Waller Attaway said. “ He’s a big song and dance man, so the fact that they have us up there singing a jazz version of Friend Like Me, and we are tap dancing while giving an entire range of motion from beginning to end. Whoever is playing the Genie in the production, it’s like you’re getting a full resume in every show.”
Attaway’s favorite part of the Aladdin productions always changes. But he did say his favorite part is the fact he is in it.
Attaway looked forward to coming back to his hometown and performing.
“I’ve lived most of my life there, so most of the training I received, have all happened in the state of Texas,” Attaway said. “The fact that I can come back with a show that as fun as this is, is just a way to say thank you to the theater and the community. When I go out there, and I’m granting wishes and sweating up a storm, it’s all to say “you guys taught me how to do this, so I’m going to give you what I got.”
