Arlington Heights’ alum Major Attaway returns to Fort Worth as “The Genie”
Before he became “The Genie” on Broadway, Major Attaway was performing at Arlington Heights, Casa Manana or any theater in Dallas-Fort Worth.
Born and raised in Fort Worth, Attaway “dreamed a dream” to become a working actor with a great gig on Broadway.
Attaway is the longest-tenured Genie in Disney’s Broadway production of “Aladdin.” Attaway took over for James Monroe Iglehart, and played the The Genie for more than 1,500 shows.
Attaway also has made appearances in a host of TV shows, and works extensively as a voice actor.
The Heights’ alum now returns to his hometown to perform in the role that made him a name on Broadway.
On Saturday Feb. 12 at Downtown Cowtown at the Isis, Attaway will perform some of Disney’s more celebrated love songs in “Genie’s Jukebox - Disney Date Night.”
“It’s celebrating the theme of love via Disney,” Attaway said.
For Attaway, the chance to come home and perform in front of a Fort Worth audience is not necessarily validation of a career choice. It is, however, rewarding.
“My love of theater started long before high school; I started at Casa Manana and Jubilee Theater,” he said. “But in high school, I broke the rules. You were only allowed to have one elective, and all four years I was in show choir and theater.
“My mother would say, ‘I don’t know that he goes to any classes other than theater. Every time I call to check on him, or he calls me, it’s from the theater department.”
He still is.
This theater department is just on Broadway.
This story was originally published February 10, 2022 at 5:17 PM with the headline "Arlington Heights’ alum Major Attaway returns to Fort Worth as “The Genie”."
Mac Engel
Fort Worth Star-Telegram