Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 1-29-16 Edition

Feature
Young Star Of Stage Play ‘The Lion King’ Has Roots In Entertainment Industry
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
Nia Holloway started singing at the age of four and she hasn’t stopped since.
These days, Ms. Hol- loway’s voice can be heard on stages across the country per- forming as the adult “Nala” in Disney’s The Lion King.
Currently, the popular play – with its lush settings and ex- quisite costuming – is an- chored here through Feb. 14 at the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts.
The role of Nala is one that Ms. Holloway, 20, first started playing as a teenager. In those early days, her father traveled with her while her mother stayed at home in At- lanta with her two younger sis- ters.
Ms. Holloway said as she’s gotten older, her talent has grown as well.
“When I first came on, every- thing was new to me, every- thing was fresh,” she said. “My talent and my ability has ex- panded, being surrounded by my castmates, which is won- derful.”
Playing Nala has been hard work, but it’s rewarding and “super fun,” Ms. Holloway said.
“I love the role of Nala be- cause it just embodies strength,” she said. “I love to show that fierceness to young
girls.”
And after three years, Ms.
Holloway said she still gets butterflies before a perform- ance.
“I think that’s a good thing, because it means you care about what you’re doing,” she said.
Disney’s The Lion King is well- known
for
its cre- ative and col-
orful costumes
that include masks and puppets.
weighs 8 pounds.
It takes about an hour and a
half to get ready, including makeup and voice warm ups, Ms. Holloway said.
Using her talent to mo- tivate and entertain others runs in Ms. Holloway’s
blood.
She is the granddaughter of singer Lo- leatta Hol- loway, who is known for the hit disco songs, “Love Sensa-
tion” and “Hit and Run.” She counts her grand- mother, whom she called “Mama,” among her musi-
Keke Palmer, Brandy, Beyonce, and Faith Evans are other entertainers Ms. Holloway said she admires.
“They are so, so inspiring to me,” she said.
Ms. Holloway doesn’t re- serve singing just for the stage. She’s releasing a contempo- rary R&B and pop mixtape, “A Rookie and A Vet” on Soundcloud in the next few weeks.
The title alludes to her dif- ferent levels of experience in the entertainment industry.
“I’m a rookie because I’m new to the music scene,” she said. “But I’m a vet, thanks to touring.”
She said her future goals include acting in movies, more plays and commercials.
But for now, Ms. Hol- loway said she’s content in her current position.
“I am enjoying my time,” she said. “Just know that you’ll always hear and see Nia Hol- loway.”
Ms. Hol-
loway
cal influences. “Just watch- ing her, I learned what to do as an entertainer and what kind of person to be,” she said. “She taught me so many
said her cos- tume is the least complicated, al- though her corset
things.”
PAGE 2-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016