Alton White: The hip cat from Broadway

By Kiko Miyasato (contact)

Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010 | 7:36 p.m.

For Alton Fitzgerald White, it was a lifelong dream to be a Las Vegas performer.

But Broadway called first, with roles in hits such as Miss Saigon, The Who's Tommy, Ragtime and The Color Purple. It wasn't until 2009 that White's dream came to fruition, when he landed the role of Mufasa in The Lion King at Mandalay Bay.

White recently sat down with Las Vegas Magazine to divulge his city favorites.

Mountains: I had no idea Vegas sat in a valley surrounded by these stunning mountains.

RM Seafood: The freshness, the service. It's the best quality ingredients. When you go there it's the best of the best—it's definitely one of my favorites.

Hiking: It takes me back to my boyhood of getting lost in the woods. I like to hike at Red Rock Canyon and Mount Charleston.

House of Blues: I knew I would enjoy the music there but the food is really, really good. Their filet mignon is probably my favorite dish.

The Strip: It reminds me of Times Square in New York, multiplied by 100. It's full of excitement, bright lights, so many options and great nightlife.

Spa Mandalay: I like getting just the good ol' hour and a half massage. The spa is serene and beautiful—you feel like you're in a whole other world. It's a great escape.

Moksha yoga: It's a new yoga movement, sort of like Bikram yoga in that it's heated but it's more athletic. I take the class at the Las Vegas Bikram Studio on Rainbow, near the 215 freeway. I take the class 3-5 times a week—it has changed my life.

The Lion King: It's changing the landscape of the Strip. There's never been a show quite like it. To have a legitimate Broadway show on the Strip is great. And it being a predominately African-American cast and being a part of that is pretty tremendous, considering more than 50 years ago black folks weren't (welcome) on the Strip.