Check out our interview with talented actor, singer, and writer Datus Puryear, who portrays the leading character Light in Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas.
Datus made his television debut co-starring in CBS’s Bull, and later co-starred alongside Jill Scott in BET+ First Wives Club. While landing television roles, Datus also appeared in many print ads, TV commercials, and news segments, including JCPenney, Pepsi, United, and Good Morning America. Additionally, Datus starred in a variety of regional theater shows, national tours, and New York theater plays, including Tony award-winning After Midnight, Dreamgirls, Hamlet, Spamilton, and 50 Shades! The Musical Parody.
Follow Datus @datuspuryear
Hi Datus, please tell us a little about you?
I am an Ohio-born actor, singer, writer, and professional storyteller. I live in Las Vegas, Nevada, with my wife and two sons.
Describe yourself in 3 words?
Free, purposed, relentless.
Who has made the biggest impact on your life so far, and why?
Everyone in my immediate family has left a huge imprint on who I am today. My late brother-in-law, Chris Duckworth, and my sister Tatum, specifically come to mind. Chris and Tatum were the first people to introduce me to a diverse and vibrant environment outside of my hometown of Newark, Ohio. They invited me to spend my middle and high school summers at their home in Atlanta, Georgia. We explored everywhere together, and for the first time in my life, I saw extremely affluent neighborhoods filled with people of color. We would even see celebrities from time to time cruising the streets in high-end luxury vehicles. Everything somehow seemed within reach, and I knew anything was possible for me. Chris and Tatum invested their time, and more importantly, themselves, into me. They planted seeds that are still producing fruit to this day.
How and when did you start into dancing and acting?
I really didn’t know much about dancing or acting growing up. I played sports all throughout my schooling and sang in my middle and high school choirs. It wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I was introduced to dancing and acting. Being a part of the choir and a barbershop quartet, I was encouraged to audition for our school’s production of the musical Beauty and the Beast. That year, I was casted as the Beast, and I’ve been performing on stages ever since!
Connecting through acting was mostly organic for me, but being called a “dancer” is an entirely different story. For most of my career, I didn’t consider myself a dancer. I was more of an actor and singer who “moved well.” Fast forward to today, and it is clear that life had other plans for me. I have learned a lot about dancing along my journey. It has taken countless auditions and years of performing to actually believe in my ability to command the stage through movement outside of my singing. I have learned to be confident in my choices. I have learned that for me, dancing is not just doing some steps; I have to tell a story through the movement. As long as I am honest in my storytelling, the dancer in me will shine through.
What’s fun and rewarding about this? And what is not?
Being a part of the creation of Awakening has felt magical. One of the most fun and rewarding aspects is having the opportunity to originate and reimagine my character throughout the development of this entirely new genre of live performance. No one has quite done what we’re doing with this intimate spectacle in the round. We have merged some of the world’s most advanced visual and audio technologies with a narrative-driven story told through live movement, singing, puppetry, and illusion. It’s been a dream to collaborate on a large scale with so many exceptional artists from different disciplines. It’s rare, and my peers continuously inspire me.
How do you prepare for a role?
Every role I play comes with its own unique qualities and challenges. For example, with Awakening being a brand new show, there was no preset template or model for my character, Light, other than its description. I found that the best way for me to prepare daily was to allow myself the freedom to trust my instincts. I’m always exploring my character. Even now, in rehearsals and performances, I’m discovering new ways to express the soul of the character Light while staying within the realms of what we’ve already set and created. Alongside that, I am careful to take care of the overall physical condition of my body. I spend about three hours in the gym each work day strengthening, conditioning, stretching, and rolling out my muscles. I also take the time to review my material as needed. My character sings in this show, so daily vocal warmups and hydration is built into my routine. No matter what role I’m playing, I make sure I know everything there is to know about the role and project so that I can show up each day prepared while still giving myself permission to play.
What projects you have been part of?
I’ve been fortunate enough to do a variety of projects, including television shows, NYC theater, and national print and commercial ads. A couple of my favorites are CBS’s Bull, First Wives Club on BET+, where I was able to work on set with singer Jill Scott, the musical Dreamgirls, where I met my wife, and most recently, a commercial for HP, which I shot in Atlanta with my wife and two of my nieces (the daughters of Chris and Tatum, whom I mentioned earlier). All of these experiences were unforgettable, and the one for HP was a definite full-circle moment!
What kind of roles do you like or would like to play, and why?
I would love to see myself originating more roles across the board, both on stage and in film. I believe it’s important to continually push the envelope, creating new characters and archetypes within the industry. In a more traditional sense, playing a soldier in a war film would be epic! I would also LOVE to be the first black man to portray an iconic character like James Bond. What a dream.✨
Which fictional character would be the most exciting to meet in real life?
A fictional character I’d enjoy meeting is Dr. Frasier Crane from the iconic sitcom Frasier. Maybe we’d catch one of the newest opera’s at the Met and chop it up afterwards over a bougie charcuterie platter and a bottle of top shelf Sherry.
Can you name three actors or actresses you would love to work with?
I would love to be directed by Denzel Washington, whether on Broadway or in a film. He’s such an inspiration to me. I’d also like to work with the actor Coleman Domingo. I love his work. He brings a raw honesty to every role I’ve seen him play, and it’s infectious.
Now let’s talk about the amazing new show Awakening at Wynn Las Vegas?
Awakening is a modern-day mythological love story. It’s centered around three main characters: the God of Light, the Goddess of Darkness, and IO, a beautiful but reluctant young heroine who goes on an epic quest to save her tribe by restoring order and balance.
How many shows you guys do a week?
We do anywhere between 8 to 10 shows a week.
What people can expect from this show?
Awakening is a narrative-driven spectacle. Audiences can expect to experience a live, fully immersive, intimate theatrical production. There is not a bad seat in the house. It is collectively a visual and audio masterpiece. Every element of this show is its own independent work of art.
The costumes are impeccably designed by two-time Emmy Award-winning designer Soyon An. Her dynamic designs defy gravity and can make you feel as though you are sitting on the edge of a runway at fashion week in Paris or New York City. The show is narrated by the incomparable Anthony Hopkins, larger-than-life puppetry created by Michael Curry and an original Paul Kieve illusion that is like nothing you’ve ever seen live and more impressively in the round.
We also have a 60 foot glass LED stage that rotates, divides into six petals and lifts the performers to remarkable heights above the crowd. Nothing like it currently exists anywhere in the world, and it’s visually mind-blowing. Another important feature to note is the diversity of not only the cast and crew but also the various movement styles weaved throughout this production.
The choreography in Awakening uniquely merges a wide range of dance styles such as classical ballet, modern, tribal, aerial, and various hip-hop and street dance styles like krumping, flexing, animating, and bone-breaking. This fusion of movement used throughout the storytelling is performed by an eclectic group of top tier artists from all over the world. They use their skills to boldly bring to life the realms of Fire, Water, Earth, Air and Darkness. This show is something NEW. If you’re into musicals, film, high fashion, dance, cutting-edge technology, or design, Awakening has it all.
How was the casting for this, and how demanding is the daily preparation for a big show like this?
I booked this show by self-taping. I didn’t know anything about the project, as it was a secret from the public. I remember receiving the material and being so intimidated by the dance portion. Nolan Padilla, the supervising choreographer, put a dance combination on video and left additional time at the end for improvisation. Being someone who considers himself an actor first, seeing his choreography was initially intimidating. I decidedly gave it my all and made strong choices, relying heavily on my acting in every place I could. When the casting director called me to offer me the role, I was ecstatic and curious. I was ready, but I didn’t quite know what I was ready for.
My daily preparation for Awakening is a mixture of physical routine and mental focus. I make sure my body and mind are prepared everyday by going to the gym and my vocal routine. Once I hit the doors to the theater, I stay focused and centered in my thoughts. I pour all that I have to give into the story. There is a new audience every night, and they are the main driving force for me. Awakening is a huge show, but the beauty lies within the simplicity of its storyline. At its core, it is a love story, and I have great joy in sharing its timeless theme with someone new each night.
Describe the show in 3 words?
Groundbreaking. EPIC. Magical.
Favorite thing of living in Las Vegas?
My favorite thing about living in Las Vegas is that you can come here from anywhere and still make your mark on the culture. There is so much freedom to create your own thing and foster growth within the entertainment industry and Vegas. This vibrant city was birthed in the heart of the desert. There’s something poetic about that.
What did you learn from your biggest failure?
A calm sea never produced a good sailor. I’ve learned that failure is a gateway to success and can be your teacher or your undertaker. Accepting failure as a part of the process is paramount in maturing and navigating life in general. Success simply doesn’t teach as many lessons as failure.
Which project is still on your bucket list?
I love to write, so seeing a book, live project, or TV production I’ve written and produced reach the masses would be so fulfilling. A Broadway debut in New York City is definitely appealing, preferably a play. The prayer would be to have a long-running show since many quality shows close soon after they open.
What advice would you give to your younger self and why?
I would tell my younger self to take more creative risks and to take them often. I am still floored by the rooms I’ve been able to walk into just by getting myself into the game. I would also encourage the younger me to not shy away from boldly sharing my gifts. I know my younger self would’ve thrived earlier simply by standing out rather than trying to fit in.
What’s next for Datus Puryear in the last months of 2023 and for 2024?
My wife and I have just had our second baby boy, Sovereign Freeman Puryear. My first born son, Justus Freeman Puryear, is now five years old, and I get one year older at the very end of December. In 2024, I’m looking forward to the continued development of Awakening, and I plan on seizing every opportunity that aligns with the plans and purpose designed for me and my family.
Favorite form of cardio?
My favorite form of cardio is one hour on the elliptical every day.
If you were a book, what would be the title of the book and why?
If I am a book, the title is definitely Endure Until the End.
What is your own definition of happiness?
My definition of happiness is first knowing your purpose and having the health and spirit to pursue it relentlessly, enjoying the journey along the way.
If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be and why?
If I could meet someone living or dead, it would be Tupac Shakur or Donny Hathaway. Tupac is my favorite rapper, and Donny Hathaway is my favorite singer. These two artists poured so much soul into everything they did and were phenomenal storytellers. I would love to witness their processes and soak up as much wisdom as I could, hearing the truth of their experiences from them firsthand.
Where we can follow you?
You can follow me here:
Instagram: @datuspuryear
TikTok: @datuspuryear
