Sunday 24 December 2017

A Little Christmas Magic from Aladdin

Whoopi Goldberg & Major Attaway, Photo by Lou Rocco

It's the most wonderful time of year again!

And what better way to celebrate this magical season than with some musical magic from the cast of Broadway's Aladdin!!

Earlier this week Major Attaway teamed up with Whoopi Goldberg and One Simple Wish, singing songs around the piano at a special surprise party for foster children in New York City and helping to spread some real festive joy.

Major also joined forces with the incredible ensemble of Aladdin, including Genie's past and present, to sing Carols for a Cure! You can hear their fantastic new rendition of O Come All Ye Faithful in Angelo Soriano's Facebook video and you can pick up the CD, in support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, right here.


The magic doesn't stop there! Telly Leung and Arielle Jacobs recently visited Walt Disney World to give a special performance of A Whole New World which will air tomorrow morning as part of Disney Parks: Magical Christmas Celebration on ABC.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Gareth Jacobs is Australia's New Genie

Gareth Jacobs as Genie, Photo by Disney

Just a quick post to say a (belated) warm Agrabah welcome to Australia's newest Genie - Gareth Jacobs!!

Gareth took over the role on 19th December. Here's wishing him a long and magical run!

Tuesday 12 December 2017

Broadway's Princesses Take Their Party to the West Coast

Courtney Reed at a Broadway Princess Party, Photo by Nessie Nankivell

After five sell out engagements in New York, Broadway's favourite princesses are taking their magic carpets and pumpkin carriages on the road to the West Coast!

Aladdin's Courtney Reed will be joining Susan Egan (Beauty and the Beast) and Laura Osnes (Cinderella) for a special three night event at the Segerstrom Centre for the Arts starting tonight!  In addition to their evening performances there will also be a special matinee performance at Citrus College on the 16th December.

So if you've always wanted to see one if these fantastic events but couldn't make it out to NYC this is your chance to catch these incredible ladies on the West Coast.  You can find more information on the event right here.

Tickets are available here (matinee tickets can be found here).

But that's not all! In addition to this West Coast event, the Broadway Princesses will be returning to New York's 54 Below next February for another one night only event on 11th February.  Tickets will go on sale tomorrow for Club 54 members and on Friday for the general audience.  The guest line up for this event hasn't been announced yet, but I suspect Arielle Jacobs may be representing Aladdin ahead of her Jasmine debut on the 20th so let's give her a big, warm, Agrabah welcome!

Sunday 10 December 2017

Arielle Jacobs is Broadway's Princess Jasmine!!!

Arielle Jacobs as Princess Jasmine, Photo by Deen Van Meer

Arielle Jacobs is Broadway's new Princess Jasmine!

After originating the role in the Australian production, Arielle is all set to join the Broadway company of Aladdin on 20th February next year following the departure of Courtney Reed.

Honestly, I think this is one of the best cast replacements Disney Theatrical have ever done.  I seriously can't think of anyone I would rather see take over the role and I hope she has a long and magical run with the show.  Welcome back to Agrabah, Arielle!

Courtney Reed to Fly Beyond These Palace Walls in 2018

Courtney Reed as Jasmine, Photo by Angelo Soriano
To paraphrase the Sultan, "I always knew this day would come. Now I'm afraid that it has come all too soon."

Aladdin is saying goodbye to an original cast member next month as Courtney Reed will play her final Broadway performance on Wednesday January 10th.

But just because Broadway is saying goodbye to Courtney next month doesn't mean she's saying goodbye to Jasmine just yet as she's heading to LA to spend her final weeks with Jasmine on tour with her original Aladdin!!


Adam Jacobs & Courtney Reed, Photo by Disney
Yes, Adam and Courtney will be reunited on the magic carpet one last time as she joins the touring cast in Los Angeles for her final month from January 13th - February 18th!

Courtney and Adam have played these iconic characters with each other since the early work shops in 2010 right through to earlier this year when Adam left the Broadway cast to headline the National Tour so as heart broken as I am to see Courtney leaving the show, I'm overjoyed to learn that she'll be spending her final weeks as Jasmine with Adam on the tour.  It just feels right that she ends her run with him after all these years.

But that's not all!  Joining Adam and Courtney in LA will be none other than Michael James Scott!  Fresh off his incredible run as Australia's Genie, Michael is all set to join his original co-stars as Genie!  Talk about a reunion!  Michael will be with the tour for the entire Los Angeles run from 10th January through 31st March.

Whilst Courtney is reuniting with Adam in Los Angeles, Isabelle McCalla will be making her Broadway debut as Jasmine from 17th January through to 18th February before returning to the National Tour.


Courtney, I wish you all the very best for your final months as Jasmine.  I hope you've loved playing her as I have seeing you bring her to life.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for you as you fly beyond these palace walls.