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| The cast of Broadway's Aladdin, Photo from Disney |
It's been a busy time in Agrabah! Shortly before the end of last year the show celebrated 3000 magical performances on Broadway!
To celebrate this milestone achievement the cast and at the New Amsterdam receive an incredible 3000 cake in the show's signature colours. It looks too good to eat but I bet it tasted amazing!
Shortly before this milestone, Aladdin joined The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast in the top 20 longest running shows on Broadway, overtaking Hello, Dolly!'s original run of 2844 shows!
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| Shoba Narayan as Princess Jasmine, Photo by Matthew Murphy |
As this year comes to a start, Aladdin is bidding goodbye to its princess, Shoba Narayan.
Shoba, who has played Jasmine since the show re-opened in September 2021, will take her final bow next Sunday, January 15.
I was fortunate to see Shoba bringing Jasmine to life when we visited New York not long after the show re-opened and she was simply incredible. I wish we could have seen her more, but I am beyond grateful that we got to see her in the role twice. She is truly one of my favourite Jasmines and I am excited to see where she goes next.
Shoba was also the first South Asian Jasmine, and has been an incredible role model and force for change. Even as she leaves the show, she leaves behind the new Jasmine doll, which she helped to design to make more representative.
Shoba, I wish you all the very best for the future, thanks for all the high adventures!
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| Sonya Balsara as Princess Jasmine, Photo by Matthew Murphy |
And please give a royal Agrabah welcome to Sonya Balsara, Broadway's new Princess Jasmine!
Sonya made her Broadway debut as Jasmine last year, whilst Shoba was starring in Come Fall in Love (which also starred Aladdin's Irvine Iqbal!), and will be returning to the role from Thursday, January 19.
Sonya, I wish you a long and magical run with the show!
Whilst we're talking Jasmine, I just want to take a moment to say a massive congratulations to the original - the one and only Courtney Reed on her engagement!! So, so happy for you and Nick. Jane and I wish you both all the very best. You truly deserve every happiness.
Last but by no means least - EPCOT's Festival of the Arts is back this month and with it the Disney on Broadway Concert Series!
This year's concerts run from January 13 through to February 20 and feature stars from all of Disney's Broadway shows, including Aladdin.
Kicking things off on the Agrabah front are Adam and Arielle Jacobs. Broadway's original Aladdin and Australia's original Jasmine will be performing on January 14, 17, 18, 21, and 22.
Then the legendary Michael James Scott will be leaving Broadway behind for sunny Florida as he joins Ashley Brown (Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins) for a series of performances on February 6, 8, 9, 12, 13, 16, and 17, with an extra special finale performance on February 20 where they will be joined by Josh Strickland (Tarzan) and Kissy Simmons (The Lion King).
I am insanely excited for this as we will actually be there for Adam and Arielle's run! I haven't seen Adam live since we saw Aladdin on tour in LA back in 2018 and I have never seen Arielle live so this is going to be one of the highlights of our trip for me!
It's the start of another magical year in Agrabah! And Hercules is about to hit the stage as well! This year promises to be full of theatrical magic!
