Official Website Launched for European Premiere

Steffen has very kindly drawn my attention to the newly launched website for the upcoming European Premiere of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical, which will be held at the Fredericia Teater in Denmark from the 4th October until the 11th November this year.

The website can be found at http://www.aladdinthemusical.dk/ and I highly recommend checking it out a lot over the coming months as it's clear there's going to be a lot more content added as the show gets further into production.

Right now there's a video introducing Johannes Nymark (Aladdin) and an updated cast list;

Johannes Nymark as Aladdin
Maria Lucia Heiberg Rosenberg as Princess Jasmine
Kristine Provide Erikson as Princess Jasmine (Alternate)
Pelle Emil Hebsgaard as Genie
Teit Samsoe Clausen as Babkak
Max Emil Nissen as Omar
Kim Ace Nielsen as Kassim

The castings for Jafar and the Sultan are still to be announced.

Tickets are now on sale from the website. Steffen has his and I look forward to hearing all about the show once he's seen it!

Tuacahn's Production of Aladdin Officially Premieres Today!

Dan Domenech as Aladdin and Haley Carlucci as Princess Jasmine, Photo by The Tuacahn

After a week of previews Aladdin: The New Stage Musical officially opens tonight against the beautiful desert backdrop of the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Utah.

Playbill has posted an article on the show, "Hop a Carpet and Fly", here.  Of particular note is that the Tuacahn's production "marks the first regional engagement of the newly expanded and revised production of Aladdin, which debuted at Seattle's 5th Avenue".  Newly expanded and revised?  I guess that explains the 3 days of meetings that Alan Menken, Chad Beguelin and Casey Nicholaw had towards the end of last year after the show had finished its pilot production in Seattle!

The article also provides further cast and crew details;

"The ensemble feastures Joline Mujica, Erica Amato, Gabrielle Reid, Chris Warren Gilbert, Shari Jordan, Brant Michaels, James Royce Edwards, Matt Densky, Ayesha Ayeni, Carlita Ector, Noelle Marion, Summerisa Bell, Erica Bryce, Amanda Jolley, Samantha Gershman, Allyson Pace, Daysha Pedersen, Jesse Lee Coffman, Brooke Aston, Oyoyo Bonner, Nicole Johnson, Bronwyn Tarboton, Samuel Warburton, JP Sarro, Ramone Owens, Troy McGee, Michael Milkanin, Olin Davidson, Wyatt Hopkins, Andre Melendez, Evan Walker, Jesse Gonzales, Chyka Jackson, Eddy Schumacher, Alexis Smith and Tino Smith.

Aladdin is choreographed by Deanna Dys and musical directed by Camille Rolla. The production has scenic design by Doug Ellis, costume design by Wilma Mickler, lighting design by Bruce Duerden, sound design by David Swenson and hair and makeup design by Matt Reeves."

Broadway World also has a short article on the show highlighting the new promotional images released by the Tuacahn.

The first images feature Dan Domenech and Haley Carlucci as Aladdin and Jasmine, and Edward Juvier as the Genie.  These images are taken from the banner that first appeared on the Tuacahn's website a few weeks ago.

Dan Domenech and Haley Carlucci as Aladdin and Jasmine, Photo by The Tuacahn

Edward Juvier as Genie, Photo by The Tuacahn

The final picture is all new and showcases Michael G. Hawkins as Jafar!


Michael G. Hawkins as Jafar, Photo by The Tuacahn

I must admit that this one surprised me the most.  Based on pictures of Aladdin and Genie (with Aladdin having a purple rather than patchwork vest and Genie being blue) I was expecting the characters to look closer to their film counterparts than they did in the 5th Avenue's production last year, so seeing Jafar looking so different to his film counterpart caught me by surprise.  Please don't take this as a negative as it's certainly not intended to be one.  My initial inclination is that the change from black and red to black and gold for Jafar may have been, in part, a creative choice based on the red rock backdrop of the amphitheatre in order to make him stand out more.  Or it could simply be a creative choice like giving Aladdin a patchwork vest.  The character is still easily recognisable as Jafar and the costume looks good, so I'm more than happy with his new look for this production.

One thing is for sure, this production is certainly ambitious!  Check out this article at The Spectrum where you can see a picture of a zipline being tested for Aladdin!  And this post at Riverdale Rising Stars by Bob Walton (who plays the Sultan in this production) where he shows off a picture taken (I presume) during rehearsals and you can see some of the set and the amazing desert backdrop.

All that remains now is for me to wish the cast, crew, and everyone at The Tuacahn the very best wishes for tonights gala fundraiser premiere of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical.  Make some magic everyone and hopefully we'll be reading fantastic reviews in the morning!

Muny and European Casting

The Muny Casting Announced for Aladdin: The New Stage Musical

"Adapted from the beloved animated feature, Disney's Aladdin presents the favorite movie characters and all of the songs from the film's Oscar-winning score, plus never-before heard Menken/Ashman songs restored from early drafts of the film. Variety hailed this new full-length stage version of Aladdin as "fresh, funny and very entertaining."

Tony Nominees Robin de Jesus and John Tartaglia star as Aladdin and the Genie, respectively. Joining them will be Jason Graae as Omar, Curtis Holbrook as Iago, Francis Jue as Kassim, Eddie Korbich as Babkak, Samantha Massell as Jasmine, Ken Page as the Sultan, and Thom Sesma as Jafar.

Disney's Aladdin is directed by Gary Griffin and choreographed by Alex Sanchez"

I also want to say sorry for the delay in posting this!  It was announced just before the bank holiday weekend so it slipped by me until read Broadway World's newsletter the other day!  More details on the cast can be found in Broadway World's article here and I'll do my own look at the cast over the weekend (hopefully!).

Single tickets are now on sale here.

European Premiere Casting
Steffen has very kindly alerted me to an update on Denmark's upcoming European premiere of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical.  The original article can be found here.  And here's the translated version (thanks to Google translator and a little editing);

"When Fredericia Theatre opens the European premiere of the musical version of Disney's Aladdin in October, it will be with Johannes Nymark, Maria Lucia and the young talent Pelle Emil Hebsgaard in the three main roles.

All sails are set for when Fredericia Theatre, on 4 October this year, can open the doors to the European premiere of Disney's musical Aladdin, which will be Fredericia Theatre's largest venture to date. Ever since the announcement of the show before Christmas the theatre has been working overtime to find the perfect cast. With just under six months until the premiere, Fredericia Theatre is now proud to present its main cast.

Theatre director Soren Moller is a proud man:

"I am happy, relieved and proud that we have found our dream cast to star in Disney's  Aladdin. These are three extremely demanding roles, and it's hard to find the right actors/actress, who have both the talent and the right look and feel for the characters. It is a cardinal point to me that we never cast someone just because they are known, but because it is precisely that they are the right person for the role. It simply provides the best theatre. In Johannes Nymark, Maria Lucia and Pelle Emil Hebsgaard I will not hesitate to say that we have found three sparkling stars as a dream match for this show."

From stepsko and rain dance to Arabic street boy in a turbanIn the title role of Aladdin, Fredericia Theatre, welcomes back Johannes Nymark. He graduated from the Danish Musical Academy Fredericia in 2009 and has appeared at the theatre in High School Musical. He got his first big breakthrough this spring in Singin 'in the Rain at the New Theatre, where he continued dancing and singing his way through cascades of rain as it fell as Don Lockwood.

After the summer he changes his shoes, stepping out with a turban and a flying carpet as the young Arab Aladdin who falls in love with the beautiful Princess Jasmine. She is played by our greatest young musical star right now, Maria Lucia.

From Disney's Beauty and the Beast to Disney's Aladdin

After success with the title role in Sugar last fall and just now in Chess at Aarhus Theatre, Maria Lucia is back in a big new Disney musical. She made her professional musical debut in Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the New Theatre seven years ago. This will be her second time playing opposite Johannes Nymark as the two played together in Les Misérables at the New Theatre three years ago.

In the role of Jasmine the audience also gets the opportunity to meet Kristine Provide Eriksen, who understudies (alternates?) for Maria Lucia. With critically acclaimed leading roles in shows such as Mamma Mia! in Tivoli and Singin 'in the Rain Kristine has established herself as a leading female musical performer.

United Talent follows in Robin Williams' footsteps

The musical's third major role is the hyperactive, turbo-speed talkative Genie better known as the spirit of the lamp, who Robin Williams memorably provided the voice for in the 1992 Disney classic Aladdin.

After extensive auditions, the theatre decided to give the role to the young talent Pelle Emil Hebsgaard, who was also educated at the Musical Academy. This will be his biggest role ever. Pelle Emil has appeared in several musicals at Fredericia Theatre and has just received lots of acclaim for his performance as Eugene in the successful production of Grease in Tivoli this spring.

In total, the ensemble consists of over 30 musical performers, singers and dancers. The show is directed and choreographed by Lynne Kurdziel,  American formato Animation Company Nørlum and Frausing Jens and Anders Jensen Digmann together create the production's scenography, Anna Juul Holm creates the many lavish costumes, and conductor Christian Baltzer will be swinging the baton for an 18 piece orchestra."

Aladdin and Jasmine, Together Again (Part 2)

I posted last month that Adam Jacobs (Aladdin) and Courtney Reed (Jasmine) were going to be starring together in Once on this Island at the Paper Mill Playhouse.  If you've been following Courtney on Twitter then you'll know that the show opened at the end of last month and has been receiving fantastic reviews.

Last night Tipawan, who has been a huge supporter of this blog, very kindly sent me this picture of Courtney and Adam from the show's premiere and I just had to share;

If you can make it to the Paper Mill this month, be sure to support Courtney and Adam and check it out.  Tickets are available at the theatre's website here.

New Picture of Tuacahn's Aladdin and Jasmine

Just a quick update today as the Tuacahn have very kindly provided me with an promotional image of Dan Domenech and Haley Carlucci as Aladdin and Jasmine in their current production of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical.


Dan Domenech as Aladdin and Haley Carlucci as Jasmine.  Photo by The Tuacahn


The iconic image of Aladdin and Jasmine on a magic carpet ride is similar to a promotional image use by the 5th Avenue last year (and the poster released by Atlantis for the upcoming Asian Premiere) and is perhaps my favourite image released by the Tuacahn so far (and also my new backdrop).  It also offers a good look at two of the incredible costumes from this production.

Once again, many thanks to the Tuacahn for providing this image.

Check back tomorrow for updates on the upcoming Denmark production and last week's casting announcement from The Muny.

Tuacahn's Production of Aladdin Premieres Tonight!!

Dan Domenech as Aladdin, Haley Carlucci as Princess Jasmine and Edward Juvier as Genie.  Photo by The Tuacahn


Tonight's the night! The Southern Utah desert is going to be transformed into the magical land of Agrabah as the Tuacahn premiere their production of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical! Tickets for tonight, and the rest of the show's run, are still available here. So grab them while you can and be sure to experience the magic for yourself. If you're going tonight, be sure to let me know what you think in the comments section! All that's left to say that I wish everyone involved in the show the very best of luck for tonight's premiere, I'm sure it will be magical and I can't wait to see it for myself later this month!

Edit - Sorry about the terrible formatting on the original verison of this post, I was in London for the Jubilee and the Disney Concert at the Family Festival in Hyde Park so I was posting from an iPad.  Everything should be back to normal now and here's a nice Aladdin related picture from the event;

Matt Rawle and Joanna Ampil singing A Whole New World

And Broadway's original Ariel, Sierra Boggess, as she sings Part of Your World on stage once again;

Sierra Boggess sings Part of Your World in London's Hyde Park

Tuacahn Updates Keep Coming!!

Firstly, I want to say a big thank you to Heidi from the Tuacahn for her kind words in the comments of an earlier post, and for advising me that Deanna Dys will be Choreographer for the Tuacahn's production of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical.  If you want to know more about Deanna, her past experience and some teases about her work with on Aladdin then be sure to check out this radio interview that the Tuacahn posted on their YouTube channel;

And also make sure you check out the Tuacahn's latest blog post where Todd Dubail (Kassim), Randy Aaron (Omar) and Paul Vogt (Babkak) pose for press photos with some their new co-stars...

Updated - The Tuacahn have very kindly given me permission to post the picture here as well

Todd Dubail as Kassim, Randy Aaron as Omar and Paul Vogt as Babkak, Photo by Tuacahn