Sunday, 6 June 2021

The Show Must Go On! Live Stream Tonight!

 


The West End returns!!


This week London's West End roared back into life with a celebration of musical theatre. Trevor Dion Nicholas (Aladdin, Hamilton) and host of West End stars come together with performances from almost every production in the West End for The Show Must Go On! Live at the Palace Theatre.


Trevor will be performing a number from Hamilton in a performance that you can only see here. Disney Theatrical will be performing numbers from The Lion King and Mary Poppins. There will be performances from legendary West End musicals such as Les Miserables, new sensations like Six, and West End premieres from Back to the Future.


It all happens tonight, and you can stream live right here at 7pm (UK time) tonight.



The stream will be available for the next seven days and is being done in support of the Theatre Support Fund which you can donate to here.


It feels so good to have theatre back again. You can get a small taste of what's to come with this teaser:



It's show time!!


Tuesday, 11 May 2021

Bigger. Stronger. Fiercer. Michael James Scott is Back as Broadway's Genie!

 


Whilst we'll have to wait a little longer for the full cast announcement, Good Morning America revealed this morning that Michael James Scott will be returning once more as the Genie when Aladdin reopens on Broadway this September!


Appearing in GMA's first in person interview since the pandemic began (!) Michael and The Lion King's L. Steven Taylor discussed how they felt learning Broadway was coming back, what it means for them, Disney's Double the Magic offer, and bringing the light of Broadway back to NYC.



The magic is back everyone!!


Friday, 7 May 2021

Aladdin Returns to Broadway September 28th!

 



Let's make some magic!!! Aladdin returns to Broadway on September 28th!


Disney on Broadway's website has been updated today to announce the return of Aladdin and The Lion King to Broadway after over a year. I am so happy right now I can't quite put it into words so I'll just let this incredible video from Disney do the talking (and yes, I did have tears in my eyes by the end).



As speculated yesterday, The Lion King will return first with performances beginning Tuesday, September 14th, with Aladdin opening two weeks later on Tuesday, September 28th.


And that's not all!


As part of their return to Broadway, Disney will be offering an incredible Double the Magic offer with a special ticket to BOTH shows with prices starting from just $149! No service fees, free exchanges and refunds, you can even book your tickets now and choose your performance dates later!


Tickets will go on sale next Tuesday, May 11th, at 7AM.


I am so, so happy right now. After this last year I need the joy that this show brings. I can only imagine how those involved with the show must be feeling right now, and how amazing that re-opening night will be. Come on down, come on in, the magic is back.


UPDATE 05/11 - Seems I may have broken this story a little earlier than the official announcement! I've updated the links and video so they should work properly now!


In a statement released this morning Disney Theatrical's Thomas Schumacher said:


"After 18 months of being apart we are thrilled to welcome our audiences back and are proud to introduce these unique benefits to make buying Broadway tickets risk-free, flexible and affordable. Broadway's reopening - before tourists fully return - will be the perfect time for us tri-staters to attend Broadway as shows will be more accessible than ever."


Tickets are now on sale for Aladdin's magical return to Broadway. I spent a crazy amount of time clicking refresh today but I am overjoyed to have been able to get tickets for the show's reopening night on Broadway. Now I just have to hope travel restrictions ease and we can travel to the US! The atmosphere that night will truly be once in a lifetime. Broadway is back!!

Wednesday, 5 May 2021

Broadway to Reopen September 14!

 



"Come on down, come on in, let the magic begin!"


It's been too long since we heard those words. Over a year after Broadway went dark due to the pandemic, the orchestra is beginning to tune up once more as Broadway prepares to return. According to Broadway World, New York Govenor Andrew Cuomo announced this morning that Broadway will be back on September 14, 2021, at 100% capacity! Not only that, but tickets for shows could be sold as early as tomorrow!


So does this mean that Aladdin will be back on September 14th? Maybe, but also maybe a little later. According to the New York Times The Lion King, Hamilton, and Wicked, the three juggernauts of the Great Bright Way, have been planning a joint announcement for their mid-September return. Broadway World suggests this will come next week. As the NY Times says, these three juggernaut shows are best placed to face the risks of the post-Covid market.


Aladdin, along with Chicago, Come From Away, and American Utopia, is also hoping to reopen in September, but, unlike the three juggernauts, it doesn't sound like an announcement was already planned. Producers likely want to see what ticket sales are like for the big 3 before announcing the details of more returning shows. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long.


Even if Aladdin's reopening is announced later that The Lion King's, there's still a good chance both shows will reopen together on September 14th. Or Disney could choose to reopen The Lion King on the 14th with Aladdin following soon after so they both get the spotlight on their reopening night.


Either way, we're almost there! In just a few months the magic will be back!

Saturday, 20 March 2021

Seven Magical Years

 


It feels strange to post this with Broadway still dark but seven years ago tonight Aladdin officially opened on Broadway.


I can't wait until the lights come up and we can all share in the magic again. Here's to making magic for many years to come.

Saturday, 9 January 2021

Matt Croke on The Voice UK!

 


Congratulations Matt!!!


The West End's very own Aladdin faced the blind auditions of The Voice UK this week and absolutely smashed it with his rendition of "Come What May" from Moulin Rouge.



Matt's show stopping performance earned him a place on Team Olly and some incredible praise from the panel of judges. Having successfully passed the auditions, he now goes through to head to head battle rounds.


I've honestly not watched The Voice in years but you can bet I'll be tuning in each week and cheering Matt on!

Wednesday, 28 October 2020

James Monroe Iglehart Producing The Nightmare Before Christmas Charity Concert this Halloween

 




What's this? What's this? James Monroe Iglehart is producing something extra special this Halloween!


In support of The Actors Fund and the Lymphoma Research Foundation, Broadway's original Genie and current Hamilton star James Monroe Iglehart is teaming up with some of his friends to present a one night only charity concert version of The Nightmare Before Christmas!


"We're extremely grateful to Tim Burton, Danny Elfman and the Disney Music Group for allowing us the opportunity to bring our virtual concert interpretation of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas to everyone this Halloween," said James about the one night only event which will be available to stream for 24 hours starting at 7pm (ET) on Saturday, October 31st.


Joining James, who will of course be playing Oogie Boogie, will be Rafael Casal as Jack, Adrienne Warren as Sally, Danny Burstein as Santa, Nik Walker as Lock, Leslie Margherita as Shock and Rob McClure as Barrel. Bringing the rest of Halloween Town and Christmas Town to life is Kathryn Allison, Jenni Barber, Erin Elizabeth Clemons, Fergie L. Philippe, Jawan M. Jackson and Brian Gonzales! These Broadway stars will be getting into the fiendish festive spirit of things using only props and clothing from around the home as they recreate Burton's seasonal classic.


You can buy your ticket now via Vimeo on Demand for just $4.99, so get set for some ghoulish delights all whilst helping two incredible causes! Don't miss it!