On Sale Today - Aladdin: Original Broadway Cast Recording!

"Go cry from the highest mountain tops, rejoice, raise your voice, pull out all the stops!"

I've been waiting over 3 years for this moment, Aladdin's cast album is now, finally, on sale!!  And it is every bit as magical as the show!  To quote Jonathan Schwartz's Omar, "this thing is awesome!"  I've been listening to it all day, picturing the show again in my minds eye and, maybe I'm just a little bias, I think it's the best cast album Disney Theatrical have ever released.  The quality is incredible, the songs are amazing and the bonus tracks are fantastic.  What are you waiting for?  Head on over to iTunes to get your copy now! (the link is for the US store so you may need to search your regional store if you live outside if the USA).

Here's what some of the cast have been saying on Twitter;

"aladdin OBC available now on iTunes!! Yahoo!! #myfirstOBC #immortalized #awesomesauce Thank you..." - @AdamJacobsNYC

"The @aladdin cast is out! I am so proud of our show & so proud of this cast album!" - @jamesmiglehart

"The Aladdin cast album is here!!! Look Ma I'm on iTunes! #firstcastalbum #obc #bwaydebut #lookatGod #mynameisinthecredits  #wonthedoit" @aladdin" - @marishawallace

"You guys, I'm an iTune. #AladdinOBCR #LifeLongDisneyDream" - @DonDarrylRivera

"Aladdin (Original Broadway Cast Recording) by Various Artists #OBC #canttakethisaway https://itun.es/us/mULu0" - @brandonactor

"And then this happened #whatismylife #pinchmeplease ... @marishawallace I stole your photo ;)-" - @RhodesReed

"Make way here it comes! Our cast album is available for digital download TODAY! Get your copy here >> http://www.aladdinthemusical.com/music" - @aladdin

Now, I'm off to listen to it again!  Good night everyone!

Get Aladdin's Cast Album Early!

If you live if the US you can now purchase the digital version of the cast album from www.disneymusicstore.com!  The rest of us have to wait until tomorrow for the official release.

Here's the track listing;

1. Overture
2. Arabian Nights
3. One Jump Ahead
4. One Jump Ahead (Reprise)
5. Proud of Your Boy
6. These Palace Walls
7. Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim
8. A Million Miles Away
9. Diamond in the Rough
10. Friend Like Me
11. Act One Finale
12. Prince Ali
13. A Whole New World
14. High Adventure
15. Somebody's Got Your Back
16. Proud of Your Boy (Reprise)
17. Prince Ali (Sultan Reprise)
18. Prince Ali (Jafar Reprise)
19. Finale Ultimo
20. Bonus Track - Proud of Your Boy
21. Bonus Track - Genie Medley

And if you can't wait, you can hear some short previews of each track at Australia's Get Music.

The bonus tracks feature Adam Jacobs (Proud of Your Boy) and James Monroe Iglehart (Genie Medley) with Alan Menken on the piano.  As for just what the Genie Medley is, I don't want to spoil the surprise but you'll know if you listen to the preview track.  I'll just say I'd buy a whole CD of this!!

The digital cast album will be available from tomorrow (27th May) with the physical album on shelves 17th June.  You can buy the physical cast album from www.aladdinthemusicalstore.com if you live in the US and Amazon will ship internationally, but if you live in the UK I can recommend Dress Circle, a London based theatre specialty shop.  I've purchased from them before (both online and in store) and can highly recommend them.  I was even able to get a copy of the Broadway recording of Alan Menken's A Christmas Carol from them this year, their selection is that good.

James Monroe Iglehart Wins Toronto Theatre Critics' Award!!

James Monroe Iglehart as Genie, Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann

A short but happy update - Broadway.com reports that James Monroe Iglehart has won the Toronto Theatre Critics' Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical for his performance as Genie in Aladdin's pre-Broadway run.

I just want to say a massive congratulations to James for this well deserved reward!  This mortal man makes you believe in Genie magic every moment he's on stage.  Hopefully this is the first of many!

Broadway News Round Up 5

I hope everyone has had a good Bank Holiday/Memorial Day Weekend!  Welcome to the first weekly news round up (let's see how long I can keep this up, lol).

First up this week is a very special new video that Disney Theatrical have posted on their YouTube channel - The Surprise Hit of the Season!

Jim Hill interviews James Monroe Iglehart for the Huffington Post about winning his dream role and Aladdin's long road from Seattle to Broadway.

The Wall Street Journal also takes a look at Aladdin's journey to Broadway, talking with Thomas Schumacher, Casey Nicholaw, Chad Beguelin and James Monroe Iglehart about the overhauls it went through in order to become one of the biggest hits this season.

Another positive fan review has been posted.

CBS New York has posted an article on why they feel JMI should take home the Tony Award (and oh how I hope he does!)

Times Square Chronicles talks with Casey Nicholaw and James Monroe Iglehart.

Timeout: Central Florida Entertainment Guide go to diner and back stage with Yurel Echezeretta.

Make sure you vote in the first annual Ghostlight Awards, honouring those behind the scenes who are too often overlooked.  Aladdin has nominees in the following categories;

Best Concessions/Bar Staff - Eric Pagan
Best Dance Captain - Michael Mindlin
Best Dresser - Carrie Kamerer
Best Dresser - Leslie Moulton (Leslie is Don Darryl Rivera's dresser)
Best Merchandise Seller - Heather Card
Best Merchandise Seller - Clint Escandell
Best Usher - Megan Duffy
Best Usher - Josh Garcia

Voting closes tonight so please hurry!

James Monroe Iglehart and Casey Nicholaw talk with Theater Talk;

James Monroe Iglehart talks secrets with Broadway.com.

Courtney Reed has posted a Throwback Thursday Instagram photo of herself and Adam Jacobs from the 5th Avenue's Pilot Production of Aladdin that I'm pretty sure I've never seen before!

Adam Jacobs, James Monroe Iglehart and Casey Nicholaw talk with ABC News about Aladdin and their 1 wish.  Adam's is the most selfless but I really want JMI's wish to come true and I really, really want Casey's wish to come true (though I'd never have the cash or the room if it did!).  It's a great interview and well worth watching.  Like Casey says, this cast loves the film, loves their characters and that comes across on stage, it's what makes them the perfect cast for this.

Jonathan Freeman talks with Entertainment Weekly about Aladdin, all things Jafar and Owen Suskind's story.

Broadway's World's Backstage with Richard Ridge talks with Casey Nicholaw about Aladdin and his career so far.

And finally, congratulations to Jaz Sealey who made his debut as Kassim yesterday!

That's all for this weekend, I'll be back with another news round up next weekend but I have a few more posts coming up tonight as well!

Cast Album Previews!

Yesterday Disney released not one, not two, not even three but four preview tracks for the upcoming cast recording of Broadway's Aladdin!

First up Entertainment Weekly debuted Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed's beautiful rendition of the Alan Menken/Tim Rice classic A Whole New World along with Brandon O'Neill, Brian Gonzales and Jonathan Schwartz's hilarious performance of Howard Ashman/Alan Menken's High Adventure (I'm so glad they left in the "are we there yet" bit for the cast album).

Soon after Buzzfeed premiered two more songs, the new Alan Menken/Chad Beguelin duet A Million Miles Away, once again performed beautifully by Adam and Courtney, and Howard Ashman/Alan Menken's Friend Like Me, a show stopping tour de force by James Monroe Iglehart with the aid of Adam Jacobs and the entire ensemble.

So what are you waiting for?  Go and check them out!  And make sure to pick up a copy of the full cast album when it's released on 27th May (digital) or 17th June (physical).

I didn't post, or even listen, to these yesterday for personal reasons but I just want to say a big thank you to Adam and Courtney, you made me smile again, and to James, Brandon, Brian and Jonathan (and the entire ensemble in Friend Like Me), you guys made me laugh again and I just can't thank you enough.

Vote for Aladdin in the Broadway World Awards

Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Photo by Disney

Awards season continues with another round audience choice awards!

There are 11 days left to vote in the 2014 Broadway World Awards where Aladdin is up for;

Best Choreography - Casey Nicholaw
Best Orchestrations - Danny Troob
Best Book of a Musical - Chad Beguelin
Best Score - Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Tim Rice & Chad Beguelin
Best Scenic Design - Bob Crowley
Best Lighting Design - Natasha Katz
Best Costume Design - Gregg Barnes
Best Direction of a Musical - Casey Nicholaw
Best Featured Actor in a Musical - James Monroe Iglehart
Best Leading Actor in a Musical - Adam Jacobs
Best Leading Actress in a Musical - Courtney Reed
Best Musical - Aladdin
Best Sound Design of a Musical - Ken Travis

Good luck to everyone!

Courtney Reed's Big Screen Debut



Courtney Reed as Princess Jasmine, Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann

Tonight at the Soho International Film Festival Aladdin's Courtney Reed will be making her big screen debut in the world premiere of A New York Love Story!

Tickets can be purchased here (sorry for the late notice).  The film starts at 9:15pm at the Village East Cinema 189 2nd Avenue (12th Street) NYC and will be followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew.  A short summary and trailer can also be seen by following the link.

If you can't make it to tonight's showing, the film will also be part of Los Angeles Dances with Film festival later this month.

I just want to say a big congratulations to Courtney and all the best for tonight's premiere!