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| Jonathan Freeman and Don Darryl Rivera as Jafar and Iago, Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann |
It's a shorter post this week (after last week's mega catch up) but still plenty of exciting news, especially if you're an Alan Menken fan because this week saw the announcement of not just one but two new musicals from the Disney Legend! TheaterMania reported that Alan will reunite with his Tangled and Galavant partner Glenn Slater to create the music for Happy Trails. Happy Trails is based on the life and career of American icons Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Head over to TheaterMania for more details. But it gets better!
The same day as the Happy Trails announcement saw another Menken musical being announced, one that proves Alan Menken is determined that all my future holidays will be to America and revolve around his musicals! Teaming up with his Hercules lyricist David Zippel (there's another one I'd fly around the world to see on stage!) and Newsies book writer Harvey Fierstein, Alan Menken confirmed that he is currently working on a musical adaptation of Mrs. Doubtfire!! You can hear the announcement for yourself over at Entertainment Weekly! I really hope this one works out as I absolutely love the film. Yes, no one will ever do it the same as Robin Williams but that doesn't mean that someone won't be able to make the role their own and put a new spin on it like James Monroe Iglehart did with Genie in Aladdin (in fact James even made TheaterMania's dream cast list for that very reason).
And one final piece of Alan Menken news before moving on to the Aladdin news. Entertainment Weekly spoke with Alan about the stories behind the music. It's a fascinating read for any fan of his work. Oh, and make sure you watch the finale of Galavant on ABC tonight!
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| Alan Menken |
Aladdin himself visited the Enchanted Tiki Room as Adam Jacobs took part in the Enchanted Tiki Talk podcast last week. Make sure you give it a listen!
Courtney Reed posted a very special #TBT this week from her very first reading of Aladdin and the first time she met Adam Jacobs back in October 2010.
Highlights for Daisy Hobbs' concert debut, Here, An Evening of Song have been posted on YouTube and her first single from the show (Everyone Wants to Hear a Black Girl Belt) is now available on iTunes.
Michael James Scott and the stars of Broadway by the Beach spoke with Broadway World and share an exclusive teaser of the opening number.
And now some quick Hunchback updates!
Ciara Renee spoke The Pickwyck about her career and playing Esmeralda.
D23 are having a special VIP night at The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Paper Mill Playhouse on 15th March with 20% off tickets and a talk-back with lyricist Stephen Schwartz! It's a fantastic opportunity if you can go!
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| Casey Nicholaw at the Broadway Premiere of Aladdin |
One last bit of non-Aladdin news (though it is related) - Director Casey Nicholaw's new musical Tuck Everlasting premiered on Wednesday in Atlanta. For the show Nicholaw was reunited with fellow Aladdin alum Andrew Keenan-Bolger (5th Avenue's original Omar) in the starring role of Jesse Tuck. Tickets are available here.
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| Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed as Aladdin and Jasmine in the 5th Avenue Pilot Production, Photo by Mark Kitaoka |
And finally some international news! The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye is back with more rumours on the West End debut of Aladdin. It seems that the show's success on Broadway has made Disney re-think their theatre options in London. Originally Baz had suggested that the show was pretty much signed to open in the Palladium next year, but "the Palladium is famous for family entertainment, and shows run there for two years (three at best)" and Disney now think that Aladdin, with its cross-generational appeal, could have a longer run. Because of this Baz reports that Disney are now looking at the Dominion Theatre as Aladdin's potential home in the West End. Obviously nothing is official until it's announced by Disney but we know more international productions are in the works and the West End hasn't had a new Disney production since Mary Poppins back in 2004. I'm going to keep wishing this one is true as it would certainly save me a lot on plane tickets!
See you all next week!
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