Broadway News Round Up 38

Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed as Aladdin and Jasmine, Photo by Deen Van Meer

Hey everyone, sorry there was no update last week.  I had a vet emergency but happily all's well that ends well so it's back to the show this week!

But first a quick heads up!  Merwin Foard, who has been with Aladdin from the beginning of it's Broadway run and sung in many of your favourite Disney animated classics (including providing Cassim's singing voice in Aladdin and the King of Thieves) recently tweeted "Come see me at the New Amsterdam Theatre July 21-25. Might be your last chance ;)"  I was lucky enough to catch Merwin as the Sultan earlier this year and he's an excellent performer.  If you want to see him please make sure you take this chance!  Merwin, I wish you all the best for the future.  Thank you for being a wonderful Sultan and (I'm sure) a suitably evil and villainous Jafar.

Remember those special Playbill covers that Aladdin had?  Well now you can have them as a background on your tablet or smart phone!  Check them out right here!

Princess Jasmine herself, Courtney Reed, is featured in the latest Broadway Style Guide as she puts her friendship with The Lion King's Chantel Riley to the test in The BFF Game.  And make sure you catch the behind the scenes video right here on Courtney's Instagram.

Ever wondered what Genie might sing in the shower?  Me neither, but James Monroe Iglehart has the answer!

Aladdin's Daisy Hobbs talks with Backstage and the Acting Income podcast about being an actor, being an entrepreneur and the similarities between the two.

Broadway World reports that Aladdin's Dance Captain Michael Mindlin will be one of three alum returning to the Princeton Ballet School this summer to teach at the school's Summer Intensive course.

Aladdin's director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw certainly likes to keep busy!  Now he's re-teaming with Aladdin's writer/lyricist Chad Beguelin, along with his The Drowsey Chaperone writer Bob Martin, on the development of another new musical - Prom Musical.  Michael James Scott, who was one of Aladdin's original standbys and is currently starring in Nicholaw's Something Rotten!, is also taking part in the development lab.

If you want to help a good cause and get some great Aladdin Broadway goodies at the same time then make sure you check out the Bidding For Good auctions for the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation to help raise money for scholarships.  This is your chance to bid on the souvenir package that you can normally only get with VIP tickets and if you're a Disney Pin fan then you definitely want to check it out because this pin is different to the one you get in the fan pack (along with the CD and program) in the theatre.

Young theatre group the Roswell Showstoppers recently travelled to New York when the young performers and their families took in the sights and shows of the city, including a backstage tour of the New Amsterdam Theatre and a performance of Aladdin.  But it gets better - they were later joined by a cast member who taught them some numbers from the show!  It certainly sounds like the trip inspired the next generation of performers!

And, of course, the biggest news of last week was the cast of Aladdin going to Washington to perform at the White House for the Kids State Dinner!  I honestly expected one or two songs and that would be it but the cast actually performed for over 20 minutes!  If you missed it on Friday then you're in luck because someone recorded it and has put the whole thing on YouTube (thank you Maura!) so watch and enjoy!

 

You can also see the official White House photos from the event right here.

 

That's it for the Broadway cast of Aladdin but make sure you also check out this footage from the new Tokyo production of the show!

 

 

And finally, how long has it been since you saw Aladdin on the big screen?  In celebration of the film's upcoming Blu-Ray release D23 are offering fans the opportunity to vote on which cities will receive a big screen D23 screening.  You can cast your vote here!