This blog is dedicated to Disney's Aladdin: Broadway's New Musical Comdey. Following a successful Pilot Production at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in 2011, and regional and international productions in 2012, Disney announced that Aladdin would be coming to Broadway in 2014. Aladdin had it's pre-Broadway engagement at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre and opened on Broadway 20th March 2014.
Ainsley Melham, Michael James Scott and the cast of Aladdin
Tonight, Broadway welcomes a new Aladdin. Having originated the part for the Australian production, Ainsley Melham is making his Broadway debut in the title role of Aladdin! Joining the cast at the New Amsterdam reunites Ainsley with his original Jasmine, Arielle Jacobs, and with his original Genie, Michael James Scott.
Michael made his own triumphant return to the Broadway show last Friday, having starred as the Genie all around the world and on the US Tour.
And he's not the only star of the US Tour who's come to Broadway! Mike Longo, the US Tour's original Kassim, makes his Aladdin Broadway debut tonight!
Michael James Scott is playing a strictly limited run as Genie from now until September 15th so make sure you see him whilst you have the chance! He was fantastic when I saw him in London last year!
I just want to wish all three (and the rest of the amazing cast, some of who are now in their 5th year!) magical runs on Broadway! May all your wishes come true.
Another era has come to an end, as Broadway's second Aladdin bids farewell to Agrabah.
Today Telly Leung and Steel Burkhardt will both take their final bows at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre. Telly, who took over from original Aladdin Adam Jacobs, has been with the show since 2017, whilst Steel, who took over the role of Kassim from Brandon O'Neill, has been part of the show since 2014!
Steel Burkhardt as Kassim, Photo by Steel Burkhardt
Speaking with Playbill earlier this week, Telly said "Being a part of this beautifully talented, diverse, dynamic company at The New Am has been pure joy for me. I want to thanks Casey for the opportunity, and Tom and Anne at Disney for letting me lead this company these last two years. It's been a privilege and an honor. I will miss all the citizens of Agrabah, and I will definitely miss this beautiful show that gives such magic and happiness to 1,700 people a night. What a ride! A magic carpet ride I will never forget."
For my part, I wish I could have seen Telly in the role. From everything I have seen, I know he's been an incredible Aladdin who has truly done the show proud. Steel, I have been lucky enough to see several times and I know he's an incredible performer who has been an integral part of the show for over four years. I just want to say thank you to you both, for everything you have given to these characters and to Aladdin.
I wish you both the very best for the future. Thanks for all the high adventures, and here's to many more to come!
Disney was just full of surprises last week! After announcing Hercules was coming to stage they just dropped a new teaser for their live action adaptation of Aladdin last night at the Grammys! No warning, just "the Genie is here!!" to quote the Broadway show!
The teaser starts in the same way as the previous one, with Iago flying over the desert to a haunting rendition of Arabian Nights, only a close up shot of the caravan camels teasing that this trailer will give us a closer look than before.
We get the same shot, revealing the Cave of Wonders, only this time we get to see Marwan Kenzari's Jafar as he tells Mena Massoud's Aladdin, "Bring me the lamp." He's definitely younger than any Jafar we've seen before, and his costume has a slightly armoured look to it. A hint, perhaps, of a more physical confrontation between hero and villain at the film's climax.
"Your life begins now," Jafar tells the young street rat, "Aladdin." And here is the full reveal of Mena Massoud's Aladdin, complete with Abu on his shoulder. And he looks great! The stripes that look too busy in still images look fine in motion (at least on his shirt, we don't get a long enough full body look to really judge the pants).
As Aladdin enters the cave, the music changes to a bold and dramatic rendition of Friend Like Me and we're treated to a series of shots highlighting the main characters and events from the film.
We see Iago flying towards a beautiful Agrabah as the sun rises.
We see Abu in his elephant form as part of a gorgeous looking Prince Ali parade.
Naomi Scott's Jasmine, in a new costume, with Rajah behind her (this is the new dress that was revealed in the first look photos just before Christmas).
The iconic "Do you trust me?" moment as Jasmine takes Aladdin's hand to go on a magic carpet ride.
A quick shot of what looks like it will be an action packed escape from the Cave of Wonders.
And finally a shot of Aladdin rubbing the lamp, Abu and Carpet (yes, we see Carpet!) standing besides him, blue smoke swirling out as we fade to black.
I honestly thought the teaser would end there. But Disney had one more surprise in store. Our first look at Will Smith's Genie in his magical blue form!
"You really don' know who I am?" Genie asks Aladdin as the teaser ends, "Genie, wishes, lamp? None of that ringin' a bell?"
For all the worry I know there's been online, he looks exactly as you'd expect. He's big, he's blue and he's back! And I love some of the detailing on his arms, like magic under his skin.
Hopefully this surprise teaser means that a full trailer is coming soon. I can't wait to hear this cast sing because the movie is looking fantastic. The use of colour is absolutely gorgeous and I genuinely think this teaser and a full trailer will help undo any of the uncertainly that surfaced after the first images were released last year.
Wishes will be granted in just over 3 months when Aladdin opens on May 24th!
We're only just in February and Disney made my year already! Hercules is coming to the stage!
Announced by The New York Times this week, The Public Theater in partnership with Disney Theatrical will stage the world premiere of Hercules as part of it's Public Works initiative this summer. And best of all, this new stage adaptation will reteam Disney Legend Alan Menken with lyricist David Zippel to add new songs for the stage production.
In addition to the return of Menken and Zippel, Hercules will feature a new book by Kristoffer Diaz, choreography by Chase Brock, and will be directed by Lear deBessonet, who founded Public Works. The creative team also includes Dane Laffrey (Scenic Design), Andrea Hood (Costume Design), Tyle Micoleau (Lighting Design), Kai Harada and Jessica Paz (Sound Design), Cookie Jordan (Wigs, Hair, and Makeup Design), and Michael Kosarin (Music Director).
Public Works shows are exuberant productions, featuring a small team of professional actors working with hundreds of amateur performers from around New York. "Its populist musical treatment of a classical story about a hero's journey felt very specific to Public Works," Lear deBessonet told The New York Times, "I saw buried in the story these elements that subvert a traditional narrative of what a hero is, and what strength is. The thing we externally celebrate as being heroic is not real strength - there's a much deeper journey."
Hercules marks a continuation of Disney Theatrical creating new musicals in partnership with local and regional theatres, which began with Aladdin in 2011. It's a practice which has worked well for them, taking shows that aren't a sure thing and allowing them to try and find an audience. It's created new Broadway hits, like Newsies and Aladdin, and even when a show hasn't found a home on Broadway, it's still allowed them to reach a wider audience, with the studio cast recording of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and last year's TV adaptation of Freaky Friday.
There's currently no plans for Hercules to transfer to Broadway, but if this summer's production goes well, there's always a chance Herc could go the distance.
Hercules will play at the outdoor Delacorte Theater in Central Park from August 31st to September 8th.
Tickets to Public Works are free and will be available in person or by digital lottery (details to be announced closer to the time). According to the Public Theater website a limited number of reserved seats will be available (again, details to follow) and you can join their Partners Program to guarantee reserved seats now.
