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| Michael Maliakel, Michael James Scott and the cast of Aladdin at the 10th Anniversary Celebration |
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
And this year I want to give extra special thanks for 10 incredible years of this magical show on Broadway!
I know I did an anniversary post back in March but this is the post I should have made when I first got home in April. Life, and a new job, caused some delays so I thought what better day than today to look back at this monumental achievement.
I want start by saying just the biggest thank you imaginable to Disney Theatrical and all the cast and creative team members who have brought this show to life from the early workshops through to Seattle, from Broadway to this year’s once in a lifetime anniversary performance, to today. I know that I am overly fond of rolling out Thomas Schumacher’s quote about Aladdin’s success being because nobody gave up on it on anniversaries such as this, but it is true. Musical theater takes a village and Aladdin has been molded by every single person on the way.
From Howard Ashman first imagining the movie as a much more theatrical Hope/Cosby buddy movie to Alan Menken’s desire to bring back his creative partner’s vision for the stage production. From the creative team that spent days, weeks, and months writing and re-writing lines whilst the show was in Seattle, Toronto, and right up through the Broadway previews to make sure it was the best that it could be to the cast that had to learn them, often on the day of the performance, and then doing it again with revisions and refinements made before the show’s 2021 re-opening! From each individual Genie’s ad-libs each night and all the actors that imbue these characters with life every show to all those behind the scenes making sure the magic happens as it should. Everyone has played a part in making this show such a joy to behold whether it’s your first time watching or your one thousand and first. Thank you.
There are truly too many people to thank individually, so if I don’t name you here (or later in this post) please do not be offended I am truly grateful for you, but there are some people who I do need to single out. Firstly, Alan Menken and Chad Beguelin. Thank you for the music and the words. For taking the film, merging it seamlessly with Howard’s vision, and making me laugh, smile, and cry with joy. The 5th Avenue’s Bridget Morgan and David Armstrong, for all the support and encouragement you gave me back at the start. To my original cast members – Adam, Brandon, Brian, Courtney, Don Darryl, James, Jonathan – and new friends who joined the journey after, thank you for always making me feel so welcome and included even when I was over three thousand miles away. My heart has always been full whenever I have stepped into the New Amsterdam and you are the reason for that. And, of course, to the one and only Casey Nicholaw for making my dream of one day seeing Aladdin on Broadway come true in the most spectacular fashion.
Which brings me, finally, to the part of the post I’ve been intending to write for several months now. Aladdin at 10 years old!
On Thursday March 28th, the New Amsterdam Theatre was home to a 10th anniversary celebration like none I have ever seen.
Rewind the clock a little further, to the end of 2023, and Jane and I were already planning our trip to New York for Aladdin’s anniversary. We had no idea what that might entail, besides James hopefully keeping his promise to “see you at the tenth anniversary y’all”. We didn’t even know what date we should be looking at. We’d both blanket booked the last few weeks of March and start of April off work and if we couldn’t narrow it down before we had to book flights we were going to go for the actual 10th anniversary (March 20th) and hope for the best. Fortunately for us, Don Darryl Rivera came through with the date in time for us to book everything.
And speaking of being thankful – I am thankful for Don Darryl Rivera. I am humbled to call him my friend and grateful for everything he has done for me from 2011 right through to today. Don Darryl got my ticket request to Disney and supported it. He worked his magic to help Jane and I both get to see this spectacular performance and then he did it again (along with the wonderful front of house staff) to get us out of the rain and downstairs for the purple carpet event before the show. He is simply one of a kind and we both love him dearly. And I will never forget his generosity with his time when I was alone in New York and he invited me out with him after the show.
On the day of the show we got to the theater early and spent some time talking with the lady doing front of house. People were bustling in and out, there was a nice buzz in the atmosphere. And then out of nowhere appears the man of the hour - or should that be decade – Casey Nicholaw! I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Casey three times now. All of them brief, but it’s always nice to be able to thank him in person for everything he has done with the show. And, on this occasion, to offer him congratulations on this incredible milestone. It was also lovely to be able to say a quick hello to Don Darryl as he quickly ran to the box office before the show.
With the weather less than ideal, we learnt that the planned purple carpet ahead of the show had been moved inside. As I mention above, thanks to a little Disney magic (aka Don Darryl Rivera and the New Amsterdam’s front of house team) we were given access to the New Amsterdam Room for the purple carpet event.
Honestly, it felt like something out of a dream. A small purple carpet with a backdrop of Aladdin’s 10th anniversary logo had been set up, Alan Menken was being interviewed in the next room, and a whole host of Aladdin and Disney Theatrical alumni streamed through ahead of the show. It was such an intimate setting that I was even able to take a moment to say thank you to Alan Menken, hello to James and Adam (as he raced in from Tommy’s opening night across the street), and to Korie who I had the pleasure of seeing on the first US tour.
We had to cut and run a little before the end of the press event as it was literally minutes to show time and we needed to take our seats, not wanting to risk an overlap. Coming back up the stairs to the auditorium I was even able to say a quick hello and to Chad before the show.
And what a show!!
From before the first note of the overture the atmosphere was electric. Aladdin has always been the most joyful show I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing, but this went beyond that. This was a celebration with an audience of friends and family. I’ve been to first previews, openings, closings, invited dress rehearsals and even live recordings for this show, I have never felt it like this. I doubt I will again, and that’s part of the magic of live theater.
By now I’m sure you’ve already seen the videos of the special appearances, but being there it was like a roller coaster of surprise after surprise.
The audience was already cheering at full volume when Michael James Scott appeared on stage as Genie. But when he began searching for the lamp and Adam Jacobs stepped out of the rings we raised the roof. Tears of joy and screams of “oh my God” set the tone for the night as Michael waved Adam off stage wishing him luck for his Tommy opening night across the street! I’d seen Adam in the press area but I’d honestly presumed that was the extent of his flying visit. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier to be wrong.
“Are you positive we really lost them?” Aladdin and Jasmine may not have quite lost the guards but I certainly lost it, along with the rest of the audience, when Courtney Reed came out on stage to perform A Million Miles Away with Michael Maliakel. It was a beautiful performance. After she closed the show in London I never imagined I’d see Courtney as Jasmine again. It was wonderful having her back for this moment. This was also the point when Jane leaned across to me and jokingly told me that if we hadn’t got a second ticket and then she found out she’d missed Courtney she’d have killed me so I think Don Darryl saved my life as well.
Then came an Aladdin legend that needs no introduction. Having played Jafar on stage, on screen, in merchandise, theme parks and beyond. As Dennis Stowe’s Jafar disguised himself in the market place, Jonathan Freeman smoothly took his place. And when that disguise came off the audience erupted again. Seeing Jonathan bringing Jafar to life on stage is simply a sublime experience and I’m beyond grateful that I got to witness it one more time.
There was only one guest star left, and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one waiting with baited breath as Aladdin rubbed the lamp in the Cave of Wonders. But that wasn’t the wish that Casey Nicholaw had in store. Instead he dialed up the Act One showstopper from an 11 to a 12, bringing back ensemble members from the show’s first ten years to create the biggest finale to Friend Like Me ever seen! We had cast members dancing in the aisles, in the dress circle and balcony, and in the boxes. And before the song was over the audience was on their feet in thunderous applause. It was, quite simply, one of the most powerful moments of theater I have experienced in my life. The sheer joy and exhilaration was unmatched.
But where was James? Sitting in the audience enjoying the first half of the show! During the interval I got chance to have a quick chat with him, and to tell Casey what an incredible job he’d done, before hunting for Brandon O’Neill. I knew Brandon was coming but hadn’t seen him at the purple carpet before the show so I wanted to say hi during the interval. I found him wearing the best leather jacket ever (which you can see more of here), it was wonderful to catch up with him for the first time since 2019, and a joy to proclaim “street rats on three” together before taking our seats for the second act.
Which brings us to Act Two and that final cameo appearance. With Aladdin and his pals locked in the palace dungeon, a rub of the lamp brought back the show’s original, Tony Award winning, Genie. “You rubbed?” James proclaimed as he entered to what may have been the loudest applause of the night. As the dust settled and James’ Genie went back in the lamp (hopefully only until the next big anniversary), Babkak turned to Omar and Kassim and asked “Am I crazy or were we just saved my James Monroe Iglehart?” to wild cheers and laughter from the audience.
And as show came to a close, with Aladdin and Jasmine flying off on a magic carpet, it fell to Michael James Scott to sum it all up with one line, “I just love an anniversary!” The cast took their well-earned bows, joined by original cast members and the creative team for speeches, an audience full of friends and family cheering them on. It’s a feeling that I don’t know how to put into words. Being there that night will always feel like a dream come true.
Oh, there was one other cameo that I didn’t mention – Abu’s cameo during Prince Ali was restored! And nothing against the new choreography at all but I really do miss seeing him and wish he could be included full time again.
After the show we made our way to the stage door. We knew everyone was rushing off for the after show party and we were coming back the next day, but there were a few people that I really hoped to say a quick hello to that night that I knew we wouldn’t be seeing the next day. Jonathan Freeman and Courtney Reed. Jonathan is one of the sweetest men you could hope to meet and, even though it had started to rain, still took the time to say hello. And then came Courtney, spying Jane and I at the door and running out with a coat over her head to protect her newly done hair just to say hi. It was an amazing end to a simply incredible day.
The next morning brought another pinch me I’m dreaming moment as we met up with Brandon after breakfast and he gave me my very own monkey fist necklace! For those who don’t know, it was Brandon who suggested the monkey fist necklace to Gregg Barnes as both a nod to Abu and as a costume element to unite the four street rats. And it was Brandon who made them for Seattle and for the original cast and early replacements of the Broadway run. Thankful is absolutely an understatement! I absolutely cannot put into words how much this means to me. And then he surprised me by pulling out not only his original from Broadway but his original from Seattle! He told me that he’d originally thought he’d lost it but found it just in time for the anniversary. Seeing part of the show’s history up close like that was just mind blowing and I am so grateful to Brandon for sharing it with me.
And, if you want a monkey fist of your own (and like me aren’t the best at making them – I tried, it was partially successful) then you can actually get one hand made direct from Brandon, just like those from the beginning of the show’s Broadway run!! Make sure you check out his website here. It’s the perfect gift for every Aladdin fan who wants a more unique and personal memento from the show.
That evening we returned to see the show again, our back up booking made in case we couldn’t get into the anniversary event, plus we’d come all this way so why not make the most of it!
I’ve focused so far on the special return appearances for the anniversary celebration, so I just want to take a moment to say how fantastic the (then) current cast was as well. What can I say about Michael James Scott? He’s played the Genie more times, and in more places, than anyone else in the world. Genie is an extension of him at this point and he brings such an infectious energy and joy to the role. Zach, Brad, and Milo were a perfect trio and JC Montgomery continues to be an excellent Sultan. I can think of no one better than Dennis Stowe to have taken up Jonathan’s snake staff, and DDR remains the greatest Iago of all time (yes, I’m bias but it’s still true). This was my first time seeing Sonya Balsara as Jasmine and she absolutely blew me away. And finally Michael as Aladdin. When I first saw Michael in 2021 he was already a great Aladdin but this year I was amazed by how much more he’d grown into the role, surpassing the already high expectations I had for him.
After the show we headed back to the stage door to meet up with Don Darryl and Dennis (who we’d briefly said hello to the night before but hadn’t been able to speak with properly). I know I keep saying how amazing and nice everyone is, but seriously these gentlemen are way too nice to be villains! Getting a back stage door with Jafar and Iago is something else (and thank you Dennis again for humouring me and posing with Andreas Deja’s drawing of Jafar!). We got to spend a moment with Michael and Sonya, and to finally meet Brad, Zach and Milo properly. It always brings me great joy to see the original 5th Avenue poster hanging proudly in the wings, a reminder of where it all began and the incredible journey so far. And to stand on that stage and look out into the auditorium. Just wow. It’s a feeling unlike any other and I can’t put into words how thankful I am for the friends who shared it with us.
So, yeah, I have a lot that I am thankful for this year. For 10 incredible years of a show I love. For everyone who helped make that dream a reality. And for the amazing friends I have because of it, for their kindness and generosity for over a decade. For those mentioned here and for those friendships that have been made closer to home. Words will never, ever, be enough. But from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
