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.
Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed and James Monroe Iglehart as Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie
What an amazing year it's been! Over twenty years after it was released in cinemas and three years after it's stage debut in Seattle, Aladdin finally premiered on Broadway with a dream cast who have been making wishes come true eight times a week since the show opened in February.
Tonight they will be in New York's Times Square to help make more wishes come true as the clock strikes 12, the ball drops and confetti wishes fill the air. And if you want a little sneak peak at the magic make sure you check out the show's official Facebook page where you can see a video of the confetti test at the New Amsterdam Theatre earlier this week!
And you can watch the main event right here from 6pm EST until 12:15am EST
Have a fantastic night everyone. Here's wishing you all a magical 2015!
Staying with the festivities for a moment, Theater Pizzazz has a positive review for Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol which featured Don Darryl Rivera as the Ghost of Christmas Past. Another one I wish I could have seen! But at least Broadway.com has a few photos.
If you want to help make someone's wish come true this Christmas then take a moment to look at San Mateo High School's Dancers IndieGoGo page where they are trying to raise money to take the students to New York to see 3 shows and learn from Broadway stars (including Aladdin with an after show talkback and a private dance class) and at this GoFundMe page to help Andrew go on his school trip to see the show.
In the last news round up I told you that Adam Jacobs and James Monroe Iglehart were going to be featured on The View, well now that special medley can be viewed online! Make sure you check it out right here!
Last weekend was a big one for Disney Theatrical with ABC's presentation of Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years. To get in the mood Disney posted a special performance by VoicePlay on their YouTube channel and on all their musical's Facebook pages;
Awesome performance and I love that they even included some of the cut Arabian Nights lyrics at the end!
There was plenty to love during the special but the highlight for any Aladdin fan had to be a special backstage look at the show stopping Friend Like Me! Glee's Darren Criss has never made any secret of his love for Disney and during the show he finally got to sing for them (and make his mother proud) as he sang his interpretation of Proud of Your Boy;
Normally I wouldn't post a link to the full show, but this was tweeted by Lebo M so I guess it's ok to share! So if you couldn't see it the first time or just want to watch it again, enjoy 20 Years of Disney on Broadway!
Broadway World have photos from James Monroe Iglehart's appearance earlier this month at 54 Below's Don't Quit Your Night Job.
On Monday 8th December Aladdin's Brian Gonzales and his wife took part in Dallas' 4th annual Sugar Cookie Gala to raise money for Gideon's Feet, a non-profit organisation that supports artists in need, founded in memory of their first son. A silent auction at the gala featured paper snowflakes created by Brian's cast mate, Don Darryl Rivera, and signed stars such as James Monroe Iglehart, Idina Menzel and the legendary Disney composer Richard Sherman.
Aladdin's Daisy Hobbs will be making her NYC solo concert debut next month in Here, An Evening of Song on Sunday 11th January at Stage 72 at The Triad (158 West 72nd Street). Daisy has been with Aladdin since the original Pilot Production in Seattle and her concert will feature everything from Sondheim to pop music and even have some original material as well. And if that's not enough you even get Aladdin's Jaz Sealey on guitar (you all remember his wonderful backing music to JMI's I Dream of Genie vlog right?). Tickets are $20 (plus 2 drink minimum) and are available now from Brown Paper Tickets. You can find out more about Daisy at her website.
This month Aladdin's Broadway home, the New Amsterdam Theatre, played host to the annual Gypsy of the Year event and Broadway World has the photos including James Monroe Iglehart on stage with Seth Rudetsky and a picture of the Aladdin cast's performance.
Well, I guess this is the final The Hunchback of Notre Dame update I'll be doing until the show begins its run at the Papermill Playhouse in March. It sounds like it's been a rousing success with both critics and audiences so I can't wait to see it for myself next year! Until then, here's a final round up of all the news from the La Jolla Playhouse's US Premiere Production.
Blouin Artinfo looks at the show in a piece looking at the "freak shows" this season, calling Hunchback "an audience pleaser" that "has the potential to be a hit".
Buzz Feed gives the perfect review to end this run of the show on, saying that "those who attend the Hunchback musical hoping to see the Disney film onstage will be sorely disappointed" but "this is Hunchback as it was meant to be experienced."
And a bit of Aladdin related news, during the show's final week Samantha Massell (who played Jasmine in The Muny's production of Aladdin) went on as Esmeralda and from the fan reactions on Twitter she totally nailed it. Well done Sam! And remember, before returning to Notre Dame for the Papermill's run, Samantha will be in A Very Broadway Holiday at 54 Below on 30th December, so get your tickets now!
And that's it for The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Next stop the Papermill Playhouse!
Merry Christmas everyone, may all your Christmas wishes come true.
Brandon O'Neill with Brian Gonzales & Jonathan Schwartz as Kassim, Babkak & Omar, Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann
Today is Brandon O'Neill's final adventure in Agrabah. Having originated the role for both Seattle and Broadway, Brandon will take his final bow as Kassim this afternoon at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
Good luck Brandon, and thanks for all the high adventures.
Just a quick reminder, this weekend is your last chance to see the critically acclaimed US Premiere production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the La Jolla Playhouse. If you like musical theatre and you are in the San Diego area this weekend then you owe it yourself to see this show!
Tickets (the few that are left anyway) are available from the La Jolla's website.
To all the cast and crew, congratulations on a fantastic run, have an amazing last weekend! Can't wait to see you all at the Paper Mill next year!
Disney Theatrical announced this week that Steel Burkhardt is to return to Broadway as Aladdin's new Kassim.
Steel is a graduate of Baldwin Wallace and most recently starred in this year's off-Broadway production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. He last appeared on Broadway as Berger in the 2011 revival of Hair (a role he had previously played in London's West End and on the US National Tour) and other stage credits include Murder Ballad, Guys and Dolls, Kiss Me Kate and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Steel will take his first bow as Kassim on Monday December 22nd 2014.
Congratulations Steel, and welcome to the Aladdin family! I wish you a long and happy run in Aladdin and look forward to seeing you bring Kassim to life when I see the show again next year.
Brandon O'Neill, Brian Gonzales & Jonathan Schwartz as Kassim, Babkak & Omar, Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann
This week Disney Theatrical announced that on Sunday 21st December Brandon O'Neill would take his final bow as Kassim in Aladdin on Broadway.
Brandon has been a part of the Aladdin family since the show's pilot production at The 5th Avenue Theatre in his native Seattle back in 2011. Already cast as Sky Masterson in 5th Avenue's Guys and Dolls, Brandon was initially unavailable to audition for Aladdin but after being the reader in auditions the casting team liked what they saw and asked Brandon to audition for the show. Scheduling conflicts were worked out and the rest, as they say, is history.
If you have chance to see Brandon in Aladdin before he leaves then make sure you take it! December 21st is the last time you will see the complete original Broadway cast of Aladdin and I promise you that it's an experience you'll never forget!
I just want to say a big thank you to Brandon for everything he did for the show, taking the concept of Kassim and, with the creative team and his fellow cast members, turning him into a fully realised character and bringing him to life on stage every night. On a personal note I also want to say thank you for your support these last few years, it's meant a lot.
Brandon, I hope you enjoy your final nights in Agrabah and wish you all the best for your future career. Keep making some magic!
Brandon O'Neill with Brian Gonzales, James Monroe Iglehart, Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Adam Jacobs in the 5th Avenue's Pilot Production of Aladdin, Photo by Chris Bennion
On Friday the nominations for the 2015 Grammy Awards were announced. Now being honest I don't normally pay them much attention but this year Playbill had a headline that made me take notice. Aladdin's Original Broadway Cast Recording has been nominated for Best Musical Theatre Album!! I didn't even know that was a category!
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and West Side Story have also been nominated in the same category.
Congratulations to all of Aladdin's cast and everyone involved in the production of the cast recording. And good luck!!
Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed and James Monroe Iglehart as Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie
What are you doing New Years Eve?
Every year an estimated one million people fill New York's Times Square to watch the famous ball drop followed by (literally) a ton of confetti. What you may not know is that on those pieces of confetti are New Years wishes from people all over the world.
Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann
Welcome to another weekly news round up for Broadway's Aladdin!
The biggest event this week was the live AMA with Adam Jacobs, James Monroe Iglehart and Jonathan Freeman! The Q&A with the stars was a lot a fun and revealed several behind the scenes tidbits along with plenty of hilarious stories! The official Disney Blog has the highlights or you can read the full Q&A over at Reddit. I'd definitely recommend reading the full thing!
Aladdin's book writer and lyricist Chad Beguelin and Disney Theatrical's Thomas Schumacher made the OUT100 2014 List this week, where the year's most compelling people pay homage to pivotal moments in LGBT history. The article links 2 moments - the November 25th 1992 premiere of Aladdin in cinemas and the 26th February 2014 debut of Aladdin on Broadway. The short piece also contains a very thought provoking comment by Chad Beguelin that gave me a deeper understanding and appreciation of Proud of Your Boy. I've read before that Beauty and the Beast's Mob Song is speaking about AIDS (which Howard was tragically dying of when he wrote the song), but I'd never considered the added level to Proud of Your Boy that would come from being gay. Howard Ashman's talent is nothing short of incredible. To be able to write songs that not only drive the narrative forward and perfectly fit the characters they are written for but at the same time to reflect his own life, his own feelings and emotions, is simply astounding.
Do you remember Broadway.com's Justin "Squigs" Robertson's portrait done in honour of the show's opening night? If not here's a quick reminder;
Broadway World is reporting that Aladdin's Yurel Echezeretta took part in the Sueno Pop: Pulso Latino concert last weekend. The event celebrated Latin pop music and featured a host of stars from both Broadway and TV.
Gavin Doyle of DisneyDose posted a special story on Inside the Magic about a recent trip to Broadway, including his stage door experience at Disney's Aladdin. As a special bonus the article also includes the Disney Dose podcast where Gavin interviewed by Adam Jacobs and James Monroe Iglehart! I've posted a link to the interview before (it was originally released back in September) but if you've not heard it then it's well worth checking out!
The Daily Item has posted a heart warming story about a young girl who's dreams came true as the Make A Wish Foundation took her and her mother on a magical holiday to New York City, including a trip to Aladdin with a behind the scenes meeting with the cast. I just love stories like this and I wish Lily all the best for her hospital evaluation this week.
And finally, Playbill is reporting that Andrew Keenan-Bolger (who played Omar in 5th Avenue's 2011 Pilot Production) is re-teaming with Aladdin Director/Choreographer Casey Nicholaw for the new musical Tuck Everlasting. The Premiere Production will take place in Atlanta at the Alliance Theatre from January 21st - February 22nd 2015. Whilst dates have not yet been announced for Broadway it is believed that the production is Broadway bound so watch this space!
I'll come back to the reviews in a second, first take a look at this;
It seems stupid to say this as the show has been running for a few weeks but seeing that footage it actually feels real now! And it looks fabulous!
Ok, as you all know The Hunchback of Notre Dame officially opened at San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse on 9th November so all last week the reviews have been pouring in and, overall, they're very positive! Here's what the critics have been saying;
U-T San Diego - "Hunchback is the rare such show that actually earns its grandeur, thanks mostly to the far-from-cartoonish humanity of its central characters."
La Jolla Light - "The music, lyrics, performances, direction, set design and costumes assemble into a majestic production of a classic story and bring it to life. The Playhouse and all its contributors can be proud of their Hunchback of Notre Dame, a stage show that audience members will yearn to see again."
San Diego Gay & Lesbian News - "This version is large in concept and execution. The impressive set is matched by fine actors with excellent voices ... But the heart of the show is Arden's Quasimodo, whose loneliness can be felt in the back row and whose voice on songs like "Out There and "Made of Stone" will break your heart as well ... Broadway is not in the offing yet, but this show has all the essential elements for a successful run there."
LA Weekly - "Visually, the show is stunning ... the cast and the choir sound pristine" however "it doesn't offer anything new to the contemporary theatrical landscape".
Showbiz SoCal - "It's arguably one of Disney's most sophisticated adaptations, and one of Alan Menken's more sophisticated scores ... The direction of Scott Schwartz has many layers, and he tells the story with a great balance, always keeping the momentum moving forward so that when the beautiful melodies come in, they land comfortably at the right moments."
And it's not just the professionals. The Playbill Collector posted her review of the show saying "Nothing was lacking from this masterpiece."
In fact the only out really negative review is that of the LA Weekly, the rest are (as seen above) largely positive with some constructive criticisms. But to be honest the LA Weekly review lost me when it criticised the French setting as "reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast". It just felt like it was reaching too much to find elements "borrowed" from other shows (its central criticism of Hunchback). All in all, it's a verypositive start for this new production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and the cast and creative team have plenty to celebrate. If the response in New Jersey is as positive as this then hopefully we'll see another fast transition to Broadway like we did with Newsies.
In other Hunchback news;
Hunchback of Notre Dame's Samantha Massell (who also played Princess Jasmine in Aladdin at The Muny) will be taking part in A Very Broadway Holiday! at 54 Below on 30th December. Ticket details and more information can be found here!
SACRA/PROFANA member Rachel Moore shared the details of her first day as part of Notre Dame's choir with U-T San Diego in the wonderful Diary of a "Hunchback of Notre Dame" Chorus Member. It's a fascinating insight and well worth a read.
That's all for this week! Have a great week and I'll be back at the weekend with another news round up.
Ask Aladdin anything! (And Jasmine, Genie and Jafar too!)
In just 5 hours time the stars of Disney's Aladdin on Broadway will be joining Reddit for their first Ask Me Anything!
It's easy to sign up (I just joined in literally less than a minute) so if you have any burning questions for Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed, James Monroe Iglehart or Jonathan Freeman then this is your chance!
Michael Arden as Quasimodo and the cast of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Photo by Kevin Berne
"As I ring these bells tonight, my cold dark tower seems so bright! I swear it must be Heaven's light!"
Tonight is the night! Fifteen years after Der Glockner Von Notre Dame opened in Berlin, the long awaited US Premiere of The Hunchback of Notre Dame officially opens tonight at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego.
I just want to wish everyone at the La Jolla Playhouse the very best of luck for tonight's official opening. From the ushers to the stars on stage to the friends and family supporting them in the audience. This is your night, enjoy it. I'm wishing you all the best.
Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann
I hope you all enjoyed the interview with Adam Jacobs last week! I have to say I was so happy to be able to do that again and once again a massive thank you to Adam and to Disney Theatrical for making it happen.
Ok, on with this week's news round up!
First up this week is a new video from Disney on Broadway's official YouTube channel. This one is a little different to their previous Aladdin offerings, a fun little lyric video for "Prince Ali";
Now be honest, how many of you were thinking "so that's what the words are!" :-)
Last week also marked the one year anniversary of Courtney Reed officially signing on to play Princess Jasmine on Broadway and she posted a #TBT picture on Instagram to celebrate. Like I said last week, time really has flown this year!
Bit of a short round up this week so I figured I'd end on a new review posted by a Disney fan who had mixed feelings about seeing the show and ended up "having more appreciation and love for the street rat's story than I ever had during my childhood!"
One of my favourite memories of the Seattle production of Aladdin was being fortunate enough to interview many of the principal cast members of the show. When it was announced that Aladdin would be coming to Broadway I always hoped that I'd be able to do that again and tonight I'm extremely happy and honoured to be able to present an interview with Aladdin himself, Adam Jacobs!
Hi Adam!
Thanks for agreeing to do this again, I can't believe it's been over three years since we last did this for the Seattle Pilot! Last
time we did an interview you were in the middle of rehearsing for Seattle, so
that seems like a good place to start. What was that production like to be a
part of and how did you approach the character of Aladdin?
Looking back now, Seattle seems
like a distant memory! I feel like a LOT has happened since then and the
show has grown and changed so much. That was an exciting time, full of
possibilities and experimentation. Everyone's creative juices were
flowing and we all were hyped up and daring to push the limits of what we could
do. My approach to Aladdin was taking what I already knew about him
(aversion to authority, rough around the edges but with a heart of gold, witty
and insouciant) and tried to delve a little deeper into the "why".
Where did his laissez faire attitude stem from? How much was his mother
an influence in his life? Was there a father figure? Creating my own
backstory helped create and inform the character.
What was your favorite part of
the show in that production and is that still your favorite part in this new
production?
I loved how the Seattle audiences
received us with open arms. I also loved watching “High Adventure” from
the wings (and still do).
Between playing Aladdin in
Seattle and returning to the role on Broadway you certainly kept busy,
reuniting with Courtney Reed in Once On This Island and starring as Zorro. What is it that attracted you to
these roles and what do you look for in a show?
I tend to be attracted roles that
require a bit of athleticism. I had to learn how to fence in Zorro and working with Terry
King, one of the foremost fight choreographers today when it comes to
sword-fighting, was super fulfilling. I love playing characters that have
a hero's journey.
Adam Jacobs as Zorro, Photo by Grey Mooney
When
did you first learn that Aladdin might be heading to Broadway, how did
you come to be involved with the production, and what was it like to get that
call saying you'd got the part?
I actually found out I'd be
playing Aladdin on Broadway while I was rehearsing for Zorro. Getting that call straight from the Disney producers
was incredible to the say the least. My wife happened to be in town that
week in Atlanta and we were jumping for joy in the hotel room.
Having
been with the show since the early workshops and pilot production, how did it
feel to finally get to bring the show to Broadway and to do so with many of
your Seattle cast mates?
Having been with the show from the very beginning
makes our arrival here even that much more fulfilling. Stepping into the New
Amsterdam Theatre and seeing them load our set in was electrifying. We
felt like all the hard work and all the revisions and rewrites and the blood
sweat and tears were worth it.
Having
played the part before, did this inform how you approached the role or did you
try to approach it as if you’d not played the character before when you started
rehearsing for Toronto?
When I started rehearsals again for Toronto, it
was like putting on a familiar coat, or riding a bike. Aladdin was still
within me and it didn't take much coaxing to bring that character back to
life.
Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann
The show went through some big
changes between Toronto and Broadway (arguably even bigger than the changes
between Seattle and Toronto) but the final show is much stronger for it. What were those final rehearsals like in the run up to your Broadway opening?
Honestly it was a little chaotic. We were still making script changes the day before opening and I was a
little sad when it actually became "frozen". Even though I was
excited to have the show set, I always go through a little bit of mourning when
the creative process ends.
Looking
back over all the versions of show, from early workshops to Broadway’s opening
night, is there anything that you miss/were sorry to see go from those earlier
versions and what’s been your favorite addition/change to the show?
Well, sure there were jokes here and there that I
loved and was sad to see go, but all the trims and cuts helped streamline the
story and it was the right thing to do. I miss Babkak's "It's the
vamp" line, and I miss parts of "Call Me A Princess". But
I also love some of the new lines like "I think the chosen people are a
few hundred miles to the west..."
The
cast album is incredible. What was it like in the recording studio?
A bit nerve-wracking. Knowing it's forever
made me a bit jittery. Having Alan Menken there didn't help either :).
But I'm super pleased with how it came out.
Adam Jacobs in the recording studio with Alan Menken
In
our previous interview, you spoke about your pre-show routine for playing Simba
(in The Lion King), what’s your pre-show routine like for Aladdin?
It's actually not too different. I still do some
of the same exercises and warm ups, but now I just add some juggling and a
little tap-dancing.
What’s
the best part about being Aladdin on Broadway?
Greeting the
fans at the stage door is the best. Seeing people of all types and ages
excited and happy from watching us fills me up every time. Even if I feel like
I didn't have the best show, hearing people say how much they loved it makes it
all worth it.
If you weren't playing Aladdin,
which role would you want to play in the show?
I'd love to take a crack at
Kassim just to do “High Adventure.” I just love that number.
"High Adventure", Photo by Adam Jacobs
And
finally, what's your favorite show and why?
I don't have a definite favorite,
but one of my favorite shows is West
Side Story. I love that score and the choreography. I
remember watching the guys dance "Cool" in the film and being
entranced by how much the dance was telling the story. Those love songs
are pretty incomparable too :)
Adam, once again, thank you so much for doing this interview. It was incredible getting to see you bring Aladdin to life earlier this year, I wish you all the best.
In addition to Adam Jacobs, I just want to say a big thank you to Disney Theatrical for arranging this interview for me.
Adam Jacobs is currently playing the title role in Disney's Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theatre, New York. Tickets are currently on sale through to January 2015 and can be purchased from the show's official website. If you want to know more about Adam make sure you check out his website.
Jonathan Freeman and Don Darryl Rivera as Jafar and Iago, Photo by Deen Van Meer
Time is just flying this year! Sorry I missed last week's news round up, I was away for a family birthday. So, without further ado it's catch up time!
First a quick announcement - James Monroe Iglehart will be performing in Speechless at Joe's Pub TONIGHT!! Tickets can be purchased here and you can read more information at Broadway World. If you can make it be sure to check it out as it sounds like it should be a hilarious night.
Aladdin continues to make box office magic on Broadway as Variety is reporting that the show has broken the weekly house record for the New Amsterdam Theatre (no easy feat given that an earlier occupant of the New Amsterdam was Disney's own megahit The Lion King) and continues to play to sold out audiences. Huge congratulations to the cast and crew of Aladdin and everyone at the New Amsterdam Theatre.
NBC New York offers up a rare treat this week as they talk to Jonathan Freeman about playing Jafar for over 20 years and share some brief clips from the show featuring Jonathan and Don Darryl Rivera's Iago.
The other half of Aladdin's villainous duo spoke with Broadway.com about moving to New York and living his Broadway dreams in Aladdin and then took Playbill on a photo walk through of a two show day which is well worth checking out as Don literally takes you from waking up to going to sleep with 2 shows and some great behind the scenes photos along the way.
Of course it wasn't just the villains getting in on the fun as Courtney Reed took part in Broadway.com's latest Character Study video, discussing her character and why Jasmine is her favourite Disney princess. As you watch you can see the magic of theatre as Courtney is transformed into Jasmine right before your eyes.
You're probably all aware of the Ice Bucket Challenge that has taken the internet by storm in recent weeks to raise awareness of ALS. Given the amount of charities and good causes that the cast of Aladdin have supported it should come as no surprise that the whole cast this week took the challenge and posted the video on Facebook to prove it. They also challenged the head of Disney Theatrical Thomas Schumacher, Aladdin's composer Alan Menken, Aladdin's book writer and lyricist Chad Beguelin and Disney CEO Bob Iger (again!)
Also over the last few weeks the cast of Aladdin have been posting photos on Twitter and Instagram using #IHeartTheArts to show their support for The Actors Fund. You can see them all on Twitter and Instagram but here's a small preview;
Don Darryl Rivera as Iago Hearts the Arts, Photo by Don Darryl Rivera
Of course, the last two weeks also saw the sad death of Robin Williams. I already shared my own thoughts and the cast's heartfelt tribute the other week but there have been a few other pieces that I wanted to share with you. When writing my thoughts I deliberately avoided the issue of Robin Williams' depression. I wanted to focus on what he meant to me and also respect his family's wishes that he be remembered for the joy and laughter that he gave the world. However, when Patrick Page (The Lion King's Scar and soon to be The Hunchback of Notre Dame's Frollo) shared the deeply personal story of his own battle with depression with Broadway World I felt compelled to share it. It's not easy to read but I'm glad I did. It offers a deeper, intimate, understanding of what many people struggle with everyday. Anyone who's ever even thought "what did he have to be depressed about" needs to read it. My heartfelt thanks go out to Patrick, this can't have been easy for him to share.
Alan Menken, who worked with Robin Williams, also posted a moving tribute to him on his Facebook page, recalling meeting Robin Williams in LA, the recording sessions in which Robin sang his songs in their original intended style before being let loose to do his thing, the magic that followed and later scoring for Robin's character Charlie Boyd in Noel.
And I just want to end with this. Many of you will probably already have seen it but I still wanted to post it here. A fitting farewell from Genie's Supervising Animator Eric Goldberg.
In an emotional finale to the show, last night (Tuesday 12th August) James Monroe Iglehart and the cast of Aladdin led the audience in a sing-a-long of "Friend Like Me" in tribute to Robin Williams.
Disney Theatrical have very kindly provided me with the video to share on this blog;
Hi everyone! A very short news update this weekend as the last one was only posted on Wednesday and I'm giving JMI's vlog episodes their own posts. This week it's all about supporting good causes.
It's not often we get an Aladdin #SIP but Courtney Reed posted one yesterday, dedicated to #smileyforkylie. This isn't the first time Courtney has shown her support for young Kylie
(two months ago she and Adam Jacobs posted this picture) and it's incredibly heart warming to see members of the theatre community coming together to help a young girl through dark days.
And last week Aladdin's Marisha Wallace took part in the Broadway Sings for The Trevor Project concert, raising money to help provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBT young people aged 13-24 . Theater Mania was there was to capture photos from the event.
Short but sweet this week. It seems every week I'm writing about a member of the Aladdin cast doing something for a good cause and the shorter nature of this post has really helped to focus my attention on it. It's amazing to read these stories every week about people who are going out of their way to support good causes and actually do good in the world. Aladdin is a show about magic but this is magically in a different way, it's heart warming and serves to remind us that though we often hear about the worst side of humanity (all you need to do is turn on the news) there are people out there who are good and trying to make the world a better place, whether that's by raising money for a good cause or just helping someone to smile, it makes a difference.
James Monroe Iglehart as a Genie, Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann
Tonight (well technically last night since it's almost 2am here in the UK but the Vlog's American so I'm gonna go with it) saw the release of the first episode of James Monroe Iglehart's new Broadway.com Vlog "I Dream of Genie".
I'll post more about it in the morning but for now just make sure to check it our for yourself right here!
Night everyone!
Update - Ok, I'm a little more refreshed now and how awesome was that?! Back stage at "The View", freestyling with Freestyle Love and Batman, lots and lots of Batman!! I can't wait to see next week's episode as JMI introduces his Aladdin cast mates!
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