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.
July ended with a rare bit of good news for 2020 - Alan Menken finally won his Emmy and became one of only sixteen people in the world to be an EGOT winner (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) for Tangled's Waiting in the Wingswith Glenn Slater. Technically it's his second Emmy as he was already awarded an honorary Emmy in 1990. He's also, as D23 pointed out, a LEGOT as he is an official Disney Legend, and, as Menken himself points out, a REGOT as he won a Razzie for Newsies. I'm not sure which order you'd put all those letters in (LEGOTR? REGOTL?) but I'm pretty sure Alan Menken is the only one in the world to win them all!
Hot on the heels of that tremendous award, last night Alan took part in a special charity event for the Walt Disney Family Museum, playing his incredible song book for a virtual fundraiser in support of the museum's At-Promise Youth Animation Academy.
And what a performance it was! Two incredible medleys encompassing almost off of Alan's work for Disney, plus a few extra gems like Little Shop and Galavant thrown in for good measure. This was literally the soundtrack of my life. And I could listen to Alan and Lin-Manuel Miranda talk about musicals in animation all day. That was just a delightful discussion and some great advice from two masters.
And, yes I did tear up when he started singing Proud of Your Boy. Every time I hear Alan sing it, it just gets me. No one sings it quite like he does.
If you missed the performance last night you can watch it now on YouTube and donations for the fundraiser will be open for the next week if you're able to support it.
And if you haven't seen the incredible Tangled: The Series (and if not check it out on Disney+, it's Disney's best animated series in years and even features Aladdin's own James Monroe Iglehart!) here's the song that finally won Alan his competitive Emmy Award!
I just want to say a massive thank you to the Disney Family Museum for hosting this event (living in the UK I never get to see Alan in concert so this was the opportunity of a life time for me) and a massive congratulations to Alan on his EGOT!
Literally just this morning I was wondering why they didn't use Proud of Your Boy's melody there. Now I know as Disney VEVO officially released the deleted song Desert Moon this afternoon.
Taking the melody introduced when Aladdin and Jasmine discuss the song their mothers taught them, this gorgeous new duet sung by Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott would have come as Aladdin crossed the desert with Jafar whilst Jasmine waited to meet him in the courtyard, as the moon rises above the minaret.
Whilst the song doesn't necessarily drive the story forwards (perhaps the reason it was ultimately cut?), it is a beautiful moment between the two characters and I love how the melody was seeded into the score during that first meeting between the two. I've said it before, but Alan Menken is a genius and I love his score for this movie. And I love Pasek and Paul's lyrics here. They have a real lullaby quality which is fitting for a song Aladdin and Jasmine learnt from their mothers as children.
I'm just glad that Disney have officially released this (it is available to purchase and download from all the usual places) and that the full scene will be available on next month's Blu-Ray release of the film. I can't wait to see how it looks.
It’s
show time! It feels like forever since Disney announced that they were making a
live action version of Aladdin. But we’re finally here and
the movie hits the big screen this week. I was lucky enough to attend a preview
screening last weekend and Disney really rollout the magic carpet. There was
food and drink, a magic lamp, and even a green screen photo op taking you to a
whole new world.
Which
is all fantastic, but as we know, it is not what is outside, but what is inside
that counts. So how was the movie?
Aladdin begins in the most unexpected of places; at
sea, with a mariner and his family. After the children become awed by a fancier
ship, the mariner decides that it’s time to tell them the tale of Aladdin, the
princess, and the lamp.
Like
the musical, this Aladdin is the plot that you know but reimagined for a new
medium. Disney’s previous live action adaptations have ranged from straight
remakes to total reinventions, with Aladdin falling closer to remake
than reinvention. But, like with The Jungle Book, it’s not a direct
adaptation. The familiar story beats are all there but, like with the stage
show, it moves between those moments in new ways, with some new characters and
new story beats added in to bring the classic tale to life in a new way.
I’ve said before that this has always been my hope for Aladdin. If you do a beat
for beat remake it can feel pointless, fun to watch once or twice but after
that you always end up going back to the original, and if you do too much of a
reinvention you lose what people loved about the characters and story in the
first place. So I’m happy to say that Aladdin does manage to thread the
eye of the needle, delivering a film that’s true to the heart of the original
whilst offering a new take for a new format and a new generation.
I’m going to say now
that spoilers will follow after the next image. Yeah, it’s the story you
know but I’m going to be talking about some of the changes made to the
characters and story so if you want to stay spoiler free head on over to my
review at Movie News Net and
come back here once you’ve seen the movie.
Still
here? Ok, let’s talk characters!!
I
love Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott as Aladdin and Jasmine. It’s well known that
Disney cast a wide net in the search for their new Diamond in the Rough and
Disney Princess, with casting coming right down to the wire before they started
filming, but it was worth it.
Mena’s Aladdin is confident but unassuming, quick to do the right thing
and help those less fortunate than himself. The film shows us from the start
why he’s the Diamond in the Rough, it’s all too easy to root for the lovable
rouge, and when he’s tested later in the film, tempted to be selfish, all you
want is for him to do the right thing like he did at the start. From stunt work
to singing he captures the essence of everyone’s favourite street rat whilst
grounding him in the real world of Agrabah that was created for the film.
As much as Broadway’s Jasmine was a natural evolution of the character,
Naomi’s Jasmine is a natural evolution again. Driven by a fierce love of her
people, Jasmine desires to one day rule as Sultan. Of all the characters,
Jasmine’s arc has developed the most and benefits the most from the film’s
longer run time. Locked away, for her own protection, since her mother died,
Jasmine runs away due to a desire to see her kingdom and her people. The law is
still a problem, she still has to marry a prince, but there is no longer the
ticking clock of “your next birthday” hanging over her. It’s an interesting and
effective change, and Naomi takes full advantage of it, creating a strong and
inspiring leader who’s willing to put the needs of others ahead of herself.
Jasmine’s evolution from animation, where she may marry whomever she deems
worthy, to stage, where she will rule beside her husband as his equal, to where
she ends up here is arguably one of the most satisfying I’ve ever seen as
Disney reinvents their classic tales.
How
do you replace Robin Williams? Broadway already gave you that answer. You don’t
try to. You get a great actor and you allow him to make the role his own (then you sit back and enjoy the well
deserved standing ovations and Tony Award). You stay true to the heart of
the character and his friendship with Aladdin, and then bring yourself to the
role. And that’s what Will Smith does. His Genie isn’t as rapid talking or
quick changing, he brings a different type of energy and humour to the role,
and he shares a fantastic bond with Mena’s Aladdin. The scene where Genie
introduces Prince Ali to the royal family, and Mena and Will just riff off each
other, is one of the most hilarious in the movie and was apparently mostly improv!
In fact it’s safe to
say that Aladdin’s greatest strength is its three leads. The chemistry
between Mena’s Aladdin and Naomi’s Jasmine works beautifully, making your heart
soar as they take flight together during A
Whole New World. And I’m tempted to say that Aladdin and Genie’s bond is
deeper here. They don’t start out as friends as quickly, Genie doesn’t get
attached to his masters, their relationship takes time, so by the time they’re
the friends we know and love, and Aladdin decides he can’t set Genie free, the
scene lands hard. The relationships between Aladdin and Jasmine, and Aladdin
and Genie are the heart of Aladdin. Whether it’s Scott Weinger,
Linda Larkin, and Robin Williams, or Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed, and James
Monroe Iglehart, or Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott, and Will Smith. Each trio has
brought something unique, but all are unmistakably Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie.
Jafar
is the hardest character for me to talk about because he’s one of the biggest
changes that I don’t think lands as well as it could. In reimagining the character
for live action, Jafar has become more grounded. Marwan Kenzari does a good job
in delivering this version of the character. He could be a touch more sinister perhaps, but
I loved the new history that Guy Ritchie and John August developed for him. I
loved that it made him a dark reflection for Aladdin, a cautionary tale and a
warning of what may befall the young hero if he succumbs to the temptations of
power, and that it set up his inevitable downfall from the moment we meet him.
But I think they played it too straight. Jafar is such an iconic villain, and Jonathan
Freeman’s maniacal portrayal, both on screen and on stage, casts a long shadow.
The same is doubly true of Iago. Gilbert Gottfried’s loud mouthed and obnoxious
parrot is reduced to little more than mimicry. Alan Tudyk does fine with what
he has, but there’s so little there.
This
sounds a lot more negative than I want it to, because the truth is, in the
context of the movie, it works. I enjoyed Marwan Kenzari’s Jafar. It’s just
that in playing it straight, the characters never get the chance to escape from
the shadows of their animated (and stage) counterparts, which in hindsight
makes it a clear missed opportunity. Especially with Iago.
On
stage Jasmine lost Rajah but gained three handmaidens. Here Jasmine may have
Rajah again (or Raja as they’re apparently spelling it now), but she also has a
new friend, Nasim Pedrad’s Dalia. With the expanded narrative of the film,
Dalia is a much welcome addition, adding not just a second female character but
also a friend that Jasmine can talk with and bounce off as Aladdin does with
Genie. There’s plenty of nice comic moments between the two, and between Dalia
and Genie, who takes a shine to the young handmaiden.
Whilst
I think grounding Jafar didn’t help the character, I loved Navid Negahban’s more
serious take on the Sultan as a man who has seen too much war and now only
wants peace and to protect his daughter. It really works well for the character
and for Jasmine’s extended arc in the movie. The same can be said for Numan
Acar’s Hakim. Whilst Razoul, at least in the original film, was little more
than Jafar’s henchman and seemingly happy to murder Aladdin, Hakim has a
greater role to play.
Another
switch is Prince Achmed for Prince Anders. The setting of Agrabah as a port
city on the Silk Road opens it up to a world of cultures and influences. And
from one of those far away lands comes the lovable but dim Prince Anders, with
Billy Magnussen giving a delightful comic turn as a potential rival for Jasmine’s
affections. Yes, this prince doesn’t storm out and is still in the palace when
Ali arrives, though I don’t think anyone but Aladdin truly considers him a
potential match for Jasmine.
As I mentioned before,
Aladdin stays true to the heart of the original story. Like the stage
production, it's "the plot that you knew with a small twist or two",
adjusting the tale to better suit live action as the musical did for theatre.
Whilst those two paths often diverge, there were a few occasions where I
couldn't help but wonder if the film's creative team had drawn inspiration from
the show or if it was just happy coincidence that the two creative teams
started from the foundation laid by the original and reached the same conclusions.
From little things like "Prince Ali, of Ababwa" and Genie using magic
to teach Aladdin to dance, to the already mentioned evolution of Jasmine from
animation to stage to live action, and the return of the idea of Genie as the
narrator/peddler/mariner. The creative teams certainly seem to have been
thinking along similar lines even if their versions of Aladdin
are told very differently.
Writer/director Guy Ritchie and writer John August certainly don't
try and go for drastic changes, just enough to keep things fresh, and couldn't
be accused of padding things out. If anything we get into the action even
faster and more economically than we did in the shorter original, going almost
straight from Arabian Nights into Aladdin and Jasmine's first meeting. The
pacing is quick and effective, freeing up the film's longer run time to dig
deeper into its characters and central relationships, plus the odd dance number
and new songs, this is a Disney musical after all!
Agrabah
looks gorgeous. The colour palette is bright and bold, and the sets look
fantastic. I know they built a lot of Agrabah for shooting the movie and it
definitely helps in making it feel like a living and breathing space. The
costumes are exquisite, especially as we reach the parade and the Harvest
Festival. I've even warmed up to Aladdin wearing a shirt, I'm taking it
as a nod to his Disneyland look. Whilst the film doesn't reach the level
of the Broadway show in terms of productions numbers (sorry anyone who was
hoping for a 10 minute long Friend Like Me... was that just me?), the
festival dance and Prince Ali parade are a lot of fun, especially as the parade
builds to it's climax. And hats off to choreographer Leah Hill, Ritchie, and
the visual effects team, translating the animated Friend Like Me, from
forty thieves to the fireworks finale, into something that works in a
"real world" space can't have been an easy but they pulled it off
nicely.
And can we just take a moment to appreciate that Abu's back? I
love Babkak, Omar, and Kassim, but it sure was great to see that furry little
thief again. After The Jungle Book I shouldn't be surprised, but Disney sure know how to bring CGI animated animals to life. Abu's just as cute as ever. And on the subject of CGI, Will Smith's blue form, along with all his Genie magic and transformations, looks great.
Speaking
of great. Alan Menken's score! If you're a Disney fan those three words are
probably all I need to say, especially if you grew up in the renaissance era.
The music will just take you straight back to your childhood, with subtle call
backs to the original score (just listen for To Be Free shortly before Aladdin asks Jasmine on a magic carpet ride) and moments where that old music comes in at just the same time and sweeps you up in a wave of nostalgia and pure musical joy.
The songs are a mix of the iconic Howard Ashman, Alan Menken, and Tim Rice numbers, along with a new song and some new lyrics by The Greatest Showman's Pasek & Paul. Of the original songs, Arabian Nights has changed the most. If you've seen the stage show recently you'll recognise the
new line from the introduction ("where you wander among every culture and
tongue"), but most of the song is brand new, setting the stage and
introducing the characters to the audience. One Jump Ahead has received
a punchy update in tone as Aladdin leads the guards on an energetic chase
through the city. Broadway fans make sure you keep an eye out for original cast member Marisha Wallace reprising her "still I think he's rather tasty line", that had me grinning from ear to ear. And then comes Speechless. Or the first part at least,
introducing the song and setting it up for a much bigger second part in the
film's climax.
Will Smith delivers fun new takes on Friend Like Me and
Prince Ali, personally my tastes lean more towards the Broadway
renditions, given the page we're on I don't think that will surprise anyone,
but I do like Will's spin on them, and I'm glad he was given the freedom to do his own thing with them. You can tell he was having a lot of fun. I loved
the big ensemble finale to Prince Ali, which is something Will pushed
for, so I totally want to give him credit for that. A Whole New World.
What can I say? I just wish they'd used the instrumental bridge from the
Broadway version so the song would have lasted longer. Mena and Naomi sound
great together and the whole scene was just beautiful.
After telling Genie he can't set him free, Aladdin returns to his
rooftop home and sings a new reprise of One Jump Ahead as he realises he
needs to tell Jasmine the truth (effectively covering the same ground as
Proud of Your Boy Reprise in the show). But it's too late, Jafar already
has the lamp. Whilst I do miss Prince Ali Reprise I really can't argue
with the decision to give this moment to Jasmine with the second part of Speechless.
It just works so well for the story, Jasmine's character, and Naomi has an
incredible voice.
My
biggest musical complaint? There's no reprise of A Whole New World at
the end. It works without, I just miss it.
And I've not even mentioned the
action yet! From One Jump Ahead to escaping the Cave of Wonders, to the
frozen ends of the Earth, Guy Ritchie keeps the action fun and frantic. Whilst
the stage show leans more into musical comedy, playing to the strengths of live
theatre, the live action adaptation pushes harder towards the action, restoring
scenes that were cut for stage and adding a new climax that takes the action
out of the palace and into the streets of Agrabah. Honestly, I think it was the
right choice. Whilst I can totally understand that some fans will be upset with
the change, especially with the other changes to Jafar already mentioned above,
I think taking the action out into the city makes for a bigger action set piece
in the finale and gave nice moments to Aladdin, Jasmine, and Abu as they raced
through the city. I also want to say how fantastic it is to see such a diverse cast of lead, supporting, and background actors on the big screen. It's something I've come to take for granted during my many visits to Agrabah in both New York and London, but we need to remember that this, sadly, isn't the norm and celebrate the films, like Aladdin, that reflect the world we live in.
So
yeah, I loved it. I genuinely loved it. It doesn't manage to top the original,
but it is a worthy retelling of the ancient tale. It manages to find that ever
so important balance between staying true to the core of the story and
characters, and offering something new. Maybe this is no surprise, but it's my new favourite of Disney's live action remakes. If I'm being critical then The
Jungle Book is still the best of Disney's recent re-imaginings, butI
had more fun at Aladdin. There's a lot of heart, warmth, and joy
to Aladdin and I can't wait to see it again.
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.
Today marks 100 years since the end of the First World War.
In tribute to all who lost their lives and to raise money for Help for Heroes, a host of musical theatre stars and celebrities joined forces with Daniel and Laura Curtis to create a music video titled simply, The Hero. Amongst those taking part were Aladdin stars and alumni James Monroe Iglehart, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Marisha Wallace, and Alan Menken.
You can contribute to Help for Heroes at the West End and Friends Just Giving page or download the song from all online stores now.
Mena Massoud (Aladdin), Naomi Scott (Jasmine), Will Smith (Genie) and Marwan Kenzari (Jafar) on their first day on set for Guy Ritchie's Aladdin
Exciting news from Disney this week as production officially began on the live action adaptation of Aladdin on Wednesday and to celebrate Will Smith (Genie) posted the very first selfie from the London set!
It's not even been two months since the first casting announcements at D23 this summer but additional casting information has been coming in fast these last few weeks and the cast is now officially complete!
We already know that Mena Massoud, Naomi Scott and Will Smith are playing our heroes Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie, but every great hero needs fantastic villains and Aladdin has found them in Marwan Kenzari's Jafar and Numan Acar's Hakim!
Completing the principal cast are Navid Negahban as the Sultan, Nasim Pedrad as Dalia (Princess Jasmine's handmaiden and confidante) and Billy Magnussen as Prince Anders (a suitor for Princess Jasmine from Skanland).
First impressions? I'm super excited! I said this after D23 and I'll say it again now - I love that Disney have cast relatively unknowns rather than big names for this because that shows they've been cast as they truly are the best people for the roles rather than just for their box office draw.
Also - I think this is going to be a very different Aladdin to either the animated original or the musical. Disney aren't playing it safe with this and that's great. As much as I loved this year's Beauty and the Beast it was arguably too similar to the animated classic, it added some wonderful touches, I loved the way the castle crumbled as the petals fell, but ultimately it invited too many direct comparisons that it could never live up to (and yes, I fully recognise that nostalgia does play a part in that). A more direct adaptation may be the easier and safer option but it would mean the film would likely always be in the shadow of the original. By doing its own thing, by being unique, Aladdin will succeed or fail on its own merits just as it did on stage. It may not be as safe but it has a much better shot at being something very special rather than just a good adaptation of a superior original.
So what do the new castings tell us? Marwan Kenzari as Jafar is much younger that the character is traditionally portrayed which suggests that the villainous vizier may be a more active role in this version and a more physical match for Aladdin. This is interesting as Aladdin normally has to rely on his wits to defeat Jafar (of course at this point Jafar is normally an all powerful sorcerer/giant snake). I'm sure that will still be the case but I definitely wouldn't be surprised to see a more personal throw down between the two first in this movie!
Numan Acar's Hakim is probably the most revealing casting that's been announced so far. Described as both Jafar's right-hand man and the head of the palace guards Hakim effectively replaces both Iago and Razoul. This, along with the creation of Jasmine's attendant Dalia, suggests that, like with the musical, the animals are out. Though it is surprising that they went with a new character rather than just making fan favourite Iago human as they do on stage. Combining the roles of Iago and Razoul also suggests a greater corruption within the palace guards this time around with ((at least) Hakim knowing Jafar is plotting directly against the Sultan.
Nasim Pedrad's Dalia will presumably fulfil the same role as her attendants in the musical - giving Jasmine someone to talk with and confide in in the absence of Rajah, though likely with a larger presence in the story.
Gotta admit, whilst it's now pretty much a certainty that the animals are out, I do hope they make an exception for Abu. Jasmine has Dalia and Jafar has Hakim, since Babkak, Omar and Kassim haven't been cast Aladdin needs a friend and someone to interact with before he meets Genie.
I'm not sure there's much to read into the other castings yet. Navid Negahban's Sultan rounds out the original classic characters and Billy Magnussen's Prince Anders seems likely to fulfil a similar role as Prince Achmed did in the original. Of course I'm sure Disney and Guy Ritchie have some surprises in store for us all. As long as they stay true to the heart of the characters and story then I'm sure everything will turn out just great.
And speaking of the heart of the piece. Alan Menken announced at D23 that he was working with the Tony Award winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land & Dear Evan Hansen) to create new songs for this new version of Aladdin and thanks to the Oh My Disney report we now know they'll be creating 2 all new songs for movie to go along with the classic Menken, Ashman and Rice tunes from the original. I can't wait to hear who the new songs are for! I'm guessing a new song for Genie and either a solo for Jasmine or a new duet for Aladdin and Jasmine.
Now, Beauty and the Beast got 3 new songs so I'm wishing with all my might that Proud of Your Boy makes the cut this time! Long shot? Maybe, but Aladdin is all about wishes coming true.
I'm sure I'll be writing much more about the movie real soon now that production has begun and they're officially making magic!
In October Disney Theatrical premiered the incredible Disney's Broadway Hits concert at London's Royal Albert Hall. Featuring the incredible talents of Disney's Broadway and West End stars past and present this wonderful evening showcased some of the greatest songs from over 20 years of Disney on stage and included a beautiful performance by Alan Menken himself.
Now the BBC is sharing this one night event with the world as part of their Friday Night is Music Night Series. The concert will air tonight at 8pm on BBC Radio 2 and then be available online on the BBC iPlayer. So if you couldn't see it live or if you want to recapture the magic make sure you tune in!
For me, the concert was one of the best theatrical events I've ever had the pleasure of seeing and I can't wait to hear it all again (and again and again!) I really hope they make a CD of this!
Adam Jacobs & Courtney Reed as Aladdin & Jasmine, Photo by Mark Kitaoka
As Aladdin rapidly approaches it's West End debut I'm definitely starting to feel the excitement building! It's been over a year since I saw the show and I can't wait to see it again when it opens here on Friday!
But before that there's plenty to catch up on with our Broadway friends!
Aladdin Broadway - Show News
Are you a Disney Vacation Club member? If so then they have a magical treat in store for you! A special performance of Aladdin just for DVC members and their guests that will be filled with member recognition and fun surprises! To learn more and book your tickets go here!
Have you ever wondered how they make magic every night at the New Amsterdam Theatre? Well wonder no more as CNET goes behind the scenes of Broadway's Aladdin to show you just how much work goes in to making magic very day. And in case you're wondering - the carpet really is magic, even CNET can't tell you how it flies :o)
The Knockturnal recently posted a great video interview with Adam Jacobs, James Monroe Iglehart, Courtney Reed and Jonathan Freeman (including a well deserved shout out for their cast mates and the most incredible ensemble on Broadway)
Adam Jacobs and James Monroe Iglehart recently sat down with some of their Lion King cousins to discuss their show with Madame Noire;
Aladdin Broadway - Cast News
Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann
Adam Jacobs will be joining a host of Broadway stars at the Lincoln Centre in June to take part in A Night of Broadway Stars. During the event, which is raising money for homeless children, Adam and his fellow stars will perform for and with the homeless children of Covenant House. You can purchase tickets to the June 6th event and read more about Covenant House right here.
And you can watch Adam's recent appearance on the always hilarious Tyler Mount Vlog right here;
And if you've not got your tickets yet to Adam and Arielle Jacobs' Sibling Disobedience concert at 54 Below you can now get 35% off using the code SIBLING35
And you can catch Broadway.com's interview with the siblings right here;
JMI and DDR's scare war has progressed to a creepy smile war this month with the following photos on Instagram! DDR1, JMI1, DDR2, JMI2 Ain't it great to have friends like these! Love all the back stage antics at this show!
Aladdin's Ben Jeffrey is performing a one night only concert next month to benefit the Gateway Centre for Performing Arts and he will also hold two Master Classes and Aladdin KIDS! production camps! You can get more details of all these event at Broadway World.
Aladdin's Lauryn Ciardullo and all the fantastic Broadway stars who too part in the first Broadway Bee raised an incredible $33,000 for Broadway Bound Kids!
Aladdin Broadway - Creative Team News
To celebrate Casey Nicholaw's historic achievement of having 4 shows running simultaneously on Broadway Disney Theatrical held a special celebration for the awarding winning Director/Choreographer and invited the casts of Aladdin, The Book of Mormon, Something Rotten! and Tuck Everlasting to celebrate his success. Broadway World were there to capture pictures from the event. Congratulations again Casey on this fantastic achievement!
Dean John-Wilson in rehearsals, Photo by Johan Persson
As the Aladdinnears it's West End debut (tomorrow is the invited dress rehearsal for the show and previews begin on Friday) the interviews are starting to flow!
London Theatre stopped by the final rehearsals of the show to talk with our three leads - Dean John-Wilson, Jade Ewen and Trevor Dion Nicholas - and the result is a great interview!
Digital Spy spoke with Dean, Jade and Disney Legend Alan Menken about bringing Aladdin to the West End! And you can read solo interviews with Jade and Alan Menken here and here.
The Daily Express also has some comments from Dean and Jade on their reactions to landing the dream roles of Aladdin and Jasmine!
Our Broadway Genie may be in London but that hasn't stopped him and his band, Neighbourhood Goliath, from putting the finishing touches to their LP! Look out for it soon and follow them on Twitter!
Aladdin's Ethan Le Phong and his Miss Saigon dressing room buddy share their latest updates in the latest Dressing Room 14 video;
The show hasn't even opened yet and already Aladdin's booking period has been extended! You can now book tickets for the show through to 11th February 2017 so grab some fantastic seats now!
The cast are all there;
Make way! We’ve arrived at the Prince Edward! Keep checking for glimpses behind-the-scenes as Agrabah comes to life! pic.twitter.com/2ugRaSRRGf
Some potentially very exciting news came out of ABC's recent fall schedule announcement. In a call with Broadway World ABC President Channing Dungey revealed that the network is considering a live musical event following NBC and Fox's recent successes;
'Dungey told BWW, "we have some things we are currently in development on," but added the project must be one which, "speaks to the heart of who we are at ABC as part of the Disney family."'
So if you want to see your favourite Disney musical done as a live TV event then keep your fingers crossed as your wish may just come true!!
It's unlikely to be Aladdin as it's still a relatively young show and is only just being rolled out around the world but stranger things have happened and it would be great to do it now with as many of the original cast as possible. Personally I think Newsies is a good bet or even The Lion King as part of it's 20th anniversary next year.
And speaking of adaptations;
There are no words. If The Jungle Book is anything to go by then this is going to be very special.
Not content with playing one Disney villain in Frollo, Hunchback's Patrick Page has taken on the role of another Disney villain as Hades in Hadestown (though this Hades probably doesn't have much in common with his Disney counterpart). You can see photos from the show and an interview with Patrick at Broadway World and a video portrait right here.
Is this really Disney related? Well it's ABC and features Menken/Slater music so I think it's close enough! Here's the #MoreGalavant video which has been shared by Alan Menken and Michael Kosarin!
Now for something a little different. David Friedman, who was a conductor and vocal arranger on Disney Classics like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin before writing the music and lyrics for Aladdin and the King of Thieves, has written a new musical revue Listen to My Heart which will premiere at the Elmira College Theatre this week. The show will run Thursday-Sunday this week and admission is free so it's definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!
Adam Jacobs & Courtney Reed, Photo by Matthew Murphy
In celebration of both Adam and Courtney being verified on Twitter this week I decided to a special double feature for this Music Beyond the Magic post and share with you some of their incredible performances from outside of Aladdin.
First up, here's Adam in an incredible duet with his sister Arielle performing Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's "Suddenly Seymour" from Little Shop of Horrors at the All in the Family concert earlier this year.
And (shameless plug here) you can get this and 12 other fantastic tracks on Adam's album Right Where I Belong!
Sticking with the Ashman/Menken theme, here's Courtney at 54 Below's fantastic Broadway Princess Party singing something a little closer to the show but I'll let Courtney explain that in the video;
Ok, these posts are meant to showcase the incredible casts of Aladdin outside of the show, but sticking with the Ashman/Menken theme of this post and since it's Mother's Day for all my friends and family in America it feels appropriate to end with this classic Aladdin song;
Plenty is happening in the magical world of Agrabah at the moment with Aladdin's original Broadway cast celebrating 2 years on Broadway tomorrow and the new London cast due to start rehearsing in less than a month!
So let's get started and make some magic!!
Aladdin Broadway - Show News
Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed as Aladdin and Jasmine, Photo by Deen Van Meer
Firstly, this should come as no surprise as we're past the end of the previous contracts but it's nice to have it officially confirmed - Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), Courtney Reed (Jasmine), James Monroe Iglehart (Genie), Jonathan Freeman (Jafar), Don Darryl Rivera (Iago), Brian Gonzales (Babkak) and Clifton Davis (Sultan) have all extended their contacts for another year! These seven stars, who have all been with the show since it opened on Broadway, will now be in the show until at least February 19th 2017!
"We're privileged to be in the rare position of having seven of our original stars continue in Aladdin. Adam, Jonathan, James, Courtney, Brian and Don Darryl have been an integral part of Aladdin since its journey to stage began, and I am thrilled that they, along with Clifton Davis who joined us in Toronto, will continue delighting audiences at The New Amsterdam Theatre for another year."
Thomas Schumacher, President and Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions
Steel Burkhardt (Kassim) and James Moye (Stand By Jafar/Sultan) have also extended their contracts for another year, with Brad Weinstock (Omar) and Major Attaway (Stand By Genie/Babkak/Sultan) joining the cast last month.
I am so happy that the original cast are continuing for another year! They are absolutely amazing and simply embody these characters now. I can't wait to see them again later this year! Keep making magic everyone!!
James Monroe Iglehart and Al Rocker in Aladdin, Photo by Shay Frey
This extra special rendition of Aladdin's show stopping production number should air on The Today Show on March 20th as part of Aladdin's anniversary celebration!
As part of the show's second anniversary celebrations Broadway.com has posted an incredible behind the scenes look at just what goes on behind the curtain to get Aladdin ready to go every night! This is a fantastic video, it perfectly captures the energy and excitement that you feel before the curtain rises and the show begins so make sure you check it out!
It's been a while since I've found a new review of the show but I just had to share this review from The National. I just love that final paragraph - "a great storyteller is someone who puts in a touch of magic, passion and a whole load of hard work to bring a story to life"
Aladdin Broadway - Cast News
Ok, this is huge and I probably should have given it it's own post but...
JAMES MONROE IGLEHART IS GONNA BE IN TANGLED: BEFORE EVER AFTER!!!!!
Sorry, got carried away!
Yes, James (along with a whole host of other Broadway stars, including Newsies' Jeremy Jordan) will be lending his voice to the series due to premiere on Disney Channel next year! In the series set after the film (but before the short Tangled Ever After) James will be voicing Eugene's friend Lance Strongbow!
The show will be featuring new songs by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater (so if Galavant doesn't get that third season we can still look forward to weekly Menken/Slater songs!) so keep your fingers crossed that James will get to show off his incredible vocals on TV!
I really can't wait for this!! But I do want to know how Rapunzel got her hair back...
James also took part in Speechless at Joe's Pub last month and I wish I could have been there or at least find some video to share with you as it sounds like a hilarious evening!
Massive congratulations to Clifton Davis who has been nominated for Best Actor at the International Christian Film Festival for his role in Prayer Never Fails. Good luck for the awards next month!!
Aladdin's Yurel Echezarreta last month did a great interview with The Broadway Blog (and I'm now insanely jealous that anyone can achieve an Agrabah body without going to the gym!!)
Aladdin's Kathryn Allison is starring in her first solo 54 Below show next week, Sirens, Songs, and Muses. You can get tickets for the performance right here so if you're in NYC make sure you go along!
If you want to get in Broadway shape then make sure check out Khori Petinaud's new website Fly Wheel Sports! The cast of Aladdin is in crazy good shape and with her classes you can be too!
You can also ask him your questions on AskFM! There's some great ones on there, including some about Aladdin. Plus if you missed it live you can now listen to WPKN's interview with Giuseppe right here. Giuseppe is in the show until 27th March so catch him while you can!
Aladdin Broadway - Creative Team News
The World Premiere of Alan Menken and Glenn Slater's latest musical A Bronx Tale at the Paper Mill Playhouse was a great success (they even added an extra night!) and received some fantastic reviews. Here's a small sampling of the reviews;
Thomas Schumacher at the TDF Gala, Photo by Aurora Rose/Variety
Earlier this week a host of Disney Theatrical stars gathered for the Theatre Development Fund's gala in honour of Disney Theatrical's President and Producer Thomas Schumacher! The stars included Broadway's original Aladdin, Adam Jacobs, Broadway's original Mary Poppins, Ashley Brown, and an international gathering of Genies as James Monroe Iglehart, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Michael James Scott and Major Attaway performed a special rendition of "Friend Like Me";
The Muny's Jasmine, Samantha Massell, recently took Playbill behind the scenes of a two show day at Fiddler on the Roof and you can check out the antics right here!
Aladdin International
Check out the marquee!!
Photo by Newman Displays
We're less than a month away from the official start of Aladdin's London rehearsals and I can literally feel the excitement building! I say official start because the cast are already tweeting about tap rehearsals, costume fittings and more so get following them!
But if you can't wait a month (and I don't blame you!) then you can catch Aladdin himself, Dean John-Wilson, Miss Atomic Bomb at London's St. James Theatre! The show officially opened this week and is playing through to 9th April so you've still plenty of time to catch Dean before he hops on that magic carpet to Agrabah!
You can check out some production photos and behind the scenes videos right here at the show's website and here's a sample of what the critics are saying;
West End Frame also caught up with Dean after the press launch to talk about Miss Atomic Bomb and Aladdin. Just reading Dean's reaction to getting the role is incredible, I really can't wait to see him in it and see what he does with it.
What's a Genie to do in a new city? Join Trevor Dion Nicholas on a quick trip around London!
And London was just the start of Trevor's recent travels! Between Broadway and London he's even found time to visit a fellow Genie in Japan!
West End Meets Tokyo! Photo by Trevor Dion Nicholas
Marsha Songcome is no stranger to the Prince Edward Theatre having just completed her run as Gigi in Miss Saigon. If you missed her there then make sure you catch her in this rendition of "Take Me or Leave Me"from the Miss Saigon at the Hippodrome concert event!
Aladdin's Mitch Leow has just launched his new website so make sure you check it out right here! Those aerial photos are incredible!
And finally - it's been confirmed that Aladdin will be offering a daily ticket lottery once the show has officially opened (so from 16th June). Tickets will be £25 and the draw will be held two hours before each performance, winners will be able to purchase up to two tickets each in cash. So if the show you want is sold out then make a wish, say a prayer and join the lottery for your chance to grab some amazing last minute seats to this incredible show!
Other Disney Stuff!
Everything is awesome! Especially these new Disney Lego Mini Figures due out later this year!!
I'm such a big kid! I seriously can't wait for these!
Also looking back at Aladdin - A Musical Spectacular, Mouse Planet shares their memories of the show. Frozen - Live at the Hyperion has some big shoes to fill but it also has a fantastic writer, I can't wait to see what Chad Beguelin comes up with. Hopefully I'll get chance to see this one live one day!
