Tuacahn's Aladdin - First Review, First Interview and Even More Pictures!

Well the first review is now in and it looks like the Tuacahn has a hit on it's hands!  The Salt Lake Tribune says that "Tuacahn's 'Aladdin' flies high" and "strong comic acting, onstage chemistry and a live orchestra help ground a stage show packed with special effects."

The full review can be seen here.  If you are planning on seeing the show, make sure you book your tickets (at the Tuacahn's website) as quickly as possible because the Tribune's review goes on to state that this could be a "tough ticket this summer, as many of the shows are already sold out. Last year, some 20,000 people were turned away for Tuachan’s production of "Little Mermaid" and that could easily happen for "Aladdin" this year."  Indeed Aladdin's fundraiser premiere was held to help raise money towards the Tuacahn's planned expansion so that they don't have to worry about turning people away at future productions (such as next year's Mary Poppins).

Another key thing to note from the review is that those critics who were dissatisfied with the staging of "A Whole New World" in Seattle last year will be happy to know that in this production the carpet flies high over the audience.

The Tuacahn Blog has also been updated with their own look at the cast of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical and Hairspray, with the majority of the cast impressively pulling double duty and working on both shows!  And their Facebook album has been updated to feature new promotional images of all the core cast members;

Dan Domenech as Aladdin, Photo by Tuacahn

Haley Carlucci as Princess Jasmine, Photo by Tuacahn

Edward Juvier as Genie, Photo by Tuacahn

Michael G. Hawkins as Jafar, Photo by Tuacahn

Jeff Asch as Iago, Photo by Tuacahn

Paul C. Vogt as Babkak, Photo by Tuacahn

Randy Aaron as Omar, Photo by Tuacahn

Todd Dubail as Kassim, Photo by Tuacahn

Bob Walton as the Sultan, Photo by Tuacahn

The photos really show off the fantastic costumes that have been created for this production.  Some are closer to the movie than they were in Seattle, some are wildly different, but they all look amazing.

Shortly before the show opened Dan Domenech was interviewed by the Las Vegas Review.  You can read the interview here.  There's some really nice stuff in there, including that his first CD was Aladdin when he was a kid (kinda makes me feel old - I had it on cassette!), so make sure you check it out.

That's about it for this time (I will get The Muny cast article done, I've just been busier than expected as I've suddenly realised I'm going to Utah VERY soon and haven't even started to get anything ready!).  The only thing left to mention is that the Tony Awards were last weekend and there were some fantastic wins for Disney Theatrical with Newsies and Peter and the Starcatcher bringing home a combined total of 7 awards, including the award for Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics)Written for Theatre for Alan Menken and Jack Feldman for their work on Newsies.  I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them both, all other award winners, and everyone involved with both productions.

Edit - Updated Already!!  Here's a short behind the scenes preview video at KUTV and that carpet ride does look like it has the potential to be amazing!

Tuacahn's Production of Aladdin Officially Premieres Today!

Dan Domenech as Aladdin and Haley Carlucci as Princess Jasmine, Photo by The Tuacahn

After a week of previews Aladdin: The New Stage Musical officially opens tonight against the beautiful desert backdrop of the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Utah.

Playbill has posted an article on the show, "Hop a Carpet and Fly", here.  Of particular note is that the Tuacahn's production "marks the first regional engagement of the newly expanded and revised production of Aladdin, which debuted at Seattle's 5th Avenue".  Newly expanded and revised?  I guess that explains the 3 days of meetings that Alan Menken, Chad Beguelin and Casey Nicholaw had towards the end of last year after the show had finished its pilot production in Seattle!

The article also provides further cast and crew details;

"The ensemble feastures Joline Mujica, Erica Amato, Gabrielle Reid, Chris Warren Gilbert, Shari Jordan, Brant Michaels, James Royce Edwards, Matt Densky, Ayesha Ayeni, Carlita Ector, Noelle Marion, Summerisa Bell, Erica Bryce, Amanda Jolley, Samantha Gershman, Allyson Pace, Daysha Pedersen, Jesse Lee Coffman, Brooke Aston, Oyoyo Bonner, Nicole Johnson, Bronwyn Tarboton, Samuel Warburton, JP Sarro, Ramone Owens, Troy McGee, Michael Milkanin, Olin Davidson, Wyatt Hopkins, Andre Melendez, Evan Walker, Jesse Gonzales, Chyka Jackson, Eddy Schumacher, Alexis Smith and Tino Smith.

Aladdin is choreographed by Deanna Dys and musical directed by Camille Rolla. The production has scenic design by Doug Ellis, costume design by Wilma Mickler, lighting design by Bruce Duerden, sound design by David Swenson and hair and makeup design by Matt Reeves."

Broadway World also has a short article on the show highlighting the new promotional images released by the Tuacahn.

The first images feature Dan Domenech and Haley Carlucci as Aladdin and Jasmine, and Edward Juvier as the Genie.  These images are taken from the banner that first appeared on the Tuacahn's website a few weeks ago.

Dan Domenech and Haley Carlucci as Aladdin and Jasmine, Photo by The Tuacahn

Edward Juvier as Genie, Photo by The Tuacahn

The final picture is all new and showcases Michael G. Hawkins as Jafar!


Michael G. Hawkins as Jafar, Photo by The Tuacahn

I must admit that this one surprised me the most.  Based on pictures of Aladdin and Genie (with Aladdin having a purple rather than patchwork vest and Genie being blue) I was expecting the characters to look closer to their film counterparts than they did in the 5th Avenue's production last year, so seeing Jafar looking so different to his film counterpart caught me by surprise.  Please don't take this as a negative as it's certainly not intended to be one.  My initial inclination is that the change from black and red to black and gold for Jafar may have been, in part, a creative choice based on the red rock backdrop of the amphitheatre in order to make him stand out more.  Or it could simply be a creative choice like giving Aladdin a patchwork vest.  The character is still easily recognisable as Jafar and the costume looks good, so I'm more than happy with his new look for this production.

One thing is for sure, this production is certainly ambitious!  Check out this article at The Spectrum where you can see a picture of a zipline being tested for Aladdin!  And this post at Riverdale Rising Stars by Bob Walton (who plays the Sultan in this production) where he shows off a picture taken (I presume) during rehearsals and you can see some of the set and the amazing desert backdrop.

All that remains now is for me to wish the cast, crew, and everyone at The Tuacahn the very best wishes for tonights gala fundraiser premiere of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical.  Make some magic everyone and hopefully we'll be reading fantastic reviews in the morning!

The Tuacahn Cast Part 3 - The Trio and The Sultan

As promised the final part of my more in depth look at the Tuacahn's cast of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical;

Paul Vogt is Babkak

Best known for his film and TV work, especially MADtv, Paul actually has an extensive background in live theatre, having starred in a wide variety of productions from musical theatre to Shakespeare, including playing the title role in Sweeney Todd, and of course starring as Edna in Hairspray first in Las Vegas, then on the first regional tour before making his Broadway debut in the role.  Paul is no stranger to Disney either, last year appearing in The Muny's production of The Little Mermaid as the sea witch Ursula (in a fantastic nod to Divine's inspiration of the character's design).

Randy Aaron is Omar

A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Randy has appeared in the national tour of 9 to 5 and a wide variety of regional productions including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Peter Pan, The Tin Pan Alley Rag, Memphis, Dreamgirls, A Chorus Line, Once on this Island, Dame Edna Back with Vengeance, and Junie B. Jones amongst others.  Like others in the cast he is no stranger to Disney, having appeared in a regional production of Beauty and the Beast.

Todd Dubail is Kassim

Last seen at the Tuacahn in 2010's production of Tarzan where he played the role of the villain Clayton, this time Todd is playing one of the heroes.  Perhaps best known for playing the role of Pharaoh in that national tour Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to much critical acclaim (a role he first played seven years earlier in Elvis' hometown of Memphis!), Todd has also appeared in national tours of Grease, Leader of the Pack and Jesus Christ Superstar as well as in a wide range of regional productions including Ashman and Menken's Little Shop of Horrors.

Bob Walton is the Sultan

A veteran of stage and screen, Bob has previously appeared on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone, 42nd Street, Once Upon a Mattress, Show Boat and City of Angels.  On TV he has appeared on Law and Order: SVU, Hope and Faith, Picket Fences and Newhart amongst others.  In addition to this Bob and his brother Jim having been writing and performing new musicals together since 1991, including My Brother's Keeper, Double Trouble and Mid-Life! (The Crisis Musical).  More information on their works can be found at their website here.

And that wraps it up! More information about the rest of the cast and creative team is expected to be annouced shorty so please keep checking back and remember to keep reading the Tuacahn's blog here for all the lastest news and updates direct from the theatre (you can also find the Tuachan on Facebook and follow them on Twitter).  Tickets for Aladdin: The New Stage Musical are now on sale and the show runs from June through to October.  It's currently breaking Tuacahn sales records so make sure to grab your tickets fast to be sure of a good seat!