Showing posts with label Brandt Martinez. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brandt Martinez. Show all posts

Wednesday, 20 April 2016

The Cast of Aladdin Host Drama League Nominations Today!


Today at 11AM EST Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed and James Monroe Iglehart will announce this year's Drama League Awards nominations!

The announcement will be made at Sardi's in New York and, even better, live streamed on Broadway World so make sure you check it out!

Good luck to all the potential nominees!

Aladdin was nominated for 2 Drama League Awards in 2014, Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical and Distinguished Performance Award for James Monroe Igelhart's portrayal of Genie.

UPDATED - And you can now watch the announcement for yourself right here!

Gotta admit, I cracked up when James did his little backtrack after saying they were announcing the awards!  But my favourite moment had to be the smile they all shared when Adam announced Andrew Keenan-Bolger as a nominee for the Distinguished Performance Award, it just made my heart glad and I couldn't help but smile with them.

I just want to say a massive congratulations to all nominees and give a special shout out to some Disney/Aladdin alums!

Congratulations to Director/Choreographer Casey Nicholaw and Seattle Omar Andrew Keenan-Bolger, and the entire cast and creative team, on Tuck Everlasting's nomination for Outstanding Production of  Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical!  And a massive congratulations to Andrew for his Distinguished Performance Award nomination!

Congratulations to Samantha Massell, Brandt Martinez and the entire cast and creative team of Fiddler on the Roof for their nomination for Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical!

Congratulations to Director Michael Arden and the entire cast and creative team of Spring Awakening on their nomination for Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical and especially for Deaf West Theatre's Special Recognition Award for Unique Contribution to Theatre!

Good luck and congratulations to all the nominees this year!

Sunday, 28 June 2015

Broadway News Round Up 37

Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Photo by Deen Van Meer

Welcome to the latest Broadway news round up for Disney's Aladdin featuring all the latest updates on Disney's newest Broadway hit!

Firstly, sorry there was no update last week but as it was father's day I spent the weekend with my dad.  I don't get to see him as much as I'd like to these days so it was great to be able to spend the weekend with him.

Now, on with the show!

First up, and very fitting in light of this week's Supreme Court ruling, Aladdin's Kathryn Allison took part in Roar earlier this week, the 5th annual benefit concert for Broadway Sings for Pride.  It sounds like it was a great evening for a fantastic cause.

And in the wake of this week's Supreme Court ruling Aladdin celebrated with some very special showbills;

Photo by Adam Kaokept
Adam Jacobs had a few nights away from the show last week but he didn't go too far from the Disney magic.  In fact he took part in a special Disney Theatrical event on the Disney Cruise Line in Norway with his wife Kelly Jacobs (Mary Poppins).  Now I really want to take a Disney cruise!!

New York Theatre Guide's West End Reporter, Hayden Thomas, sat down with Aladdin's James Monroe Iglehart to talk about theatre, Gotham, Disney and even possible West End transfers... (please please please please please!)

And speaking of West End transfers the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye is reporting that Disney Theatrical's Thomas Schumacher told him that Aladdin will be coming to London's West End as soon as the Prince Edward Theatre is free, hopefully next year.  But don't expect an official announcement any time soon.  Bamigboye goes on to state that Cameron Mackintosh, who operates the theatre, told him he's currently waiting to arrange a Broadway transfer for the Prince Edward's current show, Miss Saigon, before a date can be arranged for Aladdin's West End debut.

Personally I don't have any reason to doubt that this report is true, apart from the usual reluctance to trust a tabloid column.  We know from previous interviews with Thomas Schumacher that more international productions of Aladdin are in the works and the West End would seem like a natural fit given it's Broadway success and that London hasn't had a new Disney show since Mary Poppins and no Broadway transfer since The Lion King.  I'd just caution saving the celebrations until an official announcement comes from Disney Theatrical.

The Dominion Post has posted a great interview with Trevor Dion Nicholas about making his Broadway wishes come true as the Genie!  And if you want to know more about Trevor you can visit his website which includes the more in depth Q&A that helped to produce the article.  You can also check out his band, Neighborhood Goliath, on Twitter and at their website.  Their first CD goes on sale next month.  So if, like me, you loved Trevor in Aladdin why not give it a try?

Aladdin's Brandt Martinez joined fellow Broadway stars to create the dance video The Backroom which you can view at Broadway World.

The men of Broadway's Aladdin and The Lion King took part in an exclusive photo shoot for OUT and Broadway World has behind the scenes footage from the event.

Aladdin's Yurel Echazarreta is part of Roberto Araujo's photography exhibit Malexposure - B-Side at the G Lounge and Gallery.  The exhibit opens on June 30th and runs through July 6th.  Broadway World has more details.

I'd also like to say best wishes to Aladdin's Jennifer Rias who's taking part in a Disney Themed Master Class this afternoon with Broadway Artist Alliance.

 It's time for a quick Vacation Alert - Adam Jacobs will be away on July 3rd.  Rodney Ingram will be playing the title role that night so if you want to catch Rodney as Aladdin here's you chance.

Aladdin's original Kassim, Brandon O'Neill is returning to the role of the Pirate King in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance at the Ordway Center in St. Paul, Minnesota this August 4-16th so make sure you catch the show if you're in the area!

Samantha Massell, The Muny's Princess Jasmine, recently reunited with her Hunchback of Notre Dame director Scott Schwartz for a reading of Secondhand Lions.

Disney's official blog has posted some fantastic before and after transformation shots that show the cast transform from everyday New Yorkers in citizens of Agrabah with the help of Gregg Barnes' beautiful costumes and a little Disney magic.  You've got to check them out, they're just amazing to look at!

Disney blog DisTripQueen visited Aladdin this week and has posted 5 reasons why Aladdin is a must see for any Disney fan!

Earlier this week the International Thespian Society presented the first show of the 2015 Thespian Festival - The Music of Menken.  Taking part in the show was Something Rotten's Bud Weber who was part of the original Broadway cast of Aladdin (and understudied the title role).  Alan Menken himself couldn't attend the event due to the filming of Beauty and the Beast but did take part in a pre-recorded video interview done specially for the event.

And finally if James Monroe Iglehart hosting and singing in Disney Theatrical's The Originals concert then how about a special Aladdin panel?  Aladdin - The Making of a Classic will bring directors John Musker and Ron Clements to the stage along with animators Eric Goldberg (Genie) and Mark Henn (Jasmine) and voice actors Scott Weinger (Aladdin), Linda Larkin (Jasmine) and Brad Kane (Aladdin, singing voice) as they reveal stories from the making of the animated classic.  Yeah, let's just say I really want to go!!

Until next week!

Friday, 15 November 2013

First Photos of Toronto's Aladdin!

They're finally here!  Today Disney have released the first photos of their new, Broadway bound, production of Aladdin.  Currently previewing in Toronto Aladdin is taking audiences on a musical journey of magic, laughter and romance.  These first pictures offer those who can't make it to Toronto their first glimpse of our heroes, Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Courtney Reed as Princess Jasmine and James Monroe Iglehart as Genie.

Proud of Your Boy - Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann

Princesses Run Away - Courtney Reed as Princess Jasmine and Brandt Martinez, Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann

Never had a Friend Like Me - James Monroe Iglehart as Genie, Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann

Care to go for a ride? - Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed as Aladdin and Princess Jasmine, Photo by Cylla von Tiedemann
Tickets for the pre-Broadway run of Aladdin are now on sale at www.mirvish.com/shows/aladdin

Edit - Just want to say a big thank you to Disney Theatrical for providing me with much higher quality versions of the photos.  Click to see them in BIG!