The Magic is Back! Aladdin Reopens on Broadway!

 

Michael Maliakel & Shoba Narayan as Aladdin & Jasmine., Photo by Matthew Murphy

"Come on down, come on in, let the magic begin..."

Tonight the magic begins again! After almost eighteen months Disney's Aladdin returns to Broadway, bringing with it that joyful energy that the world needs so much at the moment. Tonight, the historic New Amsterdam Theatre will once again be filled with an audience who loves theatre, with music, laughter, and applause. It will be one of the most exhilarating night's in the show's and the theatre's history.

I just want to wish everyone there tonight the very best of luck for this historic reopening. Whether it's your Broadway debut or if you've been with the show from the beginning. From the ushers and backstage crew to the orchestra and stars on stage. You've all earned this. This is your moment. Enjoy it, savor it, and, most importantly, have fun with it and let your joy radiate from that stage tonight. You deserve every success and I hope your reopening night audience is absolutely wild!

I wish we could be there, supporting you in person, but we are one hundred percent there in spirit and I can't wait to see you all in person in November. I'll make sure to give Friend Like Me a standing ovation when I watch the TikTok live stream tonight!

Make some magic everyone, and may all your wishes come true!

Michael Maliakel as Aladdin, Photo by Matthew Murphy

Shoba Narayan as Jasmine, Photo by Matthew Murphy

Michael James Scott (Genie), Michael Maliakel (Aladdin) and the Broadway ensemble of Aladdin, Photo by Matthew Murphy

The Road Back to Broadway

 

Last night the new cast of Aladdin performed in front of a full audience for the first time at their invited dress rehearsal. Tomorrow night the show will officially reopen and after almost eighteen months Broadway's most magical musical will be back! So I thought today would be the perfect time to look back on some of this year's road back to Broadway.

It began this summer, when Disney officially returned to Broadway with Live at the New Am, relighting the marquee of the New Amsterdam Theatre for an incredible concert benefiting The Actors Fund. For four nights from July 22-25, Disney Theatrical stars Michael James Scott (Aladdin), Ashley Brown (Beauty and the Beast, Mary Poppins), Josh Strickland (Tarzan), and Kissy Simmons (Frozen) brought the magic of Disney music back to the Broadway stage with hits from Disney Theatrical's entire catalog over the last two and a half decades.

The show opened with Hercules's 'A Star is Born' (hopefully a hint that Disney plans a Broadway run for the show in the future)

And then went on to feature this incredible impromptu moment as two Genie's shared the New Amsterdam spotlight for the first time since Aladdin's 5th anniversary!

The audience lost it and I know I would have been crying tears of joy to have witnessed that incredible moment! Broadway was back!

And this month things really heated up as Broadway began reopening. First, Michael Maliakel and Michael James Scott took part in Bloomingdale's Celebrates Broadway on September 9th. It was Michael Maliakel's first public performance representing Aladdin and it's safe to say he did the show proud. I've not been able to find a full video of the event but this video features some highlights from the event (Aladdin starts at 6:58)

Next was Playbill's Curtain Up event on September 19 where Michael and Shoba Narayan performed 'A Whole New World' together for the first time and it sounded just as beautiful as you'd hope.

And finally, on September 23rd Jacob Dickey took to the stage at Broadway in Bryant Park (so happy that's back!!) to perform 'Proud of Your Boy'.

Now, the wait is finally over as tomorrow the magic returns! And Disney Theatrical are live streaming the always incredible 'Friend Like Me' so that fans around the world can share in the joy as Aladdin returns to its rightful home in the New Amsterdam Theatre. Your Broadway wish is, finally, granted.

Aladdin's Broadway Return to Stream 'Friend Like Me' Live on TikTok!

 

Michael James Scott and the cast of Aladdin, Photo by Deen van Meer

Tomorrow night Aladdin returns to Broadway and you can be in the virtual audience as Disney Theatrical will be taking fans back stage during the show before live streaming the pulse pounding extravaganza that is 'Friend Like Me' for everyone enjoy as the magic finally returns to the stage!

This incredible live performance and look behind the scenes will take place on Disney Theatrical's official TikTok page and follows on from the roaring success of The Lion King's 'Circle of Life' live stream when the show returned on September 14th.

According to Broadway World the live stream will begin at 8pm ET/5pm PT when "Aladdin will bring followers backstage during intermission on their reopening night at the New Amsterdam Theatre, culminating in a live performance of 'Friend Like Me'."

I'm assuming the "during intermission" is just an error as 'Friend Like Me' comes during Act One of the show and tomorrow night's reopening performance is scheduled to begin at 7pm so the timing fits perfectly for about half an hour of behind the scenes followed by the live performance.

Since international travel has reopened too late for so many, myself included, to be there in person, I am so grateful that Disney Theatrical are sharing part of this historic night with fans all around the world. The magic is ready to return!

Bigger. Stronger. Fiercer. Michael James Scott is Back as Broadway's Genie!

 

Whilst we'll have to wait a little longer for the full cast announcement, Good Morning America revealed this morning that Michael James Scott will be returning once more as the Genie when Aladdin reopens on Broadway this September!

Appearing in GMA's first in person interview since the pandemic began (!) Michael and The Lion King's L. Steven Taylor discussed how they felt learning Broadway was coming back, what it means for them, Disney's Double the Magic offer, and bringing the light of Broadway back to NYC.

‘GMA3' exclusive: @aladdin and @TheLionKing stars @iamMJScott and L. Steven Taylor share some big news about a Broadway return! #GMA3 pic.twitter.com/xoU5wPN9si

— GMA3: What You Need To Know (@ABCGMA3) May 11, 2021

The magic is back everyone!!

Aladdin Returns to Broadway September 28th!

 

Let's make some magic!!! Aladdin returns to Broadway on September 28th!

Disney on Broadway's website has been updated today to announce the return of Aladdin and The Lion King to Broadway after over a year. I am so happy right now I can't quite put it into words so I'll just let this incredible video from Disney do the talking (and yes, I did have tears in my eyes by the end).

As speculated yesterday, The Lion King will return first with performances beginning Tuesday, September 14th, with Aladdin opening two weeks later on Tuesday, September 28th.

And that's not all!

As part of their return to Broadway, Disney will be offering an incredible Double the Magic offer with a special ticket to BOTH shows with prices starting from just $149! No service fees, free exchanges and refunds, you can even book your tickets now and choose your performance dates later!

Tickets will go on sale next Tuesday, May 11th, at 7AM.

I am so, so happy right now. After this last year I need the joy that this show brings. I can only imagine how those involved with the show must be feeling right now, and how amazing that re-opening night will be. Come on down, come on in, the magic is back.

UPDATE 05/11 - Seems I may have broken this story a little earlier than the official announcement! I've updated the links and video so they should work properly now!

In a statement released this morning Disney Theatrical's Thomas Schumacher said:

"After 18 months of being apart we are thrilled to welcome our audiences back and are proud to introduce these unique benefits to make buying Broadway tickets risk-free, flexible and affordable. Broadway's reopening - before tourists fully return - will be the perfect time for us tri-staters to attend Broadway as shows will be more accessible than ever."

Tickets are now on sale for Aladdin's magical return to Broadway. I spent a crazy amount of time clicking refresh today but I am overjoyed to have been able to get tickets for the show's reopening night on Broadway. Now I just have to hope travel restrictions ease and we can travel to the US! The atmosphere that night will truly be once in a lifetime. Broadway is back!!