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.
What's this? What's this? James Monroe Iglehart is producing something extra special this Halloween!
In support of The Actors Fund and the Lymphoma Research Foundation, Broadway's original Genie and current Hamilton star James Monroe Iglehart is teaming up with some of his friends to present a one night only charity concert version of The Nightmare Before Christmas!
"We're extremely grateful to Tim Burton, Danny Elfman and the Disney Music Group for allowing us the opportunity to bring our virtual concert interpretation of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas to everyone this Halloween," said James about the one night only event which will be available to stream for 24 hours starting at 7pm (ET) on Saturday, October 31st.
Joining James, who will of course be playing Oogie Boogie, will be Rafael Casal as Jack, Adrienne Warren as Sally, Danny Burstein as Santa, Nik Walker as Lock, Leslie Margherita as Shock and Rob McClure as Barrel. Bringing the rest of Halloween Town and Christmas Town to life is Kathryn Allison, Jenni Barber, Erin Elizabeth Clemons, Fergie L. Philippe, Jawan M. Jackson and Brian Gonzales! These Broadway stars will be getting into the fiendish festive spirit of things using only props and clothing from around the home as they recreate Burton's seasonal classic.
You can buy your ticket now via Vimeo on Demand for just $4.99, so get set for some ghoulish delights all whilst helping two incredible causes! Don't miss it!
As the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak sees much of the world remain on lockdown, the theatrical community has pulled together to provide some light and joy in these dark times. From Instagram live chats and concerts to dance choreography lessons and even full shows, the theatrical community has shown that the show will always go on as they keep a song in our hearts.
As part of ABC's "Day of Hope" last week, Disney Theatrical stars past and present, including Aladdin's James Monroe Iglehart and Michael James Scott, joined together to perform Alan Menken and David Zippel'sGo The Distance in honour of all of those on the frontlines of the pandemic.
Tonight, James Monroe Iglehart will reunite with the cast of Broadway's Aladdin to lead them in the show stopping Friend Like Me as part of ABC's Disney Family Singalong at 8pm Eastern. They will be joined by an all star celebrity line up singing some of the most beloved songs in the Disney canon to bring the magic of music into your homes.
Then, tomorrow night, Broadway Cares will be presenting a special presentation of last year's 25th anniversary concert. Recorded live last November, the concert celebrated 25 years of Disney on Broadway with songs and stars from every production from Beauty and the Beast to Frozen. Now, Broadway Cares will be streaming the concert to help all of those in the Broadway community affected by the current crisis. The live stream will be hosted by Ryan McCarton and begins at 7pm Eastern. And from 6pm make sure you check out the Broadway Cares Facebook Live where Syndee Winters will be hosting a Q&A with some of the nights stars including Aladdin's Adam Jacobs and Marisha Wallace. The concert will be available to watch for one week.
On Saturday, April 18th, Adam and Arielle Jacobs will take part in Rising Talent Magazine's Instagram Live Concert where stars will appear for five to fifteen minutes to sing a song and take a few questions to help raise money for The Actors Fund. Adam's set is scheduled for 12:30 EST, I'm not sure on Arielle's time yet but will add it here if it's announced ahead of time.
And there's so much more.
Aladdin's Dance Captain Nikki Long joins with Jennifer Rias and Donald Jones to teach some of the dance choreography for Arabian Nights:
Matt Croke shared this fantastic video of his final performance of Proud of Your Boy that was taken last year;
The princesses may be on lockdown but that didn't stop Courtney, Susan Egan and Laura Osnes from working some magic with their fairy godfairy for this fun little twist on Go The Distance;
James Monroe Iglehart performed a Disney medley on Good Morning America
And I've already posted the 5th Avenue's long distance master class on theatrical comedy with Don Darryl Rivera!
Alan Menken himself has been singing from his legendary songbook on The Rosie O'Donnell Show in aid of The Actors Fund (and confirms that yes they are still working on the stage adaptation of Hercules!)
Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre shared some of Gregg Barnes' original costume concepts for Aladdin's Pilot Production back in 2011.
There's even some Zoom backgrounds available to make you feel like you're right in the heart of magical Agrabah!
Just remember, somebody always has your back, as James, Michael, Telly Leung and Arielle Jacobs proved when they answered Trevor Noah's call to recreate the hopeful singing that was heard in Italy.
And there's so much more. Make sure you keep you eyes on Michael James Scott and the official Disney Broadway Instagram as Agrabah's fierce Genie has been hosting frequent Instagram Take Overs with his fabulous friends.
Stay at home. Stay safe. There will be a whole new world waiting for you to return to when this is over.
Disney's D23 Expo takes over the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend, and there's two events that Aladdin fans won't want to miss!
On Saturday afternoon, stars of stage and screen gather forA Musical Celebration of Aladdin ahead of the home release of both the live action adaptation and the Walt Disney Signature Collection release of the original animated classic. Hosted by Scott Weigner and Linda Larkin, the original Aladdin and Jasmine, the panel will take fans on a musical carpet ride through all your favourite songs from both stage and screen. Special guests at the panel will include Brad Kane (Aladdin's singing voice), Deedee Magno Hall (Jasmine from Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular), Jamal Sims (choreographer from this year's live action film), Clinton Greenspan (current star of Broadway's Aladdin), Lillias White (Calliope in Hercules) and Norm Lewis (Triton in Broadway's The Little Mermaid). And D23 teases that "you never know what surprises the Genie may conjure up". I really hope they live stream this!
Also on Saturday, D23 will play host to a very special Disney on Broadway in Concert - A 25th Anniversary Celebration! Hosted by Gavin Lee (Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast) and starring Heidi Blickenstaff (Freaky Friday, The Little Mermaid), Kissy Simmons (The Lion King), and of course Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, On The Record), Josh Strickland (Tarzan), and Alton Fitzgerald White (The Lion King), the 75 minute concert will feature music from Beauty and the Beast to Frozen in a celebration of Disney Theatrical's first 25 years on Broadway. I hope they stream this one as well!
And stepping off the concert stage, Disney on Broadway are premiering a new virtual reality experience that put you centre stage alongside Telly Leung and Major Attaway (Aladdin), Tshidi Manye (The Lion King), and Caissie Levy (Frozen) in some of Broadway's biggest production numbers!
Every year I say I wish I could be there (and one day I hopefully will be), but this year I'm going to be right where I belong. Giving all my love and support to the fabulous cast and crew of Aladdin London as they bring it home one last time. There's no where I'd rather be, even D23.
It's a Broadway cast reunion! Aladdin'soriginal Broadway cast members Courtney Reed, Marisha Wallace, and Brandon O'Neill (!!) are joining together with Danny Becker, Greg Canestrari, Haley Catherine, Francesca Fenech, Ayanna Coleman Potempa, and more for the Broadway on the West End Benefit Cabaret! It's a show hosted and created Johnson Brock and Brock Harris with all proceeds from the event going to MAD Trust, Industry Minds, and JDRF!
Courtney is, of course, Broadway's original Jasmine and is currently back on the magic carpet and bringing Disney royalty to life in the West End production until it closes next weekend. I've still not come to terms with the show closing here, but Courtney being here for that end fills me with joy.
Marisha is Aladdin's original Fortune Teller and Royal Attendant turned West End super star where she's currently starring in Waitress. And yes, that was totally her reprising her "Still I think he's rather tasty" line on the big screen in Aladdin!
And Brandon is the original Kassim! I guess that makes this his West End debut!
The special cabaret event takes place at the Pianoworks next Wednesday evening, August 21st, and right now you can get £30 tickets for just £10 using the code ALLAMERICAN at TicketSource!
This is going to be an amazing night, so don't miss out! If it wasn't in the middle of the week (or if I lived closer) I'd be there in heart beat! Have an amazing time everyone!
Fresh off his star performance in the first national tour of Aladdin, Adam Jacobs is returning home to San Francisco and he's bringing his sister Arielle, fresh off her own star turn as Australia's Jasmine, with him as they present Sibling Disobedience at the Bay Area Cabaret!
You've seen them both on Broadway and both in Aladdin (just on different continents), now see them both in a more intimate environment as they take you on their journey from the Bay to Broadway and back again in this special homecoming concert.
Tickets are on sale now and you can even buy a meet and greet and photo op with the stars. Make sure you don't miss this!
Updated - This concert is in San Francisco not Chicago (Oops! Sorry everyone!)
Fresh off his sold out solo concerts at 54 Below and in the final weeks of his Tony Award winning run as Aladdin's Genie, James Monroe Iglehart is performing in concert tonight at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in two solo shows!
You can still get tickets so if you're in the New York/New Jersey area today you don't want to miss this! It's sure to be an incredible night of music and laughter. You've never had a friend like him!
The cast of Disney's Broadway Hits, Photo by Manuel Harlan
Last week BBC Radio 2 aired the fantastic Disney's Broadway Hits concert as part of their Friday Night is Music Night series (and you can still listen to the full show right here!) I can't put into words how much I loved hearing this concert again, but now Sky Arts is going one better with a real Christmas treat for you!
Tomorrow morning Sky Arts will be airing Backstage with Disney on Broadway: Celebrating 20 Years at 9am followed by Disney's Broadway Hits at London's Royal Albert Hall at 10am!! What a Christmas present!!
I can't wait to watch this again and again! As someone who had tickets to see Tarzan but the show closed a month before I was due to see it, seeing Josh Strickland sing some of those songs in person was something I'd waited over 10 years for and he didn't disappoint. Finally seeing Ashley Brown live was electrifying. Hearing songs from Aida and King David live was something I never thought would happen. The Aladdin finale with Trevor Dion Nicholas and the West End cast raising the roof and bringing the audience to their feet is out of this world. And, of course, Alan Menken himself singing "Proud of Your Boy", dream come true. This concert is truly magical so make sure you don't miss it!
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!
