Sherri Shepherd Joins Aladdin as Broadway's First Female Genie!

 

Sherri Shepherd, Photo by Matthew Murphy

Big news out of Agrabah this morning as Disney Theatrical announced that Sherri Shepherd will be joining the cast of Broadway's Aladdin as the Genie!!

Yes, we have our first female Genie! I'll admit I haven't posted on this blog as much as I should have in recent year, opting instead to focus more on social media, but for news this big a blog post is definitely in order!

First off, I just want to say a massive congratulations to Sherri on not just landing the role but on becoming the first female Genie in the show's professional history! This is something that feels like it's been coming for a long time. Back in 2017 Whoopi Goldberg appeared on stage in full Genie regalia alongside James Monroe Iglehart and they said at the time there was no reason that the Genie couldn't be female. It's taken almost another decade but we finally have a female Genie!

Second, I'm extremely excited to learn how this changes the "bromance" dynamic of the show. I'm  intrigued as it feels like something where nothing could change or everything could without even affecting the book of the show. Every Aladdin and Genie find their own relationship and I can't wait to see some clips of Sherri and Adi and what their dynamic is like. I wish I could see the whole thing in person.

Sherri's casting was announced on Aladdin's official Instagram page this morning when they posted the following video.

Writing on Instagram, Sherri said:

Well…THE SECRET IS OUT! I’ve got a whole new kind of magic up my sleeve!

I’m beyond excited, honored, and ready to rub the lamp and make some Broadway magic as the first woman to ever play the genie in Disney’s ALADDIN! 🧞‍♀️✨

That’s right… GENIE, BABY! 😂🙌🏾 Wishes do come true!

From comedy clubs to film & tv screens, to talk shows to the Broadway stage… what a journey! I cannot wait to bring my own brand of joy, laughter, BIG personality and a little bit of sass to this role.

Get your tickets to see me grant you all 3 wishes at sherrishepherd.com 😉

Now… somebody tell me where I can get a magic carpet!

Disney Theatrical's Andrew Flatt and Anne Quart added:

Throughout her career, Sherri has represented delight, wit, and loving good humor, making her the perfect entertainer to play the life force that is the Genie. We can’t wait to see what happens when Sherri’s authentic, brilliant comic energy meets the joyous escape of Aladdin. Audiences are going to adore her take on this iconic role.

Sherri will be bringing Genie to life for a limited run from October 16 through January 3 so make sure you grab your tickets fast to witness Broadway history being made!

Aladdin's current Genie, Caleb A. Barnett, will be the standby Genie during Sherri's run. It's unconfirmed but likely that Caleb will resume the role full time in January.

So, welcome to Agrabah Sherri, let's make some magic!

Review - Aladdin Makes Magic on UK Tour

Gavin Adams and Desmonda Cathabel as Aladdin and Jasmine in the UK Tour of Aladdin, photo by Deen Van Meer

Like my Thanksgiving piece on the 10th anniversary this review is something I've been wanting to write for a while, but life this year had other plans. I first saw the tour in Manchester this summer but, as I couldn't write the review at the time, I ultimately decided to hold off until I saw the show again in Liverpool this month.

I've seen the UK tour 4 times now, with 2 more to go, so I think you can safely say I love it. But what can I say about this show that I haven't already said? One of the beautiful parts of live theatre is that shows continually evolve over time, with each cast and production able to add their own take on the characters and material. This is especially true of a show like Aladdin where characters like the Genie are able to break the fourth wall and speak directly to the audience.

Yeukayi Ushe as Genie and the UK Tour ensemble of Aladdin, photo by Deen Van Meer

Let's get the mixed part of this review out of the way first and talk about some of the physical changes to Aladdin. If you are familiar with the West End (or Broadway) production of the show then you'll notice that several changes have been made to the set and staging for the UK tour. Whether or not these changes were made to accommodate the various theatres on tour, were budget related, or a mix of both is impossible to say but the overall result is, for me, mixed. Sometimes these tweaks made for fun new moments in the choreography, like when Aladdin swayed on a ladder between buildings in 'One Jump Ahead', and I genuinely preferred the staging of Aladdin and Jasmine remaining on the carpet through to their kiss at the end of 'A Whole New World', but sadly there's also a couple of times where the change wasn't as effective, most notably with the entrance to the Cave of Wonders now being a projection rather than a set piece. 

If you've never seen the show before then none of these will affect your enjoyment of it, but I felt the differences were worth mentioning for those who, like myself, have seen the show go through multiple iterations. There's also been a fairly big choreography change for 'Prince Ali' compared with the West End production, but that change isn't unique to the UK Tour and the same revised choreography is currently used on Broadway, and presumably in all currently running productions, as well (and, as I said in my 10th anniversary piece, the new choreography is great but I do miss Abu's cameo).

Tweaks to set and staging aside, this is very much the show that I know and love. Gregg Barnes' exquisite costumes still dazzle, each one a hand made work of art in its own right. Bob Crowley's sets have been revised slightly for the touring stage and new projections have been added to some scenes to go along with Natasha Katz's lighting. The work of all three creatives still comes together beautifully to re-create the animated world on stage with all the brightness and colour you would imagine.

Gavin Adams as Aladdin in the UK Tour of Aladdin, Photo by Deen Van Meer

The seamlessness of the music and story in Aladdin will never cease being miraculous to me. That Chad Begulin was able to take the classic story and iconic songs from the animated original, re-integrate cut characters and songs from Howard Ashman's original vision, whilst adding new songs written for the stage production, and it still all feels right, will never be anything less than magical. With the unique blend of Howard Ashman, Alan Menken, Tim Rice, and Chad Begulin, the music in this show is simply joyous, from the opening 'Arabian Nights' and show stopping 'Friend Like Me' to new numbers like 'High Adventure', you will be dancing in your seat and the songs will be stuck in your head long after the cast have taken their well deserved bows.

Which brings me to the heart of the show - the cast. And I want to start with the ensemble as Aladdin is a show where it is truly the ensemble that makes it what it is. There are so many big production numbers and costume changes, they have to give everything they have to make the show work. And I'm delighted to say that they absolutely deliver. You can feel the energy and joy radiating off the stage as they dance through the marketplace and I couldn't ask for more than that.

The UK Tour ensemble of Aladdin, photo by Deen Van Meer

Leading the cast is the fantastic trio of Gavin Adams as Aladdin, Desmonda Cathabel as Jasmine, and Yeukayi Ushe as Genie.

I still can't believe that this is Gavin's professional debut. He's a fantastic Aladdin, pouring his heart and soul into 'Proud of Your Boy' (my favourite Ashman/Menken ballad) and keeping the show emotionally grounded whilst also nailing the comic timing (and many, many dances) that the role requires. And Desmonda is an equally incredible Jasmine, giving a classic Disney princess a modern touch whilst still keeping her sense of wonder as she explores the market for the first time and goes flying on a magic carpet. The romance between the two is the heart of the show and they both deliver perfectly. 

For the stage production Aladdin and Jasmine have, usually, been cast a little older than they were portrayed in the animated movie so, for me, this was my first time seeing a production where the characters were closer in age to their animated counterparts and I really enjoyed the different feel it brought to the show.

Gavin Adams and Desmonda Cathabel as Aladdin and Jasmine in the UK Tour of Aladdin, photos by Deen Van Meer

Rounding out our young trio of leads is Aladdin's brother from another mother, Yeukayi Ushe's Genie! Hitting the stage with enough energy to power the theatre all by himself, Yeukayi succeeds in putting his own fresh stamp on the Genie, hitting all the same emotional beats and high notes as his predecessors whilst as the same time comfortably making the role his own.

In the four times we've seen the UK tour, I've been fortunate enough to see both Yeukayi and Damien Winchester play Genie. Damien has also made the part his own with his larger than life portrayal of the character. The UK tour is lucky to have two incredible Genies, and I feel very fortunate to have seen both as both actors bring something unique to the character.

Yeukayi Ushe as Genie in the UK Tour of Aladdin, photo by Deen Van Meer

Rounding out the heroes are Aladdin's three friends, Babkak, Omar, and Kassim. On the UK tour this hilarious trio are brought to life by Nelson Bettencourt, Adam Taylor, and Nay-Nay respectively and their high octane 'Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim' and 'High Adventure' are two of the highlights of the show.

Of course every group of heroes needs some bad guys, and Aladdin has them in Adam Strong's Jafar and Angelo Paragoso's Iago. The two pair together well to bring Agrabah's villainous duo to life, at once deliciously over the top but also careful not to steer into pantomime, with their plotting, scheming, and the occasional evil laughs delighting audiences. Completing the principal cast is Jo Servi's Sultan, who rules over this theatrical kingdom with a visible joy and sense of fun.

Adam Strong and Angelo Paragoso as Jafar and Iago in the UK Tour of Aladdin, photo by Deen Van Meer

Bringing the whole show together is, of course, director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw. Flying carpets aside, the magic and spectacle on display in Aladdin is entirely human with Casey's direction and choreography at its heart. He knows when to go all out and when to let a character or lyric carry the scene. I'm paraphrasing what I said back in 2014 but the heart of the show has not changed so even 10 years later this remains true. But I also want to give a shout out to the UK team and everyone behind the scenes. Shows like these literally take a village and so many people work incredibly hard to make the magic happen.

Gavin Adams and Desmonda Cathabel as Aladdin and Jasmine in the UK Tour of Aladdin, photo by Deen Van Meer

It's hard to believe this show is 10 years old and that this tour is the 11th production of the show. Thirteen years ago, after the pilot production in Seattle, I thought the only way we might get the show in the UK would be with licensed regional/amateur productions. Now we've had a three year run in the West End and the first (but hopefully not last) UK tour is about to conclude after more than a year on the road. And, honestly, that gasp you get from the audience as the carpet flies still makes me smile after all these years. 

As I noted at the start, the touring production has made some compromises with set and staging, but the heart of the show still sparkles as brightly as all the Swarovski crystals on Gregg Barnes' costumes. The music and choreography make you want to get up and dance in the aisles. And that infectious joy still radiates from the stage from an incredible cast giving it their all. I just wish we had more than one week left. See it while you can.

The UK and Ireland Tour of Disney's Aladdin is now in its final week at the Liverpool Empire. You can still get tickets for the final shows here.

Gavin Adams (Aladdin), Yeukayi Ushe (Genie) and the UK Tour ensemble of Aladdin, photo by Deen Van Meer

Disney's Aladdin UK and Ireland Tour opened in Edinburgh at the Edinburgh Playhouse on 24th October 2023 and is currently playing in Liverpool at the Liverpool Empire until 5th January 2025.

Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions under the direction of Thomas Schumacher, based on the Disney film written by Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio and directed by John Musker and Ron Clements.

Starring Gavin Adams, Yeukayi Ushe, Desmonda Cathabel, Adam Strong, Angelo Paragoso, Jo Servi, Nay-Nay, Adam Taylor, and Nelson Bettencourt.

Standbys Damien Winchester and Juan Jackson.

The ensemble features Hannah Amin, Dammi Aregbeshola, Erin Gisele Chapman, Tau-En Chien, Zac Frieze, Georgia Gillam, Jared Irving, James Lim, Harriet Millier, Luchia Moss, Aaron Elijah Patel, Joseph Poulton, Chris Ribz, and Kerry Spark.

Swings Rico Baker, Daisy Barnett, Sarah Benbelaid, Oliver Scheers, Ricardo Spriggs, and Niko Wirachman.

Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Book and Additional Lyrics by Chad Beguelin, Directed and Choreographed by Casey Nicholaw, Scenic Design by Bob Crowley, Costume Design by Gregg Barnes, Lighting Design by Natasha Katz, Sound Design by Ken Travis, Music Supervision, Incidental Music and Vocal Arrangements by Michael Kosarin, Orchestrations by Danny Troob, Hair Design by Josh Marquette, Makeup Design by Milagros Medina-Cerdeira, Illusion Design by Jim Steinmeyer, Dance Music Arrangements by Glen Kelly, Music Coordinator Howard Joines, Special Effects Design by Jeremy Chernick, Original Fight Direction by J. Allen Suddeth, Associate Director Ben Clare, Dance Supervisor Kyle Seeley, Associate Choreographer John Macinnis, Technical Supervision by Geoffrey Quart/Hudson Theatrical Associates, Senior Production Supervisor Clifford Schwartz, Production Supervisor Jason Trubitt, Casting by Jill Green CDG, UK Music Associate Daniel Whitby.

The premiere of Aladdin was produced by The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, WA.  David Armstrong, Executive Producer & Artistic Director; Bernadine C. Griffin, Managing Director; Bill Berry; Producing Director.

Adi Roy Takes Over as Broadway's New Aladdin

 

Adi Roy as Aladdin, Photo by Deen van Meer

Fresh from the second US Tour, Adi Roy is heading to Broadway as our new Aladdin!

Adi, who made his Broadway debut in Jagged Little Pill, has already brought the title character to life for the last two years as he led Aladdin's second national tour from its opening in October 2022 to its closing last month, even taking in a quick stop in the Magic Kingdom to take part in a festive performance of Friend Like Me with Michael James Scott and ensemble members from both Broadway and the US Tour!

Adi's first performance as Broadway's new Aladdin will take place tomorrow night, taking over from Michael Maliakel who played his final performance yesterday.

Adi, I will you all the best for a long and magical run!

Salaam Worthy Friend - Michael Maliakel Bids Farewell to Aladdin

 

Michael Maliakel as Aladdin, Photo by Michaelah Reynolds/Theatrely

I can't believe this day is here already. Tonight, Michael Maliakel will take his final bow at the New Amsterdam Theatre as he brings his historic run as Aladdin to a close.

Michael took over the title role when Aladdin re-opened on Broadway on September 28th, 2021 and has led the cast from the joy of that return, through the turbulence of that first winter, to the heights of this year's 10th anniversary (a long overdue write up of which is coming soon, I promise!).

I've had the joy of seeing Michael perform as Aladdin three times over his three years with the show. First in December 2021, just after the show had re-opened, and then twice this year for the 10th anniversary.

When I first saw him, Michael was already a fantastic Aladdin, but seeing him again this year I was blown away by just how much he had grown into the role and some of the subtle choices he made with his performance. He truly made the part his own.

I always wish that people could stay with the show forever, but part of the beauty of live theatre is that it exists in the moment, that every performance is unique and over time you get to see how the show grows and changes with every cast member who steps out onto that stage.

Michael leaves some incredibly big shoes to fill, and I am excited to see what comes next for both him and the show.

Michael, thank you for all the high adventures these last 3 years. They have been truly magical.

Aladdin Celebrates 10 Magical Years on Broadway

 

You ain’t never seen an anniversary like this!! Today Disney’s Aladdin celebrates its 10th anniversary on Broadway!

Following an out of town try out in Toronto, Aladdin began Broadway previews on February 26, 2014 before officially opening on March 20 ten years ago tonight.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, Disney Theatrical are hosting a 10th Anniversary Special Performance next week. Original director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw has returned to add a number of Easter eggs throughout the show along with a special mid-show surprise during the showstopping “Friend Like Me”.

Tonight will be Aladdin’s 3,513th performance on Broadway, placing it in the Top 20 longest running shows in Broadway history! Disney Theatrical have also release some pretty impressive stats to mark this wondrous occasion. As of tonight:

• Aladdin and Jasmine will have flown over 115 miles on the magic carpet whilst performing “A Whole New World”
• Genie will have set off more than 131,000 pyrotechnics during “Friend Like Me”
• The cast and wardrobe team will have made almost 250,000 rapid costume changes in “Prince Ali”
• And 850 pounds of custom mixed glitter will have been used to create Genie’s signature sparkle

To celebrate this incredible milestone here is a look back at 10 of my favorite videos of the Broadway cast during the first 10 years of this amazing show. These aren’t in a ranked order, just some of the fun things and performances they have done on stage and off during the first decade of Aladdin.

Christmas at Walt Disney World

Beginning the list with the Disney Christmas Celebration as it feels like this was the start of the 10th anniversary celebrations. Broadway’s Michael James Scott (Genie), is joined by the US Tour’s Adi Roy (Aladdin) with ensemble members from both productions for this festive performance of “Friend Like Me” on Main Street USA at Disney World!

You don’t often see much of the Broadway productions in the parks, outside of EPCOT’s fantastic Festival of the Arts, so I absolutely love seeing the cast in full costume performing on Main Street.

And speaking of Festival of the Arts, here is the first bonus video on this list! Every year January EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts features the Broadway Concert series where stars of Disney Theatrical perform short concerts each night. And this year there was a special concert in celebration of Aladdin’s 10th anniversary which you can view below!

1st Anniversary Co-Star challenge

For the show’s first anniversary, Disney put together this fun co-star challenge to see just how well they knew each other after a year in Agrabah. I’d actually forgotten some of these answers!

Announcing Arielle

Ok, technically they were announcing Arielle for the Australian cast but she went on to play Jasmine on Broadway so I am totally counting this. Plus it was just such a fun and sweet reveal. I love that they did this.

On a personal note, I finally got to meet Arielle and see her perform at EPCOT’s Festival of the Arts last year and she is just amazing!

Making Magic at Madame Tussauds

Not gonna lie, this is probably one of my favourite promo videos from the early days of the show. Just so much fun!

From Agrabah to the White House

I’d actually forgotten about this one but it instantly made the list when I rediscovered it for this piece! The cast of Aladdin went to the White House to perform at the Kids’ State Dinner! How cool is that?!

And here’s your second bonus video – the full performance direct from the White House!

ESPN

I’ve always said that the cast of this show are some of the hardest working on Broadway. The sheer amount of energy this show must take is just off the charts. But thanks to this video you don’t need to take my word for that! In this fun collaboration science meets Genie magic as the ESPN Sports Science team put a bioharness on Major Attaway to track him throughout “Friend Like Me” and the results are impressive!

The Epic Sing Off

No one likes a delay at the airport, especially a 6 hour weather delay, but when it leads to a sing off this epic I wish I could have been there! Seeing JMI freestyle is always a delight and this sing off ending going viral, making the news and leading to our next bonus video! A rematch on Good Morning America!

Oh, and I may be bias but Aladdin totally won that airport sing off!

Old School Gaming

James is right, this game was solid! There is so much I love in this video, from Adam trying the old cheat code to Courtney calling the game Aladdin “Adam” and Don Darryl laughing when he killed himself (Iago) in the game. Just a great video and they did one with the London cast a few years later that was just as much fun.

I had the SNES version as a child so I only got to play this (nearly impossible) version of Aladdin a few times back in the nineties. With the re-release a few years back I was finally able to play it and, with judicious use of the new save and rewind features, complete it. My inner child felt very satisfied that day!

Aladdin 2.0 – Re-Opening on Broadway

After a year and a half shutdown, the re-opening of Broadway was such a long awaited day. I remember watching the return announcement trailer over and over with tears of joy in my eyes. With a mix of new and returning cast members, Aladdin finally returned on September 28, 2021. It’s hard to describe it now, it feels at once recent but also a lifetime ago, but the sheer joy of seeing live theatre again was immense. And you can see that happiness in this video. Broadway was back.

Which brings me to our final two bonus videos!

Ahead of Broadway’s full return, Disney hosted a charity Live at the New Am event where the current Genie and the award winning original shared a spontaneous moment!

And with Broadway back, Disney, for the first time ever, televised “A Whole New World” on Good Morning America followed by a performance of “Friend Like Me” that culminated with a live finale in Times Square!

5 Genies for 5 Years on Broadway

What better way to end this list than with Aladdin’s last milestone anniversary? To celebrate Aladdin’s 5th anniversary, Disney Theatrical brought together five Genies - Tony Award winning James Monroe Iglehart (Broadway’s original Genie), Michael James Scott (Genie on Broadway), Major Attaway (Genie on US Tour), Juwan Crawley and Deonte L. Warren (Broadway’s stand by Genies) - at the show’s curtain call to perform a fantastic medley culminating in a five Genie “Friend Like Me” finale.

Honestly, I’m not sure how they top this for the anniversary performance next week (surely not 10 Genies?!) but I’m excited to find out. And James, I’m gonna hold you to that tenth anniversary promise!

And that’s my top ten! Ok, I cheated and added a few bonus videos, but, unlike wishes, there’s no limit on how many videos I can have in a blog post and there’s too much magic to be limited to just ten!

There are so many honorable mentions I’d love to include but I’m going to limited myself to three (yeah, I really suck at this top 10 stuff).

First up is not a promotional video or performance, but the story of Mikayla Renfrow's personal "magic carpet" ride back to NYC to make sure the show could go on. It's a real life story that sounds like something that only happens in the movies so I just love this story!

There's already a few videos of various performances of "Friend Like Me" in the list so I'm not including the Tony Awards performance (though I probably should!) BUT I just have to include James Monroe Iglehart winning the Tony for his performance as Genie!

And my last honorable mention is a performance not by the cast of the Broadway production, but of a very special performance that took place at curtain call when Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle reunited to perform "A Whole New World".

As I wrap this up I’m reminded again of the words of Thomas Schumacher, who once said that the reason Aladdin exists today “is because nobody quit. Nobody quit on it, and it was the sheer will of an enormous number of committed people that made that show happen.” So to all the casts, crews, and creative teams involved with the show over the last decade, on Broadway and beyond, to everyone who never quit on it and made Aladdin the success it is today, I just want to say a heartfelt thank you so very much for everything. Here’s to the next decade of granting wishes.

And speaking of those who were there at the beginning, who never quit, who helped to shape the show and whose lives were changed by it, here is the video I create with some of the original cast members in celebration of the original Pilot Production’s 10th anniversary back in 2021, looking back on those early days and their time with the show:

Aladdin celebrates it’s 10th anniversary tonight and with a 10th Anniversary Special Performance next week.

Thank you for the magic.

Disney Theatrical Celebrates Disney 100 on the Royal Variety Show Tonight!

It's time to celebrate in truly magical style tonight as Disney Theatrical bring the magic of Disney's 100th anniversary to the Royal Variety Performance!

The fabulous new cast of Aladdin's UK and Ireland Tour join the West End casts of The Lion King and Frozen alongside the German cast of the brand new production of Hercules for this once in a century performance at London's Royal Albert Hall!! And that's not all as the performance also sees the return of Samantha Barks as Elsa, ahead of her West End return next year, and Aladdin's own Trevor Dion Nicholas in a duet with Grace Swaby-Moore!

This promises to be a truly magical performance so don't miss it!!

The Royal Variety Performance airs in the UK tonight at 8pm on ITV.

Aladdin's Broadway Cast Join Their Lion King and Frozen Cousins to Open D23 Today!

 

The Disney D23 Expo is back! Today sees the return of the massive fan event to the Anaheim Convention Center just a few blocks away from Disneyland itself.

The expo opens, as always, with the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony. This year's ceremony will be hosted by Tamron Hall and give fans an early look at the upcoming Disney 100 Years of Wonder celebration. And that's not all!

This year the opening ceremony, which will be streamed live, will feature an extra special performance from the casts of Broadway's Aladdin, The Lion King, and the National Tour cast of Frozen!! Now that's how you open a show!

If you're lucky enough to be at D23 then the Disney Legends Awards Ceremony takes place in Hall D23 and (if you haven't got a reservation) you'll want to head straight to the standby line when the show opens.

For the rest of us, we can watch the opening festivities, along with select other panels over the weekend, at the official D23 website and on YouTube:

The Ceremony begins at 10:30am (PT). It's going to be a magical show!

Cast Announced for Aladdin's New National Tour!

 

A long overdue blog update and what fantastic news to return with! The cast for Aladdin's new National Tour was officially announced yesterday so please join me in extending a warm Agrabah welcome to:

Adi Roy as Aladdin, Senzel Ahmady as Jasmine, Marcus M. Martin as Genie, Anand Nagraj as Jafar, Aaron Choi as Iago, Sorab Wadia as Sultan, Ben Chavez as Omar, Jake Letts as Babkak, and Colt Prattes as Kassim!

Joining them on this magic carpet ride across the United States (in photo order) will be Dwelvan David (standby Genie, Jafar & Sultan), J. Andrew Speas (standby Genie, Babkak & Sultan), Alyssa Anani (Attendant, Fortune Teller, ensemble), Carina R. Avila (ensemble), Daniel Brackett (emsemble, understudy Aladdin), Victoria Byrd (Attendant, ensemble, understudy Jasmine), Cody Hernandez (Razoul, ensemble, understudy Jafar), Edward Cuellar (ensemble, understudy Kassim), Joshua Kenneth Allen Johnson (ensemble, understudy Iago & Omar), Tayler Johnson-Campion (ensemble), Brandon J. Large (ensemble, understudy Aladdin), Melissa Hunter McCann (swing, dance captain), Angelina Mullins (ensemble), Ryan Rodino (swing, understudy Prince Abdullah), Omar Nieves (swing, understudy Razoul), Cameron Sirian (ensemble, understudy Babkak & Iago), Taylor Mackenzie Smith (ensemble), Asten Stewart (swing), D. Jerome (Prince Abdullah, ensemble, understudy Kassim), Lauren Louis (Attendant, ensemble, understudy Jasmine), and Maya Kazzaz (swing).

What an incredible looking cast! I wish you all a long and magical run with the show and hope I get to see you all in action one day!

And speaking of seeing them in action, tickets for the National Tour are on sale now with venues announced through to next July! Here are all of the stops confirmed so far:

Schenectady, NY - October 11-23, 2022

Erie, PA - October 27-30, 2022

Worcester, MA - November 3-6, 2022

Hartford, CT - November 8-13

Indianapolis, IN - November 16-20

Buffalo, NY - November 22-27

Springfield, MO - November 30 - December 4, 2022

Appleton, WI - December 6-11, 2022

West Palm Beach, FL - December 14-23, 2022

Miami, FL - January 3-8, 2023

Jacksonville, FL - January 10-15, 2023

Naples, FL - January 17-22, 2023

Sarasota, FL - January 24-29, 2023

Little Rock, AR - February 1-5, 2023

San Antonio, TX - February 7-12, 2023

Austin, TX - February 14-19, 2023

North Charleston, SC - February 22-26 2023

Huntsville, AL - February 28 - March 5, 2023

Cleveland, OH - March 8-12, 2023

Ottawa, ON - March 21-26, 2023

Montreal, QC - March 28 - April 2, 2023

Charlotte, NC - April 5-9, 2023

Rochester, NY - April 11-16, 2023

Washington, DC - April 19-30, 2023

Nashville, TN - May 2-7, 2023

Chicago, IL - May 17-28, 2023

Kansas City, MO - May 30 - June 4, 2023

Albuquerque, NM - June 7-11, 2023

Boise, ID - June 20-25, 2023

Spokane, WA - June 27 - July 2, 2023

Edmonton, AB - July 11-16, 2023

Calgary, AB - July 18-23, 2023

Vancouver, BC - July 25-30, 2023

Aladdin's Second National Tour was first announced in February 2022 after the First National Tour was sadly cut short due to the pandemic. The three venues that saw performances cancelled, San Antonio, Austion, and Kansas City will all feature on this new tour.

A Royal Welcome to Dennis Stowe, Aladdin's New Jafar!

 

All hail the new Grand Vizier! Tonight Dennis Stowe officially takes over as Aladdin's new Jafar!

A member of the original Broadway cast, Dennis has been Aladdin's standby Jafar since 2018 and now steps into the iconic role full time following the departure of the legendary Jonathan Freeman. It's a big turning point for the show as Jonathan was the original voice of Jafar and played the role on stage for more than a decade before passing on the staff in an emotional farewell on Sunday night at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

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The moment was also captured beautifully in this photo by Broadway World's Jennifer Broski (and be sure to check out the full gallery here). 

Having seen Dennis in two performances when we visited the show last month I can safely say that Jafar is in great hands. Dennis brings a wonderfully sinister touch to the character, and I'm excited to see him take over the role and for audiences to get to experience his Jafar.

 

Dennis, I wish you a long and magical run as Jafar, and can't wait to see you on stage again!

End of an Era as 'Aladdin' Bids Farewell to Jonathan Freeman, THE Original Jafar

Every time a show changes principal cast members it can be said to be the end of an era, especially if that cast member is one of the original company. But this truly is a once in a life time as Jonathan Freeman bids goodbye to a role he not only originated on stage a decade ago, but to a role he first brought to life thirty years ago in the original animated Aladdin.

If you can sum up his performance in a word, it is simply "iconic". If you closed your eyes you would think you were watching the movie. His voice, and that incredible laugh, as captivating now as they were when I was a child. Open your eyes though, and it's not just his voice. His looks, his body language, he is Jafar. As I wrote in my original review back in 2014 "Jonathan knows the character inside and out, he knows what makes him tick, his mannerisms and his psychosis and he uses this to great effect, bringing the character to life as well on stage as he did on screen."

As Jafar he brought joy to so many who got to witness their childhood come to life before their very eyes. And as he introduced others to his villainous vizier for the first time. His partnership with Don Darryl Rivera's Iago is one of the highlights of the show, with the villainous duo easily topping my list as Disney's greatest stage villains.

But all good things must end, and after a decade of plotting and scheming as Agrabah's treacherous vizier on stage, and three decades of giving him voice, Jonathan certainly deserves a well earned rest. Well... kind of end. Jonathan has already confirmed that he will continue to provide Jafar's voice so we've not heard the last of him just yet. All that remains is for me to say thank you. That movie and this show both changed my life, and getting to see you bring Jafar to life in person is something I will treasure forever. I feel blessed to have met you and seen you perform. Happy trails Jonathan, thank you for all the wonderful memories and best wishes for whatever the future may hold.

And you can tell it truly is the end of an era as several major theatrical site have carried out exit interviews with our favourite Disney villain! I've tried to link all of them here.

New York Daily News (via Yahoo)

Playbill

D23

Broadway.com

TheaterMania

I just want to end with this quote from Jonathan from those interviews: "It's such a great character. It's quintessentially awful. He's so disgracefully awful. So deliciously awful. Without a villain, you don't have a good story. They're like gasoline that make the stories go."

UPDATE - Disney Theatrical have shared Jonathan's final bow and his passing of the snake staff to Dennis Stowe in a video posted to the official Aladdin Instagram which you can see below!

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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!

Cast Announced for Aladdin's Broadway Return!

 

The wait is almost over! After 18 months the magic is finally coming home to Broadway and today Disney Theatrical announced the cast who will be bringing Aladdin to life when the show reopens at the historic New Amsterdam Theatre next month!

First up is our brand new Aladdin, Michael Maliakel (The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Tour) who will be making his Broadway debut as everyone's favourite street rat! Joining him on the magic carpet is Shoba Narayan (Wicked, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812) as Broadway's new Jasmine!

Returning to grant more wishes is, of course, Agrabah's fiercest Genie, and the only man to play the role in every English language production of the show, Michael James Scott!

Also returning is everyone's favourite villainous duo - Jonathan Freeman and Don Darryl Rivera as Jafar and Iago! Jonathan and DDR have been with the show since the very beginning, all the way back to the world premiere in Seattle, so I'm delighted to see them returning to these iconic roles!

JC Montgomery returns as the Sultan, a role he originated for the US Tour before taking over on Broadway in 2018.

Milo Alosi and Brad Weinstock are returning as Kassim and Omar, and joining them for some high adventures is Zach Bencal as Babkak! Zach originated the role for the US Tour so I'm incredibly excited for him to make his Broadway debut in the role when the show reopens next month.

Also transferring from the Tour to Broadway is Frank Viveros as standby for Genie, Sultan, and Babkak. He will be joining returning standbys Dennis Stowe (Jafar/Sultan) and Juwan Crawley (Genie/Sultan).

Aladdin's incredible ensemble will feature Tia Altinay (who has been with the show since the world premiere in Seattle), Mary Antonini, Netanel Bellaishe, Michael Callahan, Mike Cannon, Matthew deGuzman, Jacob Dickey, Mark DiConzo, Olivia Donalson, Josh Drake, Samantha Farrow, Jacob Gutierrez, Heather Makalani, Stanley Martin, Paul HeeSang Miller, April Holloway, Amber Owens, Jaime Kasey Patterson, Bobby Pestka, Ariel Reid, Tyler Roberts, Jaz Sealey, Charles South, Angelo Soriano, and Katie Terza.

It's an exciting mix of new and familiar faces, and I can't wait to see them all bringing that joyous energy back to the New Amsterdam stage! So please join me in wishing them all a very warm welcome/welcome back, and a massive congratulations to all of the new members of the Aladdin family, especially those making their Broadway debut during this historic return!

One of the best parts about new castings is seeing those joining the cast sharing their reactions to the news. So here's our new Aladdin, Jasmine, and Babkak in their own words!

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A post shared by Michael Maliakel (@michaelmaliakel)

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A post shared by Shoba Narayan (@shoba_narayan)

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A post shared by Zach Bencal (@zbencal)

Aladdin will begin granting wishes once more on September 28th. Tickets are on sale now.