Countdown to Broadway - Denmark 2012/2013

In the months after the Pilot Production it was quickly announced that Aladdin: The New Stage Musical would be getting two regional productions in 2012, but before 2011 had drawn to a close it was also revealed that 2012 would see the international premiere of the show as well!

On 20th November 2011 the Columbia Tribune revealed that a European production of Aladdin was in the early stages of development.  Soon after it was confirmed that Aladdin would receive its European Premiere at Denmark's Fredericia Teater in October 2012.  The show was initially planned to run from 4th October through 11th November, however, due to overwhelming demand the show's run was later through to 19th November before the curtain even raised on the first performance!

The end of April saw the first casting news for the show as Have Backstage announced that Johannes Nymark, Maria Lucia and Pelle Emil would be bringing Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie to life in the the Fredericia's largest production to date.  They also confirmed that the European Premiere of Aladdin would be directed and choreographed by Lynne Kurdziel and other key creative roles.

The Teaser Trailer for Fredericia's Aladdin

As well as being the first international production of the show, the Fredericia's production of Aladdin was also the first to receive its own website, www.aladdinthemusical.dk.  And with this website came the announcement of the full cast;

Johannes Nymark as Aladdin
Maria Lucia Heiberg Rosenberg as Princess Jasmine (with Kristine Yde Eriksen as alternate Jasmine)
Pelle Emil Hebsgaard as Genie
Martin Loft as Jafar
Kim Brandt as Iago
Teit Samso Clausen as Babkak
Max-Emil Nissen as Omar
Kim Ace Nielsen as Kassim
Kim Leprevost as Sultan

Johannes Nymark and Maria Lucia Heiberg Rosenberg as Aladdin and Jasmine, Photo by Fredericia Teatre

In the build up to the show and during its run the Fredericia released several behind the scenes videos showing the cast and crew as they took the show from script to stage.  I'd like to say a big thank you to Danish fans Steffen and David who were both fantastic at keeping me up to date with this production of Aladdin.  All of the videos they directed me to can be found here, here, and here (with more in the comments of the final post), but I have to say my favourite of all the links that Steffen sent me has to be this one!  The Disney comics are much bigger in Europe than they are in America or the UK and this Danish one done to promote/celebrate the European Premiere features Donald Duck auditioning for a part in Duckberg's production of Aladdin and, of course, Donald being Donald he literally brings down the house!

Now, my Danish is very limited (or, more honestly, totally non-existent) so I couldn't really keep up properly with the reviews, but from what I could understand the Fredericia's production of Aladdin was very well received, earning multiple 5 star reviews.  In fact, it got so many good reviews that Fredericia released a new promotional video for the show highlighting its 5 star rating and all the positive comments;

 

 

After a successful 2012 run the lyric "come back soon that's the end, till another Arabian night" certainly applied to this production as the show was so popular that a second run was announced for 2013!  From 19th July through 20th August 2013, the same cast and creative team returned once again to the Fredericia Teater to take audiences on a magic carpet ride of adventure, fun and romance.  This encore performance would also be the final production of the original version of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical as just a few months later the new, Broadway bound, production would debut in Toronto, but that's a post for another Arabian night...

Before Broadway, Before Toronto... Aladdin Returns to Denmark!

Before Aladdin begins its pre-Broadway run in Toronto this November, the magic carpet has one last stop to make.  After producing the incredibley successful European Premiere last year, the Fredericia Teater in Denmark is once again playing host to Aladdin this summer with a new production starting tomorrow, 19th July, and running through to 20th August.

I can't confirm it, but it's extremely likely (as in almost 100% certain) that this will be the same production as last year and not the revised story/production that will debut in Toronto in a few months.  There may be some refinements from last year's premiere, but I think details of the changes being made for Broadway are being kept closely under lock and key at Disney Theatrical until November.

From what I can tell from the show's official website, www.aladdinthemusical.dk, the creative team and the cast of last year's European Premiere are all returning for this encore production.  The show features;

Johannes Nymark as Aladdin
Maria Lucia Heiberg Rosenberg as Princess Jasmine
Pelle Emil Hebsgaard as Genie
Kristine Yde Eriksen as Princess Jasmine (Alternate)
Teit Samso Clausen as Babkak
Max-Emil Nissen as Omar
Kim Ace Nielsen as Kassim
Martin Loft as Jafar
Kim Brandt as Iago
Kim Leprevost as Sultan

I heard great things from people who went last year and this is likely to be the final production of the original show, so if you're able to see it then I'd urge you to do so.  Aladdin: The New Stage Musical is a fantastic show for the whole family.  Tickets are on sale at the show's website, www.aladdinthemusical.dk

I'd also like to say a big thank you to Steffen for alerting me to this (longer ago than I'd care to admit).  Hope you enjoy the show as much this year as you did last!

Back Stage at Fredericia's Aladdin

Last week Denmark's Fredericia Teater played host to the European Premiere of Disney's Aladdin: The New Stage Musical.

According to regular reader Steffen the Danish newspapers have been giving the show fantastic reviews and calling the show magical.

The Fredericia has posted a video review of the show on their YouTube channel (judging by the logo I'm guessing this is from a local TV network called DK4) that features a look at some moments from the show, including their staging of A Whole New World.

I'd also like to say a big thank you to David and Steffen (again) for pointing me in the direction of Disney Channel SE's special YouTube series Behind the Magic Carpet.  Here's the first two parts in this four part series.

Part One

Part Two

I hope you both enjoy the show as much as I did!  I can't wait to hear all about it!!

Tonight - The European Premiere of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical

Johannes Nymark and Maria Lucia as Aladdin and Jasmine, Photo by Soren Malmose

At Denmark's Fredericia Teater tonight Aladdin: The New Stage Musical will recieve it's European Premiere!

Steffen has once again very kindly alerted me to some new Danish articles on the production.  The Jyllands Posten has the first pictures (including the one shown above) and the fantastic news that due to demand the show's run has been extended until 19th November!  And Vimeo has a short video interview (in Danish) with the show's Aladdin and Jasmine, Johannes Nymark and Maria Lucia.

I wish everyone involved with the Fredericia's production the very best for tonight's premiere and a successful run.  I can't wait to hear all about it over the next few days!  Make some magic everyone!

Official Website Launched for European Premiere

Steffen has very kindly drawn my attention to the newly launched website for the upcoming European Premiere of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical, which will be held at the Fredericia Teater in Denmark from the 4th October until the 11th November this year.

The website can be found at http://www.aladdinthemusical.dk/ and I highly recommend checking it out a lot over the coming months as it's clear there's going to be a lot more content added as the show gets further into production.

Right now there's a video introducing Johannes Nymark (Aladdin) and an updated cast list;

Johannes Nymark as Aladdin
Maria Lucia Heiberg Rosenberg as Princess Jasmine
Kristine Provide Erikson as Princess Jasmine (Alternate)
Pelle Emil Hebsgaard as Genie
Teit Samsoe Clausen as Babkak
Max Emil Nissen as Omar
Kim Ace Nielsen as Kassim

The castings for Jafar and the Sultan are still to be announced.

Tickets are now on sale from the website. Steffen has his and I look forward to hearing all about the show once he's seen it!

Muny and European Casting

The Muny Casting Announced for Aladdin: The New Stage Musical

"Adapted from the beloved animated feature, Disney's Aladdin presents the favorite movie characters and all of the songs from the film's Oscar-winning score, plus never-before heard Menken/Ashman songs restored from early drafts of the film. Variety hailed this new full-length stage version of Aladdin as "fresh, funny and very entertaining."

Tony Nominees Robin de Jesus and John Tartaglia star as Aladdin and the Genie, respectively. Joining them will be Jason Graae as Omar, Curtis Holbrook as Iago, Francis Jue as Kassim, Eddie Korbich as Babkak, Samantha Massell as Jasmine, Ken Page as the Sultan, and Thom Sesma as Jafar.

Disney's Aladdin is directed by Gary Griffin and choreographed by Alex Sanchez"

I also want to say sorry for the delay in posting this!  It was announced just before the bank holiday weekend so it slipped by me until read Broadway World's newsletter the other day!  More details on the cast can be found in Broadway World's article here and I'll do my own look at the cast over the weekend (hopefully!).

Single tickets are now on sale here.

European Premiere Casting
Steffen has very kindly alerted me to an update on Denmark's upcoming European premiere of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical.  The original article can be found here.  And here's the translated version (thanks to Google translator and a little editing);

"When Fredericia Theatre opens the European premiere of the musical version of Disney's Aladdin in October, it will be with Johannes Nymark, Maria Lucia and the young talent Pelle Emil Hebsgaard in the three main roles.

All sails are set for when Fredericia Theatre, on 4 October this year, can open the doors to the European premiere of Disney's musical Aladdin, which will be Fredericia Theatre's largest venture to date. Ever since the announcement of the show before Christmas the theatre has been working overtime to find the perfect cast. With just under six months until the premiere, Fredericia Theatre is now proud to present its main cast.

Theatre director Soren Moller is a proud man:

"I am happy, relieved and proud that we have found our dream cast to star in Disney's  Aladdin. These are three extremely demanding roles, and it's hard to find the right actors/actress, who have both the talent and the right look and feel for the characters. It is a cardinal point to me that we never cast someone just because they are known, but because it is precisely that they are the right person for the role. It simply provides the best theatre. In Johannes Nymark, Maria Lucia and Pelle Emil Hebsgaard I will not hesitate to say that we have found three sparkling stars as a dream match for this show."

From stepsko and rain dance to Arabic street boy in a turbanIn the title role of Aladdin, Fredericia Theatre, welcomes back Johannes Nymark. He graduated from the Danish Musical Academy Fredericia in 2009 and has appeared at the theatre in High School Musical. He got his first big breakthrough this spring in Singin 'in the Rain at the New Theatre, where he continued dancing and singing his way through cascades of rain as it fell as Don Lockwood.

After the summer he changes his shoes, stepping out with a turban and a flying carpet as the young Arab Aladdin who falls in love with the beautiful Princess Jasmine. She is played by our greatest young musical star right now, Maria Lucia.

From Disney's Beauty and the Beast to Disney's Aladdin

After success with the title role in Sugar last fall and just now in Chess at Aarhus Theatre, Maria Lucia is back in a big new Disney musical. She made her professional musical debut in Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the New Theatre seven years ago. This will be her second time playing opposite Johannes Nymark as the two played together in Les Misérables at the New Theatre three years ago.

In the role of Jasmine the audience also gets the opportunity to meet Kristine Provide Eriksen, who understudies (alternates?) for Maria Lucia. With critically acclaimed leading roles in shows such as Mamma Mia! in Tivoli and Singin 'in the Rain Kristine has established herself as a leading female musical performer.

United Talent follows in Robin Williams' footsteps

The musical's third major role is the hyperactive, turbo-speed talkative Genie better known as the spirit of the lamp, who Robin Williams memorably provided the voice for in the 1992 Disney classic Aladdin.

After extensive auditions, the theatre decided to give the role to the young talent Pelle Emil Hebsgaard, who was also educated at the Musical Academy. This will be his biggest role ever. Pelle Emil has appeared in several musicals at Fredericia Theatre and has just received lots of acclaim for his performance as Eugene in the successful production of Grease in Tivoli this spring.

In total, the ensemble consists of over 30 musical performers, singers and dancers. The show is directed and choreographed by Lynne Kurdziel,  American formato Animation Company Nørlum and Frausing Jens and Anders Jensen Digmann together create the production's scenography, Anna Juul Holm creates the many lavish costumes, and conductor Christian Baltzer will be swinging the baton for an 18 piece orchestra."

The Magic Carpet Travels to Denmark and Regional US Updates

This weekend blog reader Steffen brought some fantastic news to my attention - the location of the European Premiere of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical has been announced as the Fredericia Teater in Denmark!  The show will premiere on 4th October and run through to 11th November this year.

The theatre's website states (and I apologise to any Danish readers if the translation is wrong!);

"Fredericia Theatre has gained the rights to the European premiere of Disney's new big musical ALADDIN. It is in recognition of the theater's ambitious efforts to develop and demonstrate new musicals, that Disney Group has chosen Fredericia Theatre as their partner for this brand new musical. ALADDIN opens Fredericia Theatre's 2012/2013 season with its premiere on the fourth October 2012 at 19:00."

Tickets are now on sale at the theatre's website.  Thanks again to Steffen for the heads up!

In US news, the Tuacahn have update their website's blog with the first pictures of early set production (Scenic Design by Doug Ellis) and costume materials from the show (Costume Design by Wilma Mickler)!  Make sure you check out their pictures here!  In their post they say that the show will be a "lavish large scale production" including "water screen animations, illusions, a flying carpet as well as 3D animation in segments of the show"!  I'm counting the days till my flight, June can't get here soon enough!  Tickets are on sale here.

The Muny have also been busy announcing the creative teams for their 2012 season, including their production Aladdin: The New Stage Musical;

GARY GRIFFIN (Director) will be making his Muny debut. During his tenure at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Gary has directed Passion, A Flea in Her Ear, A Little Night Music, Sunday in the Park with George, Pacific Overtures, The Herbal Bed, Short Shakespeare! A Midsummer Night's Dream and Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet. Broadway directing credits include The Color Purple (11 Tony® nominations including Best Musical) and The Apple Tree (Tony® nomination for Best Musical Revival). Gary has received eight Joseph Jefferson Awards for directing and has twice been named a "Chicagoan of the Year in the Arts" by the Chicago Tribune. For the Stratford Festival of Canada, he has directed West Side Story, Evita, Camelot, and their current production of 42nd Street. Griffin is directing the Broadway-bound production of Honeymoon in Vegas.

ALEX SANCHEZ (Choreographer) returns to The Muny after choreographing last year’s Disney’s The Little Mermaid. He also served as the assistant choreographer for Damn Yankees. Alex is choreographing the Guthrie Theatre’s production of Roman Holiday. He has choreographed Where’s Charley? (New York City Encores! Series), In The Mood (national tour), Mambo Mouth (Penguin Rep), West Side Story and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Woodminster Theater). Some of his Broadway performing credits include Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Wonderful Town.

GREG ANTHONY (Musical Director) will be returning to The Muny after music directing Disney’s The Little Mermaid in 2011. On Broadway, he served as the associate musical director for Disney’s The LittleMermaid. Greg also musical directed the first national tour of Disney’s The Lion King. His regional work includes productions of Wonderland, Brundibar. Greg is also the music director for the Broadway-bound production of It Shoulda Been You.

Whilst season tickets have been on sale for a while, advanced orders for single tickets are now being taken via their Single Ticket Order Form here and will go on sale 2nd June.

Expect the updates to start becoming more frequent again as we head into summer and these productions head into rehearsals!