Showing posts with label Norm Lewis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Norm Lewis. Show all posts

Thursday, 5 September 2019

D23 Celebrates the Music of Aladdin

Clinton Greenspan as Aladdin, Photo by Deen van Meer

D23 was last month and with a billion dollar blockbuster and the original animated classic set to hit home release, not to mention a successful stage show playing around the world, Aladdin received a very special musical celebration.

Hosted by the voices of Aladdin and Jasmine, Scott Weinger and Linda Larkin, the panel was a musical journey through Agrabah that took attendees from screen to stage and back again. The panel united four Aladdins as Weinger was joined by original singing voice Brad Kane, US Tour star and Broadway's next Aladdin Clinton Greenspan, and surprise guest Mena Massoud from this year's live action blockbuster. And now you can share in this magic carpet ride as Disney Dwayne has posted panel highlights and all of performances on YouTube!

The panel highlights include looks behind the scenes at the original classic and live action reimagining, Mena Massoud's surprise entrance, and a recording of Scott Weinger singing Proud of Your Boy (!) with Alan Menken (!!).



Aladdin's original singing voice, Brad Kane, took to the stage for One Jump Ahead and sounds just as good as he did 30 years ago;



Cut from the film, Proud of Your Boy lives on in the musical adaptation and Clinton Patrick treated the audience to this beautiful ballad;



Before Aladdin came to Broadway, another stage adaptation played for years at Disney's California Adventure, and Deedee Magno Hall, the Hyperion's original Jasmine, flew to D23 just to perform To Be Free;



The live action adaptation of Aladdin took the world by storm earlier this year and the D23 panel had two treats for fans. The new hit Speechless performed by Lillias White;



And the cut scene/song Desert Moon introduced by Mena Massoud;



A full quality version of this scene (which is included on the home release of Aladdin) has now been released by Disney.

And of course the panel ended in the only way it could, with A Whole New World. Sung by the incredible Norm Lewis and Regina Belle I honestly wish this had been the single version attached to the movie, it's just beautiful and a perfect way to end this musical celebration of Aladdin;



Sorry I was a little late posting this, but as this panel was happening Aladdin was saying salaam worthy friend to London and something magical was happening (more on that soon).

Monday, 5 September 2016

Don Darryl Rivera & Brandon O'Neill Return to 5th Avenue!


Everyone's favourite evil sidekick is returning home as Don Darryl Rivera heads back to Seattle to star in The 5th Avenue Theatre's production of Man of La Mancha as Sancho!

And he's not alone!  Joining DDR back on The 5th's stage is none other than Aladdin's original Kassim, Brandon O'Neill, as Pedro and fellow Disney Theatrical alum Norm Lewis (The Little Mermaid) in the leading role of Don Quixote!

Don Darryl Rivera along with Sean G. Griffin and Jonathan Freeman in 5th Avenue's Aladdin
Man of La Mancha marks Don Darryl's return to the 5th Avenue for the first time since making his Iago debut there in 2011.  Brandon O'Neill has starred in both Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King) and Carousel (Billy Bigelow) at The 5th since returning home from Broadway but this marks the first time the two have shared a stage since 2014!

Brandon O'Neill as the Pirate King in 5th Avenue's Pirates of Penzance

You can read the full cast announcement right here.  As always, there's an incredible amount of talent gracing the stage at 5th Avenue for this production!  So make sure you don't miss out and grab your tickets now!

I wish I could be there to see this!  DDR & Brandon, I hope you both have an incredible time!