So Long, and Thanks for All the High Adventures!

Brad Weinstock, Milo Alosi, and Zach Bencal as Omar, Kassim, and Babkak in Aladdin. Photo by Disney

 

For the first time in the Broadway show's history Aladdin's trio will take their final bows together as Zach Bencal, Brad Weinstock, and Milo Alosi end their incredible runs as Babkak, Omar, and Kassim today at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre.

These three pals, who are thick as thieves, have played the roles together since the show re-opened on Broadway in September 2021 when Zach Bencal brought his Babkak to New York having originated the role for the original US Tour.

The move to New York reunited him with Milo Alosi who originated role of Kassim for the US Tour before joining the Broadway production in February 2019.

And what can I say about Brad Weinstock? Brad has been Broadway's Omar since February 2016, when he took over from original Omar, Jonathan Schwartz, and is one of the longest serving cast members in the show!

These three have all been with the show for the best part of a decade. I have been blessed to see all them on tour and on Broadway multiple times over the years, and to finally meet them properly earlier this year, and we could not have asked for a greater trio.

To Brad, Milo, and Zach, I hope you have an incredible and emotional final show today. Thank you for everything you have done for this show, for all the laughs and memories over the years, and I wish you all the very best for what comes next. No matter how much you clean up your act and go legit, you'll always be street rats to me. Thanks for all the high adventures.

A New Dawn at London's Aladdin

Matthew Croke as Aladdin, Photo by Disney

On Saturday the original cast of London's Aladdin brought audiences to their feet one last time and even Abu the monkey got to make his West End debut as departing star Dean John-Wilson threw Aladdin's little buddy into the crowd of cheering fans before making his final bow.

Today its a whole new world at the Prince Edward theatre as a new cast begins granting wishes in the West End.

Speaking of wishes - leading the company will be Matthew Croke in the iconic title role of Aladdin and this really is a wish come true for our newest star!



Matthew Croke (Aladdin) with Trevor Dion Nicholas (Genie) in rehearsals, Photo by Johan Perrson

And did someone say promotion?  Leon Craig (original Standby Genie/Babkak), Miles Barrow and Daniel de Bourg (original ensemble) will be taking on the roles of Aladdin's trio of pals full time as Babkak, Omar and Kassim respectively.  I love to see hard work, dedication and talent rewarded so I'm really happy for these guys and excited to see what they bring to the trio next time I see the show.



Matthew Croke (Aladdin), Daniel de Bourg (Kassim), Leon Craig (Babkak) and Miles Barrow (Omar) in rehearsals, Photo by Johan Perrson

Completing new principal cast members is Nick Cavaliere, who will be taking over the role of Jafar's scheming henchman Iago.

Jade Ewen (Jasmine) with Don Gallagher (Jafar) and Nick Cavaliere (Iago) in rehearsals, Photo by Johan Perrson

And joining what is arguably the hardest working ensemble in the West End is Chanelle Anthony, Danny Becker, Cindy Belliot, Filippo Coffano, Nolan Edwards, Sinead Kenny, Travis Kerry, Dann Kharsa, Tarisha Rommick, Joshua Steel, Monica Swayne, Niko Wirachman and Damien Winchester.

Cindy Belliot in rehearsals, Photo by Johan Perrson

Sinead Kenny in rehearsals, Photo by Johan Perrson

Original ensemble member Oliver Lidert will now take on the Standby role for Genie, Babkak and Sultan.

I just want to say a massive congratulations to all the new and promoted cast members and to wish everyone, new cast and original cast alike, the very best for tonight's show.  I know it's going to be absolutely magical and I can't wait to get back to London and see you all on that stage!  Makes some magic!!

Matthew Croke and Jade Ewen as Aladdin and Jasmine, Photo by Disney

Welcome to Agrabah! Brad & Major Join Broadway's Aladdin!

This week Broadway's Aladdin welcomed two new cast members as Brad Weinstock and Major Attaway joined Disney's record breaking musical!

Both Brad and Major are making their Broadway debuts in Aladdin!  Brad has previously starred several regional and Broadway in Chicago productions and in the national tours of Jersey Boys and Wicked.  Major has starred in several regional productions including Hot Mikado and Ashman and Menken's classic Little Shop of Horrors.

Photo by Brad Weinstock via Twitter

Brad is making his Broadway debut as our new Omar, replacing original cast member Jonathan Schwartz who took his final bow last weekend.

Major is making his Broadway debut as our new Stand By Genie/Babkak, replacing Trevor Dion Nicholas who is moving to London to star as Genie in Aladdin's upcoming West End premiere!

Best wishes to you both!  I hope you're having a fantastic first week!  I wish you both an incredible run and I look forward to seeing you in the show later this year!

Salaam Worthy Friend - Jonathan Schwartz Says Goodbye to Aladdin

Jonathan Schwartz, Brandon O'Neill, Brian Gonzales and the cast of Aladdin, Photo by Disney

Whilst there's been no official cast change announcement from Disney Theatrical, Aladdin's Instagram account this week posted a rehearsal photo which several cast members quickly reposted welcoming new cast members with hashtags for Genie and Omar.  You can see our new stand by Genie (replacing Trevor Dion Nicholas who is coming to open the show in London) and Omar in the photo.

That means that today is Jonathan Schwartz's final performance as Omar!  Jonathan originated the role for this new Broadway production and has brought Omar to life for over 700 performances, bringing smiles and laughter to over 1 million guests!

Good luck Jonathan (and any other citizens of Agrabah who may also be taking their final bow this afternoon), enjoy your final high adventure!  Thank you for everything and I wish you all the best for whatever the future may hold.
 

Jonathan Schwartz, Brandon O'Neill and Brian Gonzales, Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann

Big Changes for Broadway's Aladdin

This week's Press Day saw a LOT of information released about Disney's Aladdin.  In addition to the official First Look video and character portraits there's been a ton of interviews and images coming out from the event.  I'll be posting a big round up post this weekend but I couldn't wait to share this video from Broadway World.

The 15 minute video features interviews with stars Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed, James Monroe Iglehart and Jonathan Freeman along with Director and Choreographer Casey Nicholaw and Writer and Lyricist Chad Beguelin.  It's a great video and well worth watching, but part way through Casey Nicholaw drops a small bombshell - Babkak, Omar and Kassim are no longer the narrators of the show!!

For those who don't know, Babkak, Omar and Kassim are Aladdin's 3 friends from the streets of Agrabah.  The original version of Aladdin was envision by Howard Ashman as much more of a Hope-Crosby road movie with his 3 friends serving as both characters and narrators.  During the development of the movie these characters, along with Aladdin's mother and a wealth of Ashman/Menken music, were cut from the film.  When developing the show for Broadway the creative team went back to the original vision for Aladdin and restored Babkak, Omar and Kassim as Aladdin's friends and narrators.

Brian Gonzales, Andrew Keenan-Bolger and Brandon O'Neill as Babkak, Omar and Kassim in the 5th Avenue Pilot Production of Aladdin with James Monroe Iglehart and Adam Jacobs as Genie and Aladdin, Photo by Chris Bennion

It stayed that way from the 5th Avenue's Pilot Production back in 2011 right the way through to the recent pre-Broadway run in Toronto.  Not any more.  According to Nicholaw, whilst Babkak, Omar and Kassim are still Aladdin's friends, in the Broadway production they will no longer be narrators.

This is a pretty major change.  As narrators, Babkak, Omar and Kassim consistently broke the 4th wall to joke with the audience and also helped moved the show along as they sang several reprises of Arabian Nights throughout the show.  Whilst removing them as narrators won't affect the story it has the potential to make a massive difference to both the tone and the pace of the show.

It also raises several questions;

If the trio are no longer narrators does that mean there is no longer a narrator in the show or has that role been given to the ensemble?
If the whole narrator idea has been cut (or reduced to just the start of the show/lead in to the original Arabian Nights) does that mean that the Arabian Nights reprises are cut?
If the reprises are cut will there be any new songs to replace them?  How Quick They Forget maybe, or new material for the lead characters?
Has the cast album been recorded and, if so, was it recorded before or after these changes?

We won't have to wait too long for answers as Broadway previews begin in less than a week!  That said, I won't be looking for or posting any plot details here until after the show opens in March.  I'm lucky enough to be seeing the show next month and, since it sounds like it's changed a lot since I saw it at the Tuacahn, I want to be surprised.  I'll still be covering all the news in the run up though!

Personally, I'm a little sad to hear that Babkak, Omar and Kassim are no longer narrators, I really enjoyed them in that role when I saw the show.  That said, all the comments out of Toronto were that the changes made during its pre-Broadway run made the show stronger.  I trust the creative team and know that they've done this to make the show better.  I can't wait to see what they have in store next month!

Reflections - Goodbye to Tuacahn's Aladdin

Tonight will see the final performance of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Utah.  Since June this fantastic cast and crew have been performing the longest running production of Aladdin to date, and to celebrate the end of their record breaking run I wanted to do something a little more special.

With the kind support of Tuacahn, I'm proud to present a short series of reflections by some of the cast on their time in Aladdin.  I also want to say a big thank you to Heidi Anderson, who made this possible.  Thanks Heidi!

Dan Domenech as Aladdin, Photo by Tuacahn

"The past 6 months have been a time to remember.   Aladdin is my favorite Disney story and I've been very lucky to be able to play him on such a grand stage and sing Alan Menken's music in yet another musical!  The production value of Tuacahn was incredible.  I was in a 3D movie, flew a carpet over 2000 people, rode camels and got backed up by a cavalry of horsemen (and women) for "Prince Ali"!  Disney has really created something special with this show and I'm excited for more audiences to see it as it moves forward.  The look on the kids faces when we meet them after the show is priceless.  That's the power of Disney baby!"

Dan Domenech (Aladdin)

Edward Juvier as Genie, Photo by Tuacahn

"What a thrill it has been to perform an incredible show in this natural setting! There are so many unforgettable moments from this experience. Working with camels and peacocks. Seeing the Tiger God for the first time. Filming and putting together the 3D sequences. Sitting in the sitzprobe and hearing our incredible orchestra bring that Disney magic to life. Singing "Somebody's Got Your Back" with four incredible guys night after night. Watching our amazing crew change sets from Agrabah to Baltimore every other day. Meeting all the kids after the show dressed up as Jasmine and Aladdin. But one of my favorite parts is seeing how much all kinds of people are drawn to this show and the story of Aladdin. They love it and feel part-ownership over the story. And Aladdin delivers. It's such a wonderful theatrical experience and the audiences here in Utah have been so amazing! Tuacahn has put on one heck of a show out here in the middle of the desert. It has been an honor to share the stage with such a giving company. To say this is a dream come true would be an understatement. The worst part is that it'll all be over in 7 performances. The best part is that I've found friendships and memories that will last a lifetime."

Edward Juvier (Genie)

Randy Aaron as Omar, Photo by Tuacahn

"I can honestly say I have had the time of my life working on this piece. I am all for theatre that allows for a family to come and experience it together.  Aladdin creates a tale that both adults and children can invest in successfully. There is also nothing more heart warming than hearing the laughter of children and knowing they are truly enjoying themselves. They are the future of theatre! Now on a personal note I have never laughed more myself onstage after working with Todd DuBail and Paul Vogt.  You don't know funny until working with these guys.  They are also some of the most giving actors I have ever had the pleasure of sharing a stage with. Love you guys!"

Randy Aaron (Omar)

Jeff Asch as Iago with Michael G. Hawkins as Jafar, Photo by Tuacahn

"This was a truly remarkable journey. The past 6 months in Agrabah were like nothing else. This was such an unbelievably talented cast from the smallest chorus part through the title character, making this trip even more electrifying. Playing the role of Iago was going to be a challenge from the beginning due to the fact we elected to make him human rather than a bird. The myriad of people who have seen the film version of this were all set to see someone flapping his wings on stage. Clipping those wings was fun. Being part of a stage show with 3D effects, a water scrim Tiger GOD, mind blowing pyrotechnics, that's in the middle of the desert, sold out crowd almost every night, and a cast, crew, band, and wonderful people in general made this fantastic and something I'll never forget. The best part of this whole voyage, however, was seeing how much the kids enjoyed this show. Their faces literally lit up like the fireworks after the show. I remember being young and how it felt to see theater... I can't imagine, though, what it must be like to see something of this magnitude as a kid, or an adult for that matter. 6 months of the same show can get old very fast, but I can honestly say this "high adventure" never got stale....lots and lots of love to all...."

Jeff Asch (Iago)


I just want to take this opportunity to say once again a massive thank you to everyone at the Tuacahn for all the support they've given me and this blog, and for putting on such an amazing show and making my childhood dreams come true.  I wish you all the best for tonight's final performance and for the future, whatever it may bring.  If you're lucky enough to be in the audience tonight, enjoy!  Tuacahn has been making magic with this show all summer and it all ends tonight.

Dan Domenech as Aladdin, Photo by Tuacahn

Last Chance to See Aladdin at The Muny!!

If you're in St Louis and planning to see Aladdin: The New Stage Musical you now have just two chances left to see the show before the end of its run!  Tickets for tonight and tomorrow are available here.

If you're still undecided here's another review, this one from KDHX, calling Aladdin "everything a stage musical should be" and "a treasure of fun and surprises for everyone".

So if you want to see some live camels...

Eddie Korbich and Jason Graae as Babkak and Omar, Photo by The Muny

Call her a princess...

Samantha Massell as Jasmine with ensemble, Photo by The Muny

Watch some fantastic villains plotting...

Thom Sesma and Curtis Holbrook as Jafar and Iago, Photo by The Muny

Or just see two friends makin' some magic...

Robin de Jesus and John Tartaglia as Aladdin and Genie, Photo by The Muny

Then make sure you grab your tickets now and catch this amazing show before the magic carpet flys away!

Edit - Last night tonight!!  I just want to take this opportunity to wish everyone at The Muny all the best for their final show of Aladdin tonight.  I hope they've all had a magical time with the show.

Tuacahn Updates Keep Coming!!

Firstly, I want to say a big thank you to Heidi from the Tuacahn for her kind words in the comments of an earlier post, and for advising me that Deanna Dys will be Choreographer for the Tuacahn's production of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical.  If you want to know more about Deanna, her past experience and some teases about her work with on Aladdin then be sure to check out this radio interview that the Tuacahn posted on their YouTube channel;

And also make sure you check out the Tuacahn's latest blog post where Todd Dubail (Kassim), Randy Aaron (Omar) and Paul Vogt (Babkak) pose for press photos with some their new co-stars...

Updated - The Tuacahn have very kindly given me permission to post the picture here as well

Todd Dubail as Kassim, Randy Aaron as Omar and Paul Vogt as Babkak, Photo by Tuacahn

The Tuacahn Cast Part 3 - The Trio and The Sultan

As promised the final part of my more in depth look at the Tuacahn's cast of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical;

Paul Vogt is Babkak

Best known for his film and TV work, especially MADtv, Paul actually has an extensive background in live theatre, having starred in a wide variety of productions from musical theatre to Shakespeare, including playing the title role in Sweeney Todd, and of course starring as Edna in Hairspray first in Las Vegas, then on the first regional tour before making his Broadway debut in the role.  Paul is no stranger to Disney either, last year appearing in The Muny's production of The Little Mermaid as the sea witch Ursula (in a fantastic nod to Divine's inspiration of the character's design).

Randy Aaron is Omar

A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Randy has appeared in the national tour of 9 to 5 and a wide variety of regional productions including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Peter Pan, The Tin Pan Alley Rag, Memphis, Dreamgirls, A Chorus Line, Once on this Island, Dame Edna Back with Vengeance, and Junie B. Jones amongst others.  Like others in the cast he is no stranger to Disney, having appeared in a regional production of Beauty and the Beast.

Todd Dubail is Kassim

Last seen at the Tuacahn in 2010's production of Tarzan where he played the role of the villain Clayton, this time Todd is playing one of the heroes.  Perhaps best known for playing the role of Pharaoh in that national tour Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to much critical acclaim (a role he first played seven years earlier in Elvis' hometown of Memphis!), Todd has also appeared in national tours of Grease, Leader of the Pack and Jesus Christ Superstar as well as in a wide range of regional productions including Ashman and Menken's Little Shop of Horrors.

Bob Walton is the Sultan

A veteran of stage and screen, Bob has previously appeared on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone, 42nd Street, Once Upon a Mattress, Show Boat and City of Angels.  On TV he has appeared on Law and Order: SVU, Hope and Faith, Picket Fences and Newhart amongst others.  In addition to this Bob and his brother Jim having been writing and performing new musicals together since 1991, including My Brother's Keeper, Double Trouble and Mid-Life! (The Crisis Musical).  More information on their works can be found at their website here.

And that wraps it up! More information about the rest of the cast and creative team is expected to be annouced shorty so please keep checking back and remember to keep reading the Tuacahn's blog here for all the lastest news and updates direct from the theatre (you can also find the Tuachan on Facebook and follow them on Twitter).  Tickets for Aladdin: The New Stage Musical are now on sale and the show runs from June through to October.  It's currently breaking Tuacahn sales records so make sure to grab your tickets fast to be sure of a good seat!

Ok Supporters!

Ok, so last night I said don't expect anything soon and this morning I wake up to find an email from AKB in my inbox!  Just goes to show how wrong I can be!

Kindly arranged by 5th Avenue, Andrew Keenan-Bolger generously gave up his time to answer some questions about his run in Aladdin: The New Stage Musical and bringing Omar to life!

Hi Andrew,

Firstly just let me say congratulations on winning the role of Omar in Aladdin and thank you for agreeing to do this interview! I really appreciate you taking the time to interact with the fans in this way.

How did you come to be involved in the initial readings/workshops and what did they involve?

I’ve been fortunate to have worked with Disney on a number of productions so when it came to cast the ALADDIN reading, I guess the team was familiar enough with my work to offer the role to me. Originally when my agent called and said I got offered the ALADDIN reading, my response was, “No way! Please tell me I get to play the monkey!”

Having already played the role in the workshop, what was the audition process like for the Seattle production?

Although I had done the reading, there were a number of people involved with the production who were new to the project including our brilliant director, Casey Nicholaw. I auditioned like everybody else and went through a callback process before getting cast.

How did you learn that you had got the part and what was your reaction?

Haha, funny story. I actually found out I booked the job from my dressing room mate in MARY POPPINS, the incredible Jonathan Freeman (Jafar in the 5^th Avenue producction). I came into work one day and he had this big grin on his face and asked, “How long did you think you could keep a secret from me?! Why didn’t you tell me we’re going to Seattle together?” I was totally confused. I guess news travels quickly. I heard from my agent shortly after.

How much has the show changed from that original reading through to last night’s official opening?

Quite a bit actually. There were 3 or 4 songs that were cut from the reading by the time we got to Seattle and a number of new songs took their place. There was a big overhaul of the second act as well. Up until our opening night there were changes going into the show on a nightly basis. The trio of guys (Babkak, Omar and Kassim) got a reprise of “High Adventure” put in just days before we opened.

What’s it like creating a totally "new" character in such a well loved story?

It was totally rewarding. Recreating a role like Aladdin or The Genie is difficult from the get go because the audience already has such a strong idea in their heads of what to expect. Luckily our actors tackled it brilliantly, but I loved being able to start from scratch. Also, having the writers in the process from beginning to end, they were able to develop the roles of the trio based on what the three of us brought to the table. Brian Gonzales (Babkak) brought such a dry, throw-away sense of humor, so his character started being written more in that vein. Brandon O’Neill (Kassim) emerged as such a natural leader so his part became more the fearless, guy in charge. And for me, well I was really scared of all the sword fighting in the stage combat sections, so it came as no surprise when my rewrites highlighted Omar’s scaredy-cat qualities, hehe.

Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Omar (centre), Photo by Chris Bennion

For those of us who can’t make it to Seattle, can you please tell us a bit about Omar, your approach to the character and his role in the show.

Babkak, Omar and Kassim are Aladdin’s best friends and members in his street band. They were originally conceived by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman for the film. They were later cut but got to see a new light in the stage production. I adore the character of Omar. He’s the youngest member of the band, an ultimate optimist and a hopeless romantic.  I found the more time I spent with Omar, the more I realized he was not at all that different from myself.  I tried to think of what I’d do in the situations that Omar found himself in. (Example. When Omar cuts his finger in the sword fight, I thought, oh, he would totally faint. Personally, I can’t stand the sight of blood, especially my own!)

What’s it like working with Alan Menken and bringing to life the lost Howard Ashman songs?

It was incredible working with Alan! Not gonna lie, we were all a little intimidated at first. I mean, this guy is an absolute legend! But he couldn’t have been a sweeter, more positive human being. He was always asking us for our input which was both surprising and amazing. Even after 8 Oscars he still wanted to make it a collaborative process and that speaks a lot about his character. Being able to give life to Howard & Alan’s original vision was such an honor. Alan stressed how proud Howard would have been to see their concept onstage. That in and of itself was worth all the hard work.

How do you prepare before a show? Do you have any superstitions or routines that you do before you go on stage each night?

The trio actually had a theme song that we would blast every night in our dressing room. It was Steely Dan’s “The Fez” and we HAD to dance to it before we went onstage or it wouldn’t be a good show. We never missed it, and I like to think every performance pretty much nailed it!

What is the most rewarding part of the show for you, and which part do you find most challenging?

The most rewarding part of working on the show was getting to create our roles with Brian and Brandon. Casey gave us the freedom during rehearsal to come up with a lot of our own bits and adlibs. The most challenging was the fact that a lot of it bombed. Getting the opportunity to fall on your face and know that no one was judging you was the best possible scenario. We ended up coming up with a lot of hilarious stuff. I already miss my boys and hope we get a chance to work together again.

Your 4^th July video was fantastic, is there any chance you’ll post more Aladdin videos on your blog? There has to be a wrap party on 31^st right ;)

Thanks! 4^th of July in Seattle was one of my favorite experiences of the year. I’m so glad we got to document it. I made a music video with our cast for Casey for closing but it’s a little bit irreverent so I think it will be kept on private :)

Looking to the future, do you have any dream roles that you would love to do?

I’m actually about to start work on a show that I’ve dreamed about being turned into a musical since I was a little kid, NEWSIES. To say that I’ve been obsessed with the film would be an understatement. I’m playing the role of Crutchie who I always joked about wanting to play if they ever did a stage version. Getting to play him in the premiere production is truly a dream and getting to reunite with a lot of the brilliant people who worked on ALADDIN is doubly exciting.

And finally, looking back over your career so far, do any moments or performances really stand out as something truly special that you’ll always remember?

When I was twelve I got to play The Little Boy in RAGTIME on tour. Even at that age, I realized I was working on something truly special. Getting to be downstage, center for that opening number with just a wall of sound hitting your back from the forty-plus member cast is forever a defining moment in my decision to do theatre as a living. That musical was so brilliant and getting to be a part of it at such a young age is an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Andrew, thank you so much for your time, it's been a pleasure.  All the best for Newsies!

If you want to know more about AKB then make sure you check out his website and his blog (where he frequently posts videos like the amazing 4th July video mentioned above)!  And if you can get to New Jersey between 15th September and 16th October, make sure you go and see the Premiere Production of Newsies! The Musical at the Paper Mill Playhouse and support Andrew in person!  Tickets are available here.

Good Pals. Blood Brothers.

Just as I was about to call it a night 5th Avenue kindly pointed me in the direction of a new video on their youtube channel!

Brian Gonzales (Babkak), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Omar), Adam Jacobs (Aladdin) and Brandon O'Neill (Kassim) performed "Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim" at 5th Avenue's Spotlight Night last week.  Replaced by "One Jump Ahead" in the original animated classic when Aladdin's friends were cut from the script, the song was later released in demo form in The Music Behind the Magic collection.  It's great to hear this song with all the harmonies!

Interesting to note is that whilst the song has gone through a few changes, it still makes reference to Baghdad as the setting.  What this means for Agrabah is currently unclear, but I can't see it being cut from the script completely.  Maybe Baghdad is the capital city in the kingdom of Agrabah?  Then again, I never saw them adding "Call Me a Princess" back into the story, so what do I know!