The Magic is Back! Aladdin Reopens on Broadway!

 

Michael Maliakel & Shoba Narayan as Aladdin & Jasmine., Photo by Matthew Murphy

"Come on down, come on in, let the magic begin..."

Tonight the magic begins again! After almost eighteen months Disney's Aladdin returns to Broadway, bringing with it that joyful energy that the world needs so much at the moment. Tonight, the historic New Amsterdam Theatre will once again be filled with an audience who loves theatre, with music, laughter, and applause. It will be one of the most exhilarating night's in the show's and the theatre's history.

I just want to wish everyone there tonight the very best of luck for this historic reopening. Whether it's your Broadway debut or if you've been with the show from the beginning. From the ushers and backstage crew to the orchestra and stars on stage. You've all earned this. This is your moment. Enjoy it, savor it, and, most importantly, have fun with it and let your joy radiate from that stage tonight. You deserve every success and I hope your reopening night audience is absolutely wild!

I wish we could be there, supporting you in person, but we are one hundred percent there in spirit and I can't wait to see you all in person in November. I'll make sure to give Friend Like Me a standing ovation when I watch the TikTok live stream tonight!

Make some magic everyone, and may all your wishes come true!

Michael Maliakel as Aladdin, Photo by Matthew Murphy

Shoba Narayan as Jasmine, Photo by Matthew Murphy

Michael James Scott (Genie), Michael Maliakel (Aladdin) and the Broadway ensemble of Aladdin, Photo by Matthew Murphy

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.

Back in Rehearsals!

 

Michael James Scott as Genie

Broadway's Aladdin returned to the rehearsal room on Monday with a brand new cast that can't wait to bring the magic back to the New Amsterdam stage.

Now, Disney Theatrical have shared a first glimpse behind the curtain as Director/Choreographer Casey Nicholaw joins Michael Maliakel (Aladdin), Shoba Narayan (Jasmine), Michael James Scott (Genie), and more as they get ready to grant more Broadway wishes.

Aladdin reopens on Tuesday, September 28, and tickets are on sale now. And, if you want to be part of that magical return, there are even a few tickets available for reopening night!! Tickets for reopening were previously sold out, but I expect we will see availability for that night come and go now as we get closer and people who were hoping to travel internationally (like me) sadly can no longer attend. You guys just promise to cheer extra loud for me!

Aladdin Returns to Broadway September 28th!

 

Let's make some magic!!! Aladdin returns to Broadway on September 28th!

Disney on Broadway's website has been updated today to announce the return of Aladdin and The Lion King to Broadway after over a year. I am so happy right now I can't quite put it into words so I'll just let this incredible video from Disney do the talking (and yes, I did have tears in my eyes by the end).

As speculated yesterday, The Lion King will return first with performances beginning Tuesday, September 14th, with Aladdin opening two weeks later on Tuesday, September 28th.

And that's not all!

As part of their return to Broadway, Disney will be offering an incredible Double the Magic offer with a special ticket to BOTH shows with prices starting from just $149! No service fees, free exchanges and refunds, you can even book your tickets now and choose your performance dates later!

Tickets will go on sale next Tuesday, May 11th, at 7AM.

I am so, so happy right now. After this last year I need the joy that this show brings. I can only imagine how those involved with the show must be feeling right now, and how amazing that re-opening night will be. Come on down, come on in, the magic is back.

UPDATE 05/11 - Seems I may have broken this story a little earlier than the official announcement! I've updated the links and video so they should work properly now!

In a statement released this morning Disney Theatrical's Thomas Schumacher said:

"After 18 months of being apart we are thrilled to welcome our audiences back and are proud to introduce these unique benefits to make buying Broadway tickets risk-free, flexible and affordable. Broadway's reopening - before tourists fully return - will be the perfect time for us tri-staters to attend Broadway as shows will be more accessible than ever."

Tickets are now on sale for Aladdin's magical return to Broadway. I spent a crazy amount of time clicking refresh today but I am overjoyed to have been able to get tickets for the show's reopening night on Broadway. Now I just have to hope travel restrictions ease and we can travel to the US! The atmosphere that night will truly be once in a lifetime. Broadway is back!!

Broadway to Reopen September 14!

 

"Come on down, come on in, let the magic begin!"

It's been too long since we heard those words. Over a year after Broadway went dark due to the pandemic, the orchestra is beginning to tune up once more as Broadway prepares to return. According to Broadway World, New York Govenor Andrew Cuomo announced this morning that Broadway will be back on September 14, 2021, at 100% capacity! Not only that, but tickets for shows could be sold as early as tomorrow!

So does this mean that Aladdin will be back on September 14th? Maybe, but also maybe a little later. According to the New York Times The Lion King, Hamilton, and Wicked, the three juggernauts of the Great Bright Way, have been planning a joint announcement for their mid-September return. Broadway World suggests this will come next week. As the NY Times says, these three juggernaut shows are best placed to face the risks of the post-Covid market.

Aladdin, along with Chicago, Come From Away, and American Utopia, is also hoping to reopen in September, but, unlike the three juggernauts, it doesn't sound like an announcement was already planned. Producers likely want to see what ticket sales are like for the big 3 before announcing the details of more returning shows. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long.

Even if Aladdin's reopening is announced later that The Lion King's, there's still a good chance both shows will reopen together on September 14th. Or Disney could choose to reopen The Lion King on the 14th with Aladdin following soon after so they both get the spotlight on their reopening night.

Either way, we're almost there! In just a few months the magic will be back!