This blog is dedicated to Disney's Aladdin: Broadway's New Musical Comdey. Following a successful Pilot Production at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in 2011, and regional and international productions in 2012, Disney announced that Aladdin would be coming to Broadway in 2014. Aladdin had it's pre-Broadway engagement at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre and opened on Broadway 20th March 2014.
James Monroe Iglehart as Genie, Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann
Bit of a flashback today. I picked up the Memphis cast album whilst I was in New York so I've been a bit of a Memphis kick since I got back and was playing catch on some old episodes of The JMI Show on their YourTube channel when I came across this;
Yes, James finally interviewed himself and it is every bit as awesome as it sounds.
The interview is full of great moments, but of special interest to Aladdin fans is the question he asks himself at the 14 minute mark - "what's next for James Monroe Iglehart?" This video was post on 1st August 2012, two weeks before the D23 event where Alan Menken mentioned that the show was coming to Broadway. Though he never actually says the words he certainly drops plenty of hints making this the first confirmation that Aladdin was being considered for Broadway! And of course we all know what happened next!
Watching these has made me realise just how much I miss the interviews JMI did back in Seattle. Now that the show has opened I really hope they let him do more. They're essentially free publicity and fans love them, he's a great ambassador for the show. As Genie would say, "Well, here's hoping!"
Adam Jacobs as Aladdin and Courtney Reed as Jasmine, Photo by Chris Bennion
Maybe I'm being a bit premature with the title of this post (no reviews have come out yet), but pretty much everything said about this show so far has been positive, so I'm certain the reviews will be the same.
I'll update this post as the reviews come in, but before that make sure you check out the new video posted by King 5 where Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), Courtney Reed (Jasmine) and James Monroe Iglehart (Genie) talk about the show and we're treated to some amazing footage which includes "Friend Like Me" and "High Adventure"! I can't put into words how awesome this show looks and how much I wish I was in Seattle right now! So stop reading this and go watch it!!!!!
1st Update - Still no reviews but a very short interview with none other than Alan Menken has been posted by Talkin' Broadway, so make sure you check that out as the Disney Legend talks about Aladdin: The New Stage Musical and what he has planned for the future (including one show that should make Don Darryl Rivera very happy!)
2nd Update - No reviews yet (time difference sucks!) but Seattle Times have posted a beautiful article about Alan Menken's visit to Seattle Children's Hospital and 5th Avenue have posted another edition of The JMI Show on their youtube page where our favourite Genie interviews Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Brandon O'Neill and his old friend Brian Gonzales!
3rd Update - Well the first reviews are in and they run the full range from positive to negative, which is pretty standard for a Disney production! Most seem to agree that the show is good, but has areas where improvements could be made. It seems Aladdin: The New Stage Musical is, like its title character, a diamond in the rough (at least in the eyes of the critics).
Seattle Times - World Premiere Aladdin Lands at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre
Broadway World - Disney's Aladdin at 5th Avenue Theatre - Very Disney Park
The Broadway Critic - Aladdin @ 5th Avenue Theatre (note this review is from 10th July preview, whilst changes were still being made to the show)
Examiner - Aladdin Stage Show Offers "Unbelievable Sights" and "Indescribable Feelings" (note this review is from 16th July preview whilst changes were still being made to the show)
It's midnight now, so I'm off to bed! Maybe there will be more reviews in the morning.
I'm really not worried by the reviews, pretty much every Disney show (bar maybe The Lion King) received mixed reviews and most of them went on to long and successful runs. Beauty and the Beast ran for 13 years on Broadway and still tours around the US and the world, Tarzan may not have been the success Disney hoped for on Broadway but with some re-working it went on to huge success in Europe (and recently started regional productions in the US I believe!), Mary Poppins is still going strong on Broadway and whilst The Little Mermaid closed way before it should have (that show was criminally under rated) it's now being re-worked (like Tarzan) for a European release and will hopefully start it's long promised US Tour in the near future. And it's important to keep in mind that Aladdin: The New Stage Musical had only a fraction of the budget of those shows!
4th Update - Two more reviews, both of which are largely positive!
MiceChat - MiceChatter Igrules visists Disney's Aladdin Show in Seattle (note this review is from 9th July preview, whilst changes were still being made to the show)
5th Update - Four more reviews which are all positive, including one from someone who says they hadn't seen the film before going to the show (which gives a nice new point of view) and a heartfelt post by Howard Ashman's sister Sarah from her site Part of His World.
So Genie, Jafar and Iago were all sat around the table chatting about the show... must be another episode of The JMI Show!!
With opening curtain just a few hours away, 5th Avenue have released another edition of The James Monroe Iglehart Show where James talks with his co-stars Jonathan Freeman and Don Darryl Rivera.
It's late, so I'll probably edit this post in the morning, so all I'm gonna say tonight is just watch the video!
And of course, best wishes to all the cast and crew, and everyone at 5th Avenue, for tonight's official opening!
I can't put into words just how good this video is! James Monroe Iglehart (Genie) is back with another fantastic interview, this time with Adam Jacobs (Aladdin) and Courtney Reed (Jasmine). Just watching this you can tell they were born to play these roles!
