Full Trailer for Live Action Aladdin Released!

It's finally here!

Guy Ritchie's live action reimagining of Aladdin is due to hit cinemas in May and now we finally have the full trailer for movie!

I really need to get home, I just watched this on my phone during my lunch break and I need to see it on a big screen to really take it all in.

A lot has been made of the Genie since we first saw him last month but he looks great here. I never thought he looked that bad to be honest, but the special effects team have obviously been working overtime as he looks fantastic here.

And Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott sound AMAZING in 'A Whole New World'. I always hoped they would after Disney specifically searched for leads who could sing and dance, but just hearing them is a big relief and brings me so much joy!

Judging by the trailer, and everything else we know so far, Aladdin is shaping up to be exactly what I wished for. Take the heart of the story and characters from the animated classic, some noticeable influences from the incredible stage production, whilst adding something new so that the film stands on its own. To quote Genie, "here's hoping" that all adds up to a fantastic movie when the film arrives on May 24th.

Now excuse me, I need to go and watch the trailer a few more times!

Disney's Aladdin Officially Opens in London!

Trevor Dion Nicholas as Genie, Photo by Deen van Meer

Wow!!  I can't believe it!  Tonight is the night that Disney's Aladdin officially opens in London!!!

It was a long road to Broadway but since then it's been a whirlwind of success as Aladdin has received the fastest international rollout of any Disney Theatrical production and become the first Disney musical to transfer from Broadway to the West End since The Lion King!

I am over the moon to be in the audience tonight and can't wait to see how far this incredible cast has come since previews started a few weeks ago.  I'll be the guy in the Grand Circle jumping to his feet the moment 'Friend Like Me' ends but something tells me that won't narrow it down!

There's nothing else I can say now except good luck to everyone at the Prince Edward Theatre tonight, on stage and off.  This is your moment, you've worked hard to get here, now relax and enjoy it and your passion and energy will shine on stage.  Let's make some magic!

Dean John-Wilson & Jade Ewen as Aladdin & Jasmine, Photo by Deen van Meer

First Teaser Release for Aladdin: The New Musical Fantasy

This week Disney Theatrical and Mirvish Productions have released the first teaser trailer for Aladdin: The New Musical Fantasy.

Like the guy in the video says, "at last" Aladdin is on its way :o)

Must admit, I wasn't expecting to see anything like this so soon.  Hopefully this means that casting news isn't too far away!

Not much to report on the social media side of things.  The official @Aladdin has tweeted "I can show you the world..." and the official Facebook page followed suit with a new image;

And then another quote, "Arabian nights, like Arabian days..." and finally the link to advance ticket sales that I posted about last week.

In related news Courtney Reed, Seattle's original Princess Jasmine, last night took part in a a special evening celebrating the Life and Lyrics of Howard Ashman.  Courtney and fellow Broadway stars performed Howard's songs, including some of those from Aladdin, to benefit GMHC and other AIDS service organisations in the tri-state area.  The evening also saw Howard's sister, Sarah Ashman Gillespie, and partner, William Lauch awarded with the first annual Howard Ashman Award by GMHC.  The award is designed to "honor musicians and songwriters who have made significant contributions to world culture and have utilized their success to make a difference in the fight to end the epidemic."  I hope the event was a success and will continue to be in the years to come.

European Premiere Rehearsal Videos

Hi everyone, firstly I just want to say sorry it's been so long and, more importantly, a big thank you to both David and Steffen who have been posting updates on the upcoming Denmark production in the comments sections.  Because of their much appreciated help, some of you may have already seen the videos I'm posting here now, but it's always good to watch them again ;o)

The first is video can be found on YouTube and features behind the scenes footage from early rehearsals along with interviews (in Danish) with theatre director Soren Moller and actor Pelle Emil Hebsgaard, who plays Genie.

An even longer behind the scenes video can be found at Fredericia Avisen.  This video shows pretty much the full choreography for Arabian Nights and Prince Ali (basically it's the first video but uncut and without the interviews).

And if that's not enough here's some new videos that I actually just found by accident when embedding the first YouTube video!!

Here is an interview (in Danish) with Johannes Nymark who plays Aladdin;

And here is the trailer for the show, which has it's premiere next Thursday!  Wow, less than a week until the European Premiere of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical. Can't quite believe how fast that's come around!  Whilst there's no footage in the trailer, it does offer us a quick glimpse at the costumes for Aladdin, Jasmine and Genie (and it looks like Fredericia is joining Tuacahn with a blue Genie).

Tickets for the show, which runs 4th October through 11th November, are now on sale at its official website www.aladdinthemusical.dk.

Once again a big thank you to Steffen and David for keeping things up to date.  I knew that Jane and I being part of an amateur production of Whistle Down the Wind would take up a lot of my free time, but having never had a pet before I was totally unprepared for the two adorable bunnies that recently came into our lives.  But things are getting back to normal now (a new normal anyway), and I'd determined to have my full Tuacahn write up done next weekend in time to post by the 1st October.

Aladdin: The New Stage Musical at Tuacahn Amphitheatre

I know I keep saying this, but there's not long left to see this fantastic show in the ideal setting of the Tuacahn Amphitheatre, so if you can see it please make the journey, you really won't regret it.  Tickets are still on sale at their website.

Greetings from Utah!

Can't believe today's the day!  I'm finally seeing Aladdin tonight at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre!  It was a long journey yesterday involving 2 flights totalling 13 hours and a 2 hour drive through 3 states (we actually went through 4 timezones yesterday!) so I didn't have chance to post some great updates Tuacahn shared on their Twitter;

They have now posted their new commercial for Aladdin: The New Stage Musical on their YourTube channel;

Doesn't it look great!!

And secondly they shared an article The Salt Lake Tribune posted on the special effects created for the show.  It's great to hear that a former Disney Imagineer created the 3D process used in the show.  Make sure you check out the 3 production photos in the article's gallery!

That's all for now.  I have to say it's fantastic here in St. George.  The weather is gorgeous and the scenery is breathtaking.  Our room at the Wingate by Wyndham is really nice, a lot bigger than we expected and everyone has been friendly.  In terms of Aladdin, it was great seeing the Tuacahn's billboards from the show as we drove from Las Vegas, driving around St. George today there were more banners for the show (and Hairspray) and even in the hotel lobby there are adverts for the show!  Less than 5 hours now before we take our seats and the orchestra starts to play the opening notes of "Arabian Nights", so excited!  Oh, and finally I just want to say a big thank you to Courtney Reed for her tweet, it was really sweet and deeply appreciated.  I can promise you, we will have fun :o)

Unbelievable Sights, Indescribable Feeling

The teaser commercial is now online at The 5th Avenue Theatre's facebook page!

Sorry for any confusion everyone, I guess things are changing very quickly at the moment.  I was in a rush this morning and only checked my email (which would have been sent before the Tony Awards aired) which did advise that there were currently no plans to put the trailer online, but when I got to work I got a tweet from the 5th advising that the trailer was now online!

Make sure you check it out at the link above, and later today we will see the first public performance from the show when Courtney Reed sings "Call Me a Princess" on New Day Northwest.

Call Me a Princess

Well if you live in the USA I hope you caught the teaser commercial during last night's Tony Awards (though it sounds like it may have been a regional thing as I've been advised by some friends that they watched the entire show and didn't see the teaser).  On the subject of the Tony Awards, congratulations to Casey Nicholaw (and Trey Parker) who won Best Direction of a Musical for The Book of Mormon!

If you missed it, I'm afraid that 5th Avenue have advised that there are currently no plans for the commercial to be available online.  But if you live in the area, make sure you check out New Day Northwest today around 11am PST when Courtney Reed will be performing "Call Me a Princess".  If you don't live in the area, then don't worry as this performance will later be available online.

It wasn't that long ago I said there was no way "Call Me a Princess" would be in the show!  How wrong could I have been!  It'll be interesting to see how much (if at all) the song has changed, and what this means for Jasmine's character arc in the show.

In other news, tomorrow night's Aladdin Spotlight Night is being recorded and 5th Avenue will make selected footage available over the coming weeks in the build up to the show.

I Can Show You the World

If you live in the USA make sure you watch the Tony Awards on CBS tonight and, even more importantly, don't even think about going to get a drink during the commercials as The 5th Avenue Theatre reports that they will be premiering the teaser commercial for Aladdin: The New Stage Musical during the Tony Awards.

Best wishes go out to Casey Nicholaw, the director and choreographer of  Aladdin: The New Stage Musical, who is nominated for Best Direction of a Musical (with Trey Parker) and Best Choreography for The Book of Mormon.  The show itself is nominated for a total of 14 awards, including Best Musical.

And of course I've got my fingers crossed for Alan Menken and Glen Slater who are nominated for Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for their work on Sister Act.  The show is nominated for a total of 5 awards, including a Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical nomination for Patina Miller.  I saw the show when it was in London and it really is a fantastic show with a genuine feel good factor, and Patina was incredible.

For those of us who don't live in the USA I'm hoping that The 5th Avenue Theatre will release the trailer online so that we can see it in the next day or so!