Broadway News Round Up 37

Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Photo by Deen Van Meer

Welcome to the latest Broadway news round up for Disney's Aladdin featuring all the latest updates on Disney's newest Broadway hit!

Firstly, sorry there was no update last week but as it was father's day I spent the weekend with my dad.  I don't get to see him as much as I'd like to these days so it was great to be able to spend the weekend with him.

Now, on with the show!

First up, and very fitting in light of this week's Supreme Court ruling, Aladdin's Kathryn Allison took part in Roar earlier this week, the 5th annual benefit concert for Broadway Sings for Pride.  It sounds like it was a great evening for a fantastic cause.

And in the wake of this week's Supreme Court ruling Aladdin celebrated with some very special showbills;

Photo by Adam Kaokept

Adam Jacobs had a few nights away from the show last week but he didn't go too far from the Disney magic.  In fact he took part in a special Disney Theatrical event on the Disney Cruise Line in Norway with his wife Kelly Jacobs (Mary Poppins).  Now I really want to take a Disney cruise!!

New York Theatre Guide's West End Reporter, Hayden Thomas, sat down with Aladdin's James Monroe Iglehart to talk about theatre, Gotham, Disney and even possible West End transfers... (please please please please please!)

And speaking of West End transfers the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye is reporting that Disney Theatrical's Thomas Schumacher told him that Aladdin will be coming to London's West End as soon as the Prince Edward Theatre is free, hopefully next year.  But don't expect an official announcement any time soon.  Bamigboye goes on to state that Cameron Mackintosh, who operates the theatre, told him he's currently waiting to arrange a Broadway transfer for the Prince Edward's current show, Miss Saigon, before a date can be arranged for Aladdin's West End debut.

Personally I don't have any reason to doubt that this report is true, apart from the usual reluctance to trust a tabloid column.  We know from previous interviews with Thomas Schumacher that more international productions of Aladdin are in the works and the West End would seem like a natural fit given it's Broadway success and that London hasn't had a new Disney show since Mary Poppins and no Broadway transfer since The Lion King.  I'd just caution saving the celebrations until an official announcement comes from Disney Theatrical.

The Dominion Post has posted a great interview with Trevor Dion Nicholas about making his Broadway wishes come true as the Genie!  And if you want to know more about Trevor you can visit his website which includes the more in depth Q&A that helped to produce the article.  You can also check out his band, Neighborhood Goliath, on Twitter and at their website.  Their first CD goes on sale next month.  So if, like me, you loved Trevor in Aladdin why not give it a try?

Aladdin's Brandt Martinez joined fellow Broadway stars to create the dance video The Backroom which you can view at Broadway World.

The men of Broadway's Aladdin and The Lion King took part in an exclusive photo shoot for OUT and Broadway World has behind the scenes footage from the event.

Aladdin's Yurel Echazarreta is part of Roberto Araujo's photography exhibit Malexposure - B-Side at the G Lounge and Gallery.  The exhibit opens on June 30th and runs through July 6th.  Broadway World has more details.

I'd also like to say best wishes to Aladdin's Jennifer Rias who's taking part in a Disney Themed Master Class this afternoon with Broadway Artist Alliance.

 It's time for a quick Vacation Alert - Adam Jacobs will be away on July 3rd.  Rodney Ingram will be playing the title role that night so if you want to catch Rodney as Aladdin here's you chance.

Aladdin's original Kassim, Brandon O'Neill is returning to the role of the Pirate King in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance at the Ordway Center in St. Paul, Minnesota this August 4-16th so make sure you catch the show if you're in the area!

Samantha Massell, The Muny's Princess Jasmine, recently reunited with her Hunchback of Notre Dame director Scott Schwartz for a reading of Secondhand Lions.

Disney's official blog has posted some fantastic before and after transformation shots that show the cast transform from everyday New Yorkers in citizens of Agrabah with the help of Gregg Barnes' beautiful costumes and a little Disney magic.  You've got to check them out, they're just amazing to look at!

Disney blog DisTripQueen visited Aladdin this week and has posted 5 reasons why Aladdin is a must see for any Disney fan!

Earlier this week the International Thespian Society presented the first show of the 2015 Thespian Festival - The Music of Menken.  Taking part in the show was Something Rotten's Bud Weber who was part of the original Broadway cast of Aladdin (and understudied the title role).  Alan Menken himself couldn't attend the event due to the filming of Beauty and the Beast but did take part in a pre-recorded video interview done specially for the event.

And finally if James Monroe Iglehart hosting and singing in Disney Theatrical's The Originals concert then how about a special Aladdin panel?  Aladdin - The Making of a Classic will bring directors John Musker and Ron Clements to the stage along with animators Eric Goldberg (Genie) and Mark Henn (Jasmine) and voice actors Scott Weinger (Aladdin), Linda Larkin (Jasmine) and Brad Kane (Aladdin, singing voice) as they reveal stories from the making of the animated classic.  Yeah, let's just say I really want to go!!

Until next week!

Broadway News Round Up 23

Tia Altinay, Khori Michelle Petinaud & Rhea Patterson in Aladdin, Photo by Cylla Von Tiedemann

Welcome to another news round up for Broadway's Aladdin!  A shorter edition this week but there's still plenty going on in the magical land of Agrabah.

Broadway World is reporting that Aladdin's Tia Altinay (who understudies Jasmine) will be appearing in tomorrow night's At This Performance... at The Lion Theatre, New York.  At This Performance... is a musical showcase created to highlight the talents of Broadway's standbys, understudies and alternates.  Tickets are $26.25 each and are available from the box office.  For the talent you'd be seeing that's an incredible price so if you're able to attend I'd highly recommend checking it out.

Also on Monday night, Aladdin alumni Andrew Keenan-Bolger will join other Broadway stars performing The Songs of Adam Wachter at Broadway's 54 Below.  Further information can be found here.  Again, it's a fantastic price to see some extremely talented Broadway performers, so if you are in NYC and looking for something to do tomorrow night you really can't go wrong with either of these events.

Timeout is reporting that Aladdin's Yurel Echezeretta (who understudies Kassim) spent time last week visiting Harrison School of the Arts, talking with the students and even directing and choreographing some scenes for their production of West Side Story (including the classic school dance and rumble scenes) which is being put on as part of the school's 25th anniversary celebration.  I guess that technically makes it his directorial debut (or at least co-director), congratulations Yurel!

Ok, now everyone knows that Aladdin's dancers are pretty much the best on Broadway.  They dance their butts off 8 shows a week.  So if you want to learn then you want to learn from the best.  Well, Aladdin's Dance Captain Michael Mindlin is teaching a Dance Audtion Technique Seminar this week on 13th November in NYC.  More details can be found at Playbill.

Even when he's on holiday it seems I can't go a week without posting something about James Monroe Iglehart!  If you missed Freestyle Love Supreme's show (which JMI is a part of) and you live in the USA then the show is now available on iTunes.

And finally, Broadway.com is asking you to rank your Top 10 Must See Performances on Broadway right now.  Aladdin's Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed, James Monroe Iglehart and Jonathan Freeman have all made the nominations so please give them some support!

From Agrabah to Paris!  It's been an exciting week for The Hunchback of Notre Dame as the show last night completed its preview performances.  Of course the biggest news of the week was our first official look at the cast.  But that wasn't the only news to come out of the La Jolla Playhouse last week.

Theater Mania reported that Ciara Renee (Esmeralda) will be taking part in Broadway Sings P!NK in January 2015.  Ciara will be joined by other Broadway stars singing new arrangements of P!NK's pop hits at two concerts to be held in New York on 19th and 25th January.  More information, including tickets, can be found here.

In addition to our first look at the cast the La Jolla Playhouse also gave us our first look at the fantastic show merchandise that is available to anyone going to see the show.  Since I'm an absolute sucker for Disney's show pins I'll definitely be picking up the pin badge when I see the show next year!

As well as showing off cast and merchandise photos, the La Jolla Facebook team also found time to speak briefly with Hunchback's Tony Award winning Lighting Designer Howard Binkley to discuss the production's tech rehearsals.

And finally, the San Diego Jewish Journal spoke with Director Scott Schwartz about the show.  I swear, the more I read about this show the more excited I get to finally see it!

Ok, that's pretty much it for today.  Except for one final thing I'll be back with in a few minutes...

Broadway Sessions presents "A Night in Agrabah"

It never fails, you have a small news round up then there's a rub of the lamp!  This Thursday Ben Cameron's Broadway Sessions is presenting a one off special event - A Night in Agrabah!

Taking place at The Laurie Beechman Theatre on 42nd Street, Broadway Sessions is a "fun and zany musical theatre variety show" where you can "get up close and personal with Broadway's brightest as the stars bare their souls, interact with the crowd and celebrate all things BROADWAY."

Tickets can be bought on the door ($5 cover, $15 f/b minimum) and Thursday night's A Night in Agrabah will feature the talents of Aladdin's Courtney Reed (Princess Jasmine), Don Darryl Rivera (Iago), Marisha Wallace, Dennis Stowe, Bud Weber, Khori Michelle Petinaud,Stanley Martin, Yurel Echezeretta and Jennifer Rias.

The show starts at 11pm (with open mic at 10pm for anyone brave enough to try it!) so if you're in NYC why not see Aladdin first then head on over to catch some of the incredibly talented cast members in a more intimate setting.

I wish I could be there and I hope everyone taking part has a fun night.

Broadway News Round Up 5

I hope everyone has had a good Bank Holiday/Memorial Day Weekend!  Welcome to the first weekly news round up (let's see how long I can keep this up, lol).

First up this week is a very special new video that Disney Theatrical have posted on their YouTube channel - The Surprise Hit of the Season!

Jim Hill interviews James Monroe Iglehart for the Huffington Post about winning his dream role and Aladdin's long road from Seattle to Broadway.

The Wall Street Journal also takes a look at Aladdin's journey to Broadway, talking with Thomas Schumacher, Casey Nicholaw, Chad Beguelin and James Monroe Iglehart about the overhauls it went through in order to become one of the biggest hits this season.

Another positive fan review has been posted.

CBS New York has posted an article on why they feel JMI should take home the Tony Award (and oh how I hope he does!)

Times Square Chronicles talks with Casey Nicholaw and James Monroe Iglehart.

Timeout: Central Florida Entertainment Guide go to diner and back stage with Yurel Echezeretta.

Make sure you vote in the first annual Ghostlight Awards, honouring those behind the scenes who are too often overlooked.  Aladdin has nominees in the following categories;

Best Concessions/Bar Staff - Eric Pagan
Best Dance Captain - Michael Mindlin
Best Dresser - Carrie Kamerer
Best Dresser - Leslie Moulton (Leslie is Don Darryl Rivera's dresser)
Best Merchandise Seller - Heather Card
Best Merchandise Seller - Clint Escandell
Best Usher - Megan Duffy
Best Usher - Josh Garcia

Voting closes tonight so please hurry!

James Monroe Iglehart and Casey Nicholaw talk with Theater Talk;

James Monroe Iglehart talks secrets with Broadway.com.

Courtney Reed has posted a Throwback Thursday Instagram photo of herself and Adam Jacobs from the 5th Avenue's Pilot Production of Aladdin that I'm pretty sure I've never seen before!

Adam Jacobs, James Monroe Iglehart and Casey Nicholaw talk with ABC News about Aladdin and their 1 wish.  Adam's is the most selfless but I really want JMI's wish to come true and I really, really want Casey's wish to come true (though I'd never have the cash or the room if it did!).  It's a great interview and well worth watching.  Like Casey says, this cast loves the film, loves their characters and that comes across on stage, it's what makes them the perfect cast for this.

Jonathan Freeman talks with Entertainment Weekly about Aladdin, all things Jafar and Owen Suskind's story.

Broadway's World's Backstage with Richard Ridge talks with Casey Nicholaw about Aladdin and his career so far.

And finally, congratulations to Jaz Sealey who made his debut as Kassim yesterday!

That's all for this weekend, I'll be back with another news round up next weekend but I have a few more posts coming up tonight as well!