Am I Sultan or am I Sultan!

Sean G. Griffin spoke briefly with Q13 Arts Around this morning on playing the Sultan in Aladdin: The New Stage Musical.

You can see the video here.

A few years ago I never thought Disney would bring Aladdin to stage, now the show is only 1 WEEK away from opening!  Seriously, if you have the chance to go, make sure you go!  This is a dream cast for the show and if Disney sticks to its original plan, this will be your one chance to see a Disney produced version of the show before they license it out.  Tickets are on sale here and the show opens NEXT WEEK!

I'm expecting the next month to be extremely busy as the show opens and more images, videos and reviews are released, so stay tuned, it's gonna be one fantastic magic carpet ride!

You Would be Most Rewarded to Consider... This

The 5th Avenue Theatre have posted their 3rd preview of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical on their youtube page.

The video gives us a brief glimpse at some of the dances and short interviews with Courtney Reed (Jasmine), James Monroe Iglehart (Genie), Don Darryl Rivera (Iago) and Sean G. Griffin (Sultan).  It's great to see that the cast are all so enthusiastic about this show!

And after confirming a new song for Genie in our interview last week, James now confirms a new duet for Aladdin and Jasmine!!!  I'm so happy about this!  I only hope that they do a video/preview of the new songs so that those who can't make it to Seattle get chance to hear them!

You are Only Interested in the Exceptionally Rare

Last night Broadway World posted an exclusive interview with writer/lyricist Chad Beguelin on his work on Aladdin: The New Stage Musical.

In the interview he talks about what it's like bringing the movie to the stage, changes to the story, working with Alan Menken, and confirms that he and Alan wrote 3 new songs for the show!

The new songs are "A Million Miles Away", "Somebody's Got Your Back" and "A Royal Wedding".  Wonder which of these is the new Genie song that James mentioned when I interview him earlier this week?!

On top of that he also confirm two more of the previously cut Howard Ashman/Alan Menken songs that have been added back into the story; "Proud of Your Boy" (previously teased by Adam in my interview with him) and "High Adventure".

Words can't describe how happy I am that "Proud of Your Boy" is in the show!  I was over the moon when Adam hinted at the song, and getting confirmation just makes me even happier!  And I'm so glad that "High Adventure" is being used!  After "Proud of Your Boy" it was my favourite of the unused songs in The Music Behind the Magic, sung as Aladdin and his friends raced into battle with Jafar to rescue Jasmine.

The show is less than 2 weeks away now!  If you can go and still haven't got tickets, stop hanging round here and go get them!  Just make sure you stop by and tell me what it's like!

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!

All You Gotta do is Rub that Lamp!

Tonight, I'm very happy to be able to present an interview with the one and only James Monroe Iglehart!

Gotta admit I was a bit nervous about doing this one as I'd never even dreamed of interviewing anyone before I did the interview with Adam Jacobs earlier this month, and if you've ever watched James' Youtube show you'll know he's something of a natural at interviewing people!  If you haven't, make sure you check out the James Monroe Iglehart Show, it's a fantastic show and after watching it I can see why he was cast as the Genie, he's just a perfect fit for the part.  Anyway, that's enough from me!  Let's hear from James!

How did you originally get into musical theatre, and who (or what) would you say have been your biggest influences?

I got into musicals because my parents introduced me to them. My mom is a music teacher and my father was an actor in the 1970’s so acting and singing was something I just always loved doing and we went to musicals all the time. I would say I got serious about being in musicals in high school, I was in show choir for 2 years and the school musical You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown I played Charlie Brown, that confused some folks, but I had a greatest time. So when I went to college I majored in theatre and have been doing it ever since.

My biggest influences are probably my parents but as far as Musical theatre folks go I really looked up to Ted Ross, Ken Paige and Chuck Cooper they all had amazing voices and unmatched comic timing. Both of which I aspire to every day of my life!

You’re best known for playing the role of "Big Love" Bobby in Memphis and you have a long history with the show. What is it about the role that’s kept you coming back to the show for over 5 years? And will you be going back to Memphis after your turn in Aladdin?

What kept me coming back was that I loved the show very much and it was my first time originating a role so I promised myself I would ride on the Memphis train as long as I could, thankfully the tracks led to Broadway. Yes I will be going back to Memphis after Aladdin. Thankfully the producers of Memphis gave me a leave of absence to be a part of Aladdin and I’m very grateful they did I’m having a best time!

James Monroe Iglehart as Bobby in Memphis

Do you remember Aladdin from its original release? Were you a fan of the Disney classic before you got the part?

Do I remember the Aladdin release, was I a fan? Ha! Heck yes and Heck yes! I was 17 in 1992 when the film came out and I went that first weekend to see it with my mom and I have loved it ever since! I have been a fan of the Genie since that day. I have all the Aladdin movies, watched the television series regularly and saw the Disney California Adventure version of the musical in its first year! So to say I’m a fan is an understatement!

How did you come to be involved with Aladdin? Did you take part in the original reading or did you audition for the Seattle production? What was the process like?

I became a part of the project just through a regular audition process for the Seattle production. I didn’t even know there had been a reading until after the auditions were going on.

Now I remember seeing the original announcement that the production was being brought to Seattle on Broadway.com. I heard that they had been auditioning guys 2 weeks before I got the call to come in and I knew some of the guys that were being seen for Genie. And being such a fan of the movie I was just praying that they would call me in too. But I figured well I guess they don’t know me well enough to call me in but in my heart I was screaming "I hope they call me in!" and thank God they finally did. After that the process was pretty standard, first audition for the director and casting director then a call back 2 weeks later for the whole creative team.

When did you learn you’d been successful and what was your reaction to the news?

I found out 4 hours after the call back that I got the role, I was on 6^th avenue in NY getting my contact lenses replaced when my agent called and told me and I screamed right outside the store!

What attracted you to the role of the Genie?

To be honest I love magic and I love Robin Williams, which is funny because I don’t play the Genie like him at all! Yet when I first saw the film I told my mother right after Friend Like Me "I hope I get to be part of something like that someday!" Talk about a prayer being answered!

The role of Genie is so full of silliness and at the same time he really cares for his friends and I act like that all the time. I’m also a big fan of being able to break the 4^th Wall so to actually get to be in a show like that is a dream come true!

How are rehearsals going? Andrew Keenan-Bolger tweeted that "Friend Like Me" may be the biggest production number ever staged! Sounds like you’re going to be bringing down the house!

Friend Like Me is something to see and that is all I’m saying but rehearsals are going very well! Casey and our creative team are the best. Our cast is so talented I think folks are going to be shocked and happy!

From everything that’s been said about changing the tone back to the forties jazz-cabaret style originally envisioned by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, it seems to be implied that of all the characters from the film, the Genie is the one who’s changed the most, and the one thing we do know is not to expect a Robin Williams impersonation. How liberating has it been to be able to put your own spin on the role and what can you tell us about the Genie in this production?

It’s the best feeling in the world and a great weight off my shoulders! I love Robin Williams. I have seen all of his concerts and most of his films! He is in my top 10 favorite comedians, the man is one of a kind and no one could replace or copy him so I was very pleased when I was told to put my own spin on this role. I try to stay true to the essence of the character in the film but just doing it through my style!

One of the main reasons for re-working the story has been to include the "lost" Howard Ashman songs. Since both of Howard’s Genie songs survived in the finished film, can we expect some completely new songs for Genie?

There is one new song for the Genie.

Silly question time! Is Genie still blue? If so, how long will you have to spend in make-up before the show?

Actually they are still working out the details of that so you will have to wait and see!

You’re no stranger to shows that start out in regional theatre and go on to huge Broadway success, and whilst it’s still early days there is clearly a lot of interest in this show. I know the show was announced as a pilot production with the intention of licensing it out, but given the high level of interest is there any feeling amongst the cast and crew that this show could be destined for bigger things and maybe one day reach Broadway? And, if so, could we see you in blue again?

Well I would love to see there being a future with the show but as of right now if there are plans to move it further they have not told this Genie!

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

Actually I go over all my lines and lyrics every night before the show. You see a few years ago I got cocky and didn’t do that and just blanked on stage in front of a live audience so now I never forget to do it! Even though I have been with Memphis forever I still do it just to keep me humble and on my toes! I also hold a prayer circle every night at 5 min to places for all those that want to participate and I mean anyone!

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

You know not anymore. I’m looking forward to hopefully being in more new shows and creating new roles. I have been blessed to play all of the roles I have loved since I was a child. I wouldn’t mind getting in on writing new material too. But I will say if I ever get the opportunity to play Harold Hill in the Music Man I would jump on it!

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?

Yes many but the ones that jump out first are the first time I saw my name on a Broadway poster that show being 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Then opening Memphis on Broadway and crying after we performed on the Tony’s! And last but not least the day I was able to write on my tax returns under occupation ACTOR was the best day of my career! HA!

James, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions, it’s been a pleasure. All the best for the show!

Thank you so much for this opportunity and again thank you for all your support!

Look at that, Abu!

It's not every day 5th Avenue releases new publicity images!

Many thanks to 5th Avenue for kindly providing the images.  I've got a big post coming up so I'll let the pictures do the talking for this one.

Adam Jacobs as Aladdin, Photo by Mark Kitaoka

Courtney Reed as Jasmine, Photo by Mark Kitaoka

Adam Jacobs as Aladdin and Courtney Reed as Jasmine, Photo by Mark Kitaoka

That last image has to be my favourite release so far!

Be back soon!

Who's he? Why ME!!

Fresh from a successful Spotlight Night, 5th Avenue have posted the video of Jonathan Freeman (Jafar) and Don Darryl Rivera (Iago) performing "Why Me", one of the "lost" Menken/Rice songs, on their youtube page.

Video by The 5th Avenue Theatre

Originally written for when Jafar became master of the lamp, this song was ultimately replaced by "Prince Ali Reprise" in the final film as it was felt it was too late in the film to introduce a completely new song.  Now it's been re-worked to take place much earlier in the story, when Jafar and Iago are searching for the "diamond in the rough".

It's great to hear Jonathan Freeman as Jafar again!  It really makes me feel like a kid again, and I can just tell this is going to be something really special.  And speaking of special, make sure you have a watch of this video from Seattle's King 5 news.  The video contains a nice shot of The 5th Avenue Theatre (complete with all its new Aladdin banners) and talks about the history of the theatre and how, in the last 10 years, 5 new shows that were originally produced at 5th Avenue went on to to be successes on Broadway, including 2 Tony Award winning Best Musicals, one of which was Memphis, which starred Aladdin's Genie; James Monroe Iglehart!

If you can see the show and still haven't got tickets, make sure you stop by http://www.5thavenue.org/ and book them as soon as you can!  The Spotlight Night was moved to a bigger venue due to the overwhelming demand for seats, so this run is almost sure to sell out as the event gets closer!  And be sure to keep an eye on both 5th Avenue's youtube page (linked above) for more possible teasers from the Spotlight Night (I hear A Whole New World was performed and I can't wait to see that!!) and this page which hosts full videos of previous Spotlight Nights.  With any luck the full Aladdin: The New Stage Musical event will be viewable in the near future!

Edit: I'm very sorry to say I mistakenly credited this song to Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, it's actually an unused Alan Menken and Tim Rice song.  I've now corrected it.