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.
Saying goodbye is never easy, but if I've learnt anything these last few years it's that when someone says goodbye to Aladdin its never goodbye forever.
My heart is literally filled with joy to announce that Courtney Reed is making her West End debut as Princess Jasmine TONIGHT! That's right, our original princess is back in Agrabah for a limited run in London. West End you are not ready for this amazing woman. I wish we could be there tonight but we will be there very soon!
Gotta admit, it's going to be a little strange to see her play opposite anyone other than Adam Jacobs, but I'm really excited to see her Jasmine with Matt Croke's incredible Aladdin.
Courtney, we wish you an incredible West End debut tonight and can't wait to see you again. We're so excited!!!
Thursday 18th April was a very special day for Disney Theatrical as they celebrated 25 years of bringing Disney magic to Broadway!
That's right, it's been 25 years since Disney first brought Beauty and the Beast to the Broadway stage. Disney's first stage adaptation ran for an incredible 13 years, helping to revitalise Broadway and bring in a whole new generation of theatre goers. Since then Disney Theatrical have adapted many of Disney's most famous animated classics, live action movies, and even crafted entirely new productions just for the stage.
To celebrate 25 years of theatrical magic, the casts of Disney Theatrical's current Broadway hits, Aladdin, The Lion King, and Frozen, took part in a very special medley on Good Morning America that spanned 25 years from Beauty and the Beast to Frozen.
Disney's Aladdin celebrated 5 magical years on Broadway earlier this month and Disney Theatrical couldn't let such an incredible milestone pass uncelebrated!
Yesterday, in a special "Act 3", Genie's past and present gathered to perform a surprise musical medley of Aladdin's famous numbers for an unsuspecting audience. Current Broadway and US Tour Genie's Michael James Scott and Major Attaway were joined by Broadway Stand Bys Juwan Crawley and Deonte L Warren, and the man who started the magic - Broadway's original Genie James Monroe Iglehart! And James finally got his ballad!
Oh how I wish I could have been in the audience for this! I was grinning ear to ear with pure joy.
Following the special performance cast past and present united to celebrate the show's anniversary and the incredible journey so far.
Here's to five magical years, and, as James said, "see you at the tenth anniversary y'all!"
Tonight, Disney's Aladdin celebrates a magical milestone. Five years on Broadway!
With the show still going strong in New York and the US Tour about to enter it's third year, it's hard to believe that Disney was taking a big risk when they first brought the show to the Great White Way. Well that risk, some wishing, and an incredible amount of hard work certainly paid off.
It's been an amazing journey to watch as a fan, and I can only imagine how incredible it has been for those on stage and behind the scenes each night at the New Amsterdam Theatre. And speaking of incredible, in a testament to just how much fun the show must be to be a part of, it still retains three of it's original principles. And I'm not just talking 5 years on Broadway, these guys go back 8 years to the original Pilot Production in Seattle!
As the show approached it's 5th anniversary on Broadway, Theater Mania sat down with Don Darryl Rivera, Brian Gonzales, and the iconic Jonathan Freeman to discuss their time with the show in "We're Still Here!"
How much have I written about this show and I never know about that switch they did with Jafar and Iago's characterisations! Or I did and my memory is just really bad. It's been 8 years after all!
The show has had a remarkable journey and no matter how many times I watch it, whether in London, LA or in New York, it always fills me with joy every time. The cast, in New York and around the world, are universally some of the nicest people you could hope to meet at stage door and give 110% on stage. I've always said that the joy they bring to the stage every night is infectious and that, to me, is the true magic of the show. As long as that remains, I am confident that Aladdin will remain a magical experience for all who the theatre and will be on Broadway for many years to come.
Happy anniversary Aladdin, and a massive congratulations to everyone at the New Amsterdam tonight. To those on stage and those back stage. To those who are no longer with the show, to those who have just arrived, and those who have been there all along. Keep making magic everyone!
Trevor Dion Nicholas as Genie, Photo by Deen Van Meer
Tonight is the night!
ITV is bringing the West End to the small screen as stars line up to sing some of your favourite show tunes with Aladdin's Trevor Dion Nicholas as one of the judges in All Star Musicals.
Yes, our very own Genie will be on the show, helping to decided whether each of the celebrity performances has musical magic, or if they should have stayed inside the lamp.
And that's not all! The incredible West End cast of Aladdin will be making magic themselves, with a show stopping performance of Friend Like Me that you won't want to miss!
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!
Ainsley Melham, Michael James Scott and the cast of Aladdin
Tonight, Broadway welcomes a new Aladdin. Having originated the part for the Australian production, Ainsley Melham is making his Broadway debut in the title role of Aladdin! Joining the cast at the New Amsterdam reunites Ainsley with his original Jasmine, Arielle Jacobs, and with his original Genie, Michael James Scott.
Michael made his own triumphant return to the Broadway show last Friday, having starred as the Genie all around the world and on the US Tour.
And he's not the only star of the US Tour who's come to Broadway! Mike Longo, the US Tour's original Kassim, makes his Aladdin Broadway debut tonight!
Michael James Scott is playing a strictly limited run as Genie from now until September 15th so make sure you see him whilst you have the chance! He was fantastic when I saw him in London last year!
I just want to wish all three (and the rest of the amazing cast, some of who are now in their 5th year!) magical runs on Broadway! May all your wishes come true.
