London’s Aladdin Closes Today

“I never thought this day would come. Now I’m afraid that it has come all too soon.”

Disney’s Aladdin closes in the West End this evening. It’s going to be emotional and magical. I’m not ready and I can’t wait all at the same time. Thanks for all the high adventures. Now let’s  make some magic and bring this party home.

Final West End Wishes

So here we are. Tomorrow, Disney's Aladdin will take its final magic carpet ride in the West End. And what a carpet ride it has been. Even though we've known this was coming for almost a year, it's only really hit me this week. Preparing to see the show one last time and seeing the outpouring of love between the cast across social media, I'm reminded of just how special this show really is.

From first preview to closing night this has been an incredible journey. I won't say too much now. I know I'll have plenty to post after tomorrow's closing performance, but I just wanted to take a moment to reflect and be thankful for everything this show has given me over the years, the friends we have made, the experiences we've shared. It truly has been a wish come true.

If you count the shows in wishes then we have 3 left. 3 wishes. I can't help but think that's fitting. Part of me wishes I could freeze time tomorrow, keep the show just as it is. But part of the beauty of live theatre is that it exists in the moment. I'm so glad to have shared in this one. And now it's time to say goodbye, or salaam, enjoy the magic once more, and look to the future. Because for each and every talented performer on that stage the future is bright and I'm excited to see what it has in store.

And for Aladdin in the UK? I'm sure this isn't the last we've seen of our favourite street rat and his friends. It may be a while but I'm optimistic we'll see a tour or revival one day. It's too good not to. The show says it best; "Salaam worthy friend, come back soon, that's the end. Till another Arabian Night."

Irvine Iqbal to Star in The Boy in the Dress

All good things must end, but in theatre every ending is a new beginning and today the Royal Shakespeare Company announced that our beloved Sultan Irvine Iqbal will star in the brand new musical The Boy in the Dress when it premieres at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in November.

Based on the children's book by David Walliams, The Boy in the Dress tells the story of 12 year old Dennis, a football striker who wants to wear a dress to school. The new musical will be directed by Gregory Doran with a book by Mark Ravenhill and featuring music by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. Production design is by Robert Jones and choreography by Aletta Collins.

The principal adult cast was announced today, featuring Rufus Hound as Dennis' dad, Irvine Iqbal as Raj the shopkeeper, Natasha Lewis as Dennis' best friend Darvesh's mum, and Forbes Masson as Mr. Hawtrey, Dennis' headmaster.

"It is tremendous  to welcome such a talented cast of new and established RSC company members to our new musical productions of The Boy in the Dress, particularly one with such a strong background of excellent musical theatre performances and first-class comic talent. The cast join an already impressive line-up of UK and international creatives, including comic writer, performer and beloved children's book author David Walliams and chart-topping song writers Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers. I am excited to work together with them over the coming weeks to bring this life-affirming, funny story to the RST stage." Said RSC Artistic Director Gregory Doran.

The Boy in the Dress will be Irvine's RSC debut, and will run from November 8th through to March 8th 2020. The show officially opens on November 27th. Looking forward to seeing this at the end of the year!

Broadway Princess Party This Week! Courtney Returns in September!

Feels like it's been forever since I did a Broadway Princess Party post but Broadway's royalty have a packed schedule from now right through to next year as the Princesses travel the US to bring magic and joy to everyone.

This week Laura Osnes (Broadway's original Cinderella), Susan Egan (Broadway's original Belle), Christy Altomare (Broadway's original Anastasia), and Ariel Jacobs (Broadway's current Jasmine) are in Utah and California with their Fairy Godfairy Benjamin Rauhala.

Next month sees the return of Broadway's original Jasmine, Courtney Reed (and I have to say, thanks for letting Aladdin London borrow her, we've loved having her here these last few months!). And the Princesses return to New York in October for an extra special performance at 54 Below featuring Laura, Susan, and Courtney alongside Jodi Benson (the original Ariel), Aisha Jackson (standby Anna in Broadway's Frozen), and Krysta Rodriguez (Broadway's original Meg).

There's plenty more dates on their tour page, culminating in what's sure to be an extra special Disney Magic Cruise!

I'm going to keep wishing and maybe one day the Fairy Godfairy will bring the Princesses to the UK. I think London might have a spare magic lamp I can borrow after this weekend...

New and Returning Cast Announced for Aladdin on Broadway and on Tour

Clinton Greenspan as Aladdin, Photo by Deen Van Meer

Clinton Greenspan has headlined the US Tour of Aladdin since taking over the title role from Adam Jacobs last April. Now, he's taking Prince Ali to New York and making his Broadway debut as Broadway's new Aladdin, taking over the role from Jacob Dickey on September 13th.

And Clinton's not the only one making the trip from Tour to Broadway. After playing the Genie in every English speaking production around the world, Michael James Scott will take his final bow at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Sunday, September 22nd, bringing his historic run to a close. And on September 23rd, Major Attaway will make his triumphant return to Broadway after spending the last seven months on the road.

Major Attaway as Genie

Of course, you can't have Aladdin without Aladdin and Genie! So the US Tour will be welcoming Jonah Ho'okano as Aladdin and Korie Lee Blossey as Genie when the Tour hits North Carolina on September 10th! Korie has been with the tour since the beginning as standby Genie and Sultan, we saw Korie as Sultan when the tour was in LA and he was fantastic so the lamp is in great hands.

Can't wait to see you all making magic!!

Korie Lee Blossey as Genie

See the Sultan's Costume at The Royal Academy of Music

Celebrating 25 years of the Royal Academy of Music's Musical Theatre Program, What a Song and Dance is a brand new exhibition dedicated to musical theatre. From it's vaudeville and operetta roots to today's modern showstoppers, and even looking to the future of the art form in today's technological world.

The free exhibition in the RAM's ground floor museum plays host to programmes, set designs, and costumes from all eras of musical theatre and Aladdin's own Irvine Iqbal, an alum of RAM, is representing the show with his Sultan costume on display!

We were delighted to welcome Musical Theatre #alum @IrvineIqbal back to the Academy last week for a preview of our new #museum exhibition, What a Song and Dance: Celebrating Musical Theatre!

The exhibition is now open to the public and completely free, see you there soon! pic.twitter.com/KuqPmzF4tc

— Royal Academy of Music (@RoyalAcadMusic) 8 July 2019

An honour to be representing @AladdinLondon for the #WhataSongandDanceRAM exhibition @RoyalAcadMusic - The exhibition is open till February 2020 and is open to the public. Please go and visit to see this rare curation of musical theatre props, programmes, sets and costumes pic.twitter.com/qd66YXx4dO

— The Sultan 👳🏾 (@IrvineIqbal) 4 July 2019

The exhibition opened earlier this summer and is running through to February 2020, so don't miss this opportunity to see musical theatre history, and one of Aladdin's exquisite costumes, up close and in person.

Freestyle Love Supreme to Open on Broadway Next Month

Before Hamilton. Before In The Heights. There was Freestyle Love Supreme, a freestyle, improvisational hip-hop comedy show created by Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Anthony Veneziale. And part of the talented crew that makes up FLS is Aladdin's original Genie, James Monroe Iglehart!

After an off Broadway run earlier this year, the group are taking their show to the heart of New York for a 16 week run at the Booth Theatre from September 13th.

The core company is made up of Andrew Bancroft, Arthur Lewis, Bill Sherman, Chris Sullivan, Anthony Veneziale, and Utkarsh Ambudkar. Every show will be different and feature different special - and spontaneous - guests stars including James Monroe Iglehart, Lin-Manuel Miranda (who hopes to drop in "a couple of times a week"), Christopher Jackson, Wayne Brady, Daveed Diggs, and many more as the crew takes audiences on a freestyle comedy ride.

Tickets are on sale now.

Between Hamilton, Hercules, Freestyle Love Supreme, singing new songs on Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure, writing for Spider-Man and Marvel Comics #1000, and NARRATING A STAR WARS BOOK (!!!!) JMI is having an absolutely epic year!