Aladdin: The New Musical Comedy Broadway Previews to Begin February 2014

"This spring, discover a Whole New World in a Whole New Way."

Wish finally granted!  Over 2 years after the Seattle Pilot Production, Disney Theatrical have today announced that Aladdin: Broadway's New Musical Comedy will begin it's Broadway Previews on February 26th 2014.

Both Playbill and Broadway World are reporting that this confirmation came via a Group Sales email and that Disney Theatrical are eyeing an official opening night of Thursday March 20th 2014.

The show's official website, www.aladdinbroadway.com has also undergone a make over today, officially launching the show's new title logo and tagline, that were originally revealed earlier this month at D23's Broadway and Beyond Evening, along with new artwork of Genie and the lamp.  The official site now also has links to ticket sales for both the Toronto Preview Run and Group Bookings for Broadway for groups of 15 or more.  Regular Broadway tickets will go on sale this Fall.

The group sales email, revealed by Broadway World, offers the following description of the show;

Disney's new musical comedy, Aladdin, brings the classic story from the screen to the stage for a theatrical experience beyond anything you've ever dreamed.  With just one rub of a magic lamp, Aladdin's breathtaking journey sweeps you into an exotic world filled with big laughs, bold adventure and true love.

Aladdin features all your favorite songs from the film as well as new music written by Tony Award winner Alan Menken (Newsies) with lyrics penned by the legendary Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast), Tony Award winner Tim Rice (The Lion King, Aida) and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer).

This new musical from the producers of The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Spamalot).  Aladdin also boasts an incomparable design team, with sets, costumes and lighting from multiple Tony Award winners Bob Crowley (Mary Poppins), Gregg Barnes (The Drowsy Chaperone) and Natasha Katz (Once)."

The full advertisement can be seen below;

Still no casting announcement but hopefully we'll hear something much sooner than later now that things seem to be moving into high gear as the show inches closer to it's Toronto premiere this November.

And finally, I missed this last week, the Ed Mirvish theatre made this tweet last Friday;

@Mirvish - It's a whole new world at The Eddie! Tickets for @aladdin are now on sale! #aladdin #mirvishtheatre #toronto #mirvish

Now we've know tickets have been on sale for a few months now, and they're tweeted about them before, but what's more exciting about this tweet in the photo that came with it.  Looks like The Eddie has had a face lift for Aladdin.

Well that's all for tonight (and today is technically yesterday now, here in the UK).  Hopefully I'll be back with the cast announcement real soon!

D23's Got Your Back!

As most people who read this blog will probably know, last weekend was Disney's D23 Expo and on Friday night a small group of past Disney Theatrical stars gathered together to put on a special Broadway and Beyond concert celebrating all of Disney's Broadway productions past and present.

After performing songs from everything from Beauty and the Beast through to Newsies (including rarely heard pieces from King David and Der Glockner von Notre Dame) the night ended with a look to the future as the cast performed the new song "Somebody's Got Your Back" from Aladdin.

I was planning on posting the video here, but I've since learned that the event was strictly no cameras allowed and most of the videos have already been removed, presumably at Disney's request.  What I hope is ok for me to share with you is the new and improved logo for the show.

Sorry for the picture quality but a YouTube screen shot is the best available right now as the official site and Facebook page haven't been updated with this yet.  As you can see the colour scheme remains largely the same (the logo looks slightly more yellow than gold now) but the font has changed from a standard font to one that looks much more Aladdin.  Definitely a change for the better!

That's all for this time, but the rumours over on the Broadway World message board seem to indicate that casting may be announced later this month so I hope to have an update for you real soon.

Before Broadway, Before Toronto... Aladdin Returns to Denmark!

Before Aladdin begins its pre-Broadway run in Toronto this November, the magic carpet has one last stop to make.  After producing the incredibley successful European Premiere last year, the Fredericia Teater in Denmark is once again playing host to Aladdin this summer with a new production starting tomorrow, 19th July, and running through to 20th August.

I can't confirm it, but it's extremely likely (as in almost 100% certain) that this will be the same production as last year and not the revised story/production that will debut in Toronto in a few months.  There may be some refinements from last year's premiere, but I think details of the changes being made for Broadway are being kept closely under lock and key at Disney Theatrical until November.

From what I can tell from the show's official website, www.aladdinthemusical.dk, the creative team and the cast of last year's European Premiere are all returning for this encore production.  The show features;

Johannes Nymark as Aladdin
Maria Lucia Heiberg Rosenberg as Princess Jasmine
Pelle Emil Hebsgaard as Genie
Kristine Yde Eriksen as Princess Jasmine (Alternate)
Teit Samso Clausen as Babkak
Max-Emil Nissen as Omar
Kim Ace Nielsen as Kassim
Martin Loft as Jafar
Kim Brandt as Iago
Kim Leprevost as Sultan

I heard great things from people who went last year and this is likely to be the final production of the original show, so if you're able to see it then I'd urge you to do so.  Aladdin: The New Stage Musical is a fantastic show for the whole family.  Tickets are on sale at the show's website, www.aladdinthemusical.dk

I'd also like to say a big thank you to Steffen for alerting me to this (longer ago than I'd care to admit).  Hope you enjoy the show as much this year as you did last!

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.

On Sale Today - Aladdin: The New Musical Fantasy Preview Run at the Mirvish Theatre!

We are now officially less than six months away from the World Premiere of Disney Theatrical's new production of Aladdin: The New Musical Fantasy and priority tickets for the show's pre-Broadway preview run at Toronto's Mirvish Theatre have gone on sale today!

General sales don't start until June 9th, but if you've signed up to Mirvish's newsletter then you'll have seen this in your inbox today;

The advert links you to the ticket site here.  So what are you waiting for?  If you're planning to see the show during it's preview run this is the perfect opportunity to beat the crowds and grab some fantastic seats at a show that will truly transport you into a whole new world of fun, adventure and romance.

If you'd rather speak with a person (or if you're an international buyer and can't use the website - not sure about the Mirvish but I know I had to call Tuacahn to book my tickets last year and when I went to see The Little Mermaid in Denver during its preview run) then the numbers to call are 416-872-1212 and 800-461-3333 and quote "Mirvish".

I hope everyone gets the tickets they want!  These are exciting times, hopefully casting news is just around the corner now (still crossing my fingers for as much of the original cast as they can get back!)

A Whole Blu World

They say a picture is worth a thousand words so...

Yes, Aladdin on Blu-Ray is finally on sale today, at least here in the UK.  I believe the US release date is still TBC but the good news is the UK disc is region free so it'll still play no matter where you live.

Love seeing that old VHS cover put to good use.  Guess I know what I'm watching when I get a free night this week!

A New Fantastic Point of View

Where has the time gone?  I hope you all had a great Easter weekend the other week, I can't believe we're in April already!  There's not too much news to report on the Aladdin front, auditions have been and gone, and if you went to them I hope they went well, so I'd expect things to be pretty quiet until the summer.

The official twitter (@aladdin) has tweeted a single quote;

"Gotta keep, one jump ahead of the breadline, one swing ahead of the sword." - @aladdin

It's not much, but at least it's something.  It's the first tweet since January (I know, I'm a fine one to talk about that!) but hopefully it means the account will start being more active soon.

The Facebook page has been a little more active, posting the same quote as above and also sharing a new promo image;

They've also made a small change to their logo and the show's subtitle.  No longer Broadway's New Musical Fantasy, the show is now

I love the colour scheme of gold and purple, but I do still wish they'd change the font to something that feels a little more Aladdin.

Their most recent update is a bit more interactive, yesterday they asked fans "When I think of Aladdin, I can't help but start singing..."

Obviously the film songs have got most of the votes, but it's nice to see some people (and not just me!) pick Proud of Your Boy, and it was really nice to see someone saying  A Million Miles Away.  Why not head on over and add your opinions?

Whilst there's been no Aladdin casting news, two previous Aladdins have been cast as other Disney heroes.

The original Aladdin, Adam Jacobs, is currently playing the title role of Zorro at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.  Tickets are on sale at the theatre's website and the show runs until 5th May.  If you're in Atlanta make sure you check it out (and ok Zorro's not technically a Disney hero, but Walt Disney did do the series in the 50s so it can still count).

Meanwhile, Tuachan's Aladdin, Dan Domenech, has been cast as the title character in Disney's Tarzan as the show makes its Asian Premiere at the Meralco Theatre in June.  You may recognise the name of the theatre as it was also home to last year's Asian Premiere of Aladdin (I know, I really need to get that article on the international shows done!).  The show runs June 14th to July 8th and is being produced by Viva Atlantis Theatricals who are a joint venture between Viva Communications and Atlantis Productions who produced last year's production of Aladdin.  Tickets don't seem to be on sale yet (at least online) but if you're going to be in Pasig City whilst the show's on then keep an eye on Atlantis' website or try contacting the theatre directly to secure your seats.  Dan was a fantastic Aladdin last year so you're in for a great show with him as Tarzan.

And that's about everything for this time but I just want to end on this tweet from 15th March.  No casting has been announced, but it's to know that Adam Jacobs is still keeping in touch with Alan Menken...

""Watch and learn," @AIMenken says to me as he sidles up to the piano, plays and sings "Proud of Your Boy". #bowingtogenius" - @AdamJacobsNYC