Aladdin on Broadway

[disneyboy20022]

Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed Will Co-Star in Disney's Aladdin; Complete Cast Announced
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/18 ... ?tsrc=hpt2

Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed, who co-starred as Aladdin and Jasmine in the Seattle premiere of Disney's Aladdin, will reprise their performances in Toronto and on Broadway. Producers announced the complete cast for the musical Sept. 16 — the first day of the production's rehearsals.

As previously reported, Aladdin will premiere Nov. 1, prior to an official opening Nov. 21, at Toronto's Mirvish Theatre for a run through Jan. 5, 2014. Broadway previews will begin Feb. 26, 2014, at the New Amsterdam Theatre towards an official opening March 20, 2014.

James Monroe Iglehart, of Broadway's Memphis, will also reprise his performance as the Genie, and Jonathan Freeman, who voiced the nefarious villain Jafar in the 1992 animated Disney film and reprised his performance on stage, will again play Jafar.

Brian Gonzales, Brandon O'Neill, Jonathan Schwartz will play Aladdin's sidekicks Babkak, Kassim and Omar, respectively, and Tony nominee Clifton Davis will play the Sultan with Don Darryl Rivera as Iago. Merwin Foard and Michael James Scott will standby for several principals.


.......

he stage production, which expands the 90-minute film into a two-act format, has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and book and additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Nicholaw directs and choreographs.

Menken previously told Playbill.com that the stage production incorporates many ideas he and Ashman conceived for the 1992 film that never made it to the screen. Among them are a trio of Aladdin's friends, Omar, Babkak and Kassim, as well as a handful of early songs including "Proud of Your Boy."

Here's how the new musical is billed: "Aladdin, adapted from the Disney film and centuries-old folktales including 'One Thousand and One Nights' is brought to fresh theatrical life in this exuberant new musical. Aladdin's journey will sweep audiences into an exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance. This new production features a full score, including the five cherished songs from the Academy Award winning soundtrack and more written especially for the stage."

Aladdin will be designed by six-time Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, three-time Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, two-time Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes and sound designer Ken Travis.

The production team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer and hair designer Josh Marquette. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who will also create the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly.

I'm very excited that Jonathon Freeman will indeed reprise his role as Jafar. That for me has sold me to see this even more.

[DisneyJedi]

In light of Jonathon Freeman reprising his role as Jafar...

Permission to link a video of M. Bison shouting yes?

[TsWade2]

Looks like it's time for revenge!

Because Newsies should of won a Tony for Best Musical instead of that boring not exciting musical Once. And no I am not interested to see Once. Whether it comes to my town or not.

[disneyboy20022]

In light of Jonathon Freeman reprising his role as Jafar...

Permission to link a video of M. Bison shouting yes?

I think the rules say you can post the link, just don't embed it if I recall correctly

[DisneyJedi]

Okey-dokey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3ALwKeSEYs

[zackisthewalrus]

Looks like it's time for revenge!

Because Newsies should of won a Tony for Best Musical instead of that boring not exciting musical Once. And no I am not interested to see Once. Whether it comes to my town or not.

Honestly, while "Newsies" was good, "Once" was really good as well.

I believe that "Aladdin" will do well in TONY season, but it will find some competition in "If/Then" and other new musicals I'm sure.

[TsWade2]

Looks like it's time for revenge!

Because Newsies should of won a Tony for Best Musical instead of that boring not exciting musical Once. And no I am not interested to see Once. Whether it comes to my town or not.

Honestly, while "Newsies" was good, "Once" was really good as well.

I believe that "Aladdin" will do well in TONY season, but it will find some competition in "If/Then" and other new musicals I'm sure.

Well, I hope If/Then isn't as boring as Once or Controversial as Spring Awakening. Of course, I heard it's going to be the same composers from Next To Normal. Music by Tom Kitt and Book & Lyrics by Brian Yorkey, which might be better.

[Prince Edward]

More recorded songs with Jonathan Freeman as Jafar? Bring it on!:)

[TsWade2]

Here's the video of their rehearsal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USig3ZxnkH4

[DisneyJedi]

I just hope it doesn't end up going the same route as The Little Mermaid did when it hit Broadway.

[TsWade2]

I just hope it doesn't end up going the same route as The Little Mermaid did when it hit Broadway.

The Broadway version of The Little Mermaid should of been a hit in the first place, but I hope so too.

[Disney's Divinity]

The Little Mermaid should've been fine on paper, but you know they must've really screwed up to make that flop. I wonder why they didn't bring B&tB back.

[thedisneyspirit]

Was there a big problem with Mermaid? I heard some of the new songs and I thought most of them were nice.

[DisneyJedi]

Was there a big problem with Mermaid? I heard some of the new songs and I thought most of them were nice.

I'm pretty sure the problem people had with it was the execution of the show, such as the costumes for the sea folk, including the mermaids, and the use of heelys for the "swimming" effect.

[thelittleursula]

Here's the video of their rehearsal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USig3ZxnkH4

Want to see it so bad but I sadly don't live where it's being held.

[pap64]

Was there a big problem with Mermaid? I heard some of the new songs and I thought most of them were nice.

I'm pretty sure the problem people had with it was the execution of the show, such as the costumes for the sea folk, including the mermaids, and the use of heelys for the "swimming" effect.

That, and it was a case of "right show/bad timing", something that was killing off a lot of shows. The economic downturn REALLY took the wind from the sails of a lot of shows, Little Mermaid, I think, being one of them. It is a shame too because while the execution ranged from decent to pretty good, the story itself developed the storyline of the movie in a significant way, like a last good bye from Triton to Ariel, more development of Eric's crush and more.

[supertalies]

Well, I saw the Dutch production of TLM (the one with the new costumes and 'flying' mermaids) and I thought it was pretty great. If they go the same route with Aladdin, it will be a pretty enjoyable show.

[thedisneyspirit]

Tbh aside from maybe The Lion King I always thought the costumes for the Broadway plays looked hideous. Belle's ballgown was pretty but everything else...

[Flanger-Hanger]

A week old, but the article includes notes about the fact that the show has all the removed Ashman songs and no Iago or Abu:

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/st ... etter.html

The show had its first run tonight. Looking forward to hearing how it went.

[ProfessorRatigan]

I dunno... That says that the play is using '11 songs' by Ashman and Menken. There were 13 in total written for the original score for Aladdin. It makes me wonder which 2 got cut. I'm fearing Jafar's Humiliate the Boy (one of my favorites) isn't going to make it in... But which other?