DVDizzy Forum

This sounds like a great idea.

I just don't hope they will let Aladdin and Jasmine walk around in the "A whole new world" sequence, with a "flying carpet" wrapped around them at butt-height, with a hole in the middle for their legs to go through.
Like what they did with Ariel's tail with the hole in the bottom and just walking around.........

I think this show really needs some spectacular effects, just like they have in Tarzan.
There are many scenes in the Disney classics that I like because of the beauty of the fluidity. (Part of your world, A whole New world).
I think the Little Mermaid on Broadway could have been much better with a flying Ariel making salto's.

I've been listening to some of the unused Menken/Ashman demos for Aladdin, and would love it is the Broadway version was rewritten and expanded to include BABKAK, OMAR, ALADDIN AND KASSIM, PROUD OF YOUR BOY, HIGH ADVENTURE, and all of the ARABIAN NIGHTS reprises.

It seems like the original concept of the film would have been alot closer to both the original story, and the 1940 THIEF OF BAGDAD (Aladdin's a lazy kid whose mother is still alive, Jafar poses as Aladdin's uncle...)

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I'm actually shocked at how well Aladdin the musical is received at Disneyland. Maybe it's because I actually study theatre, that I'm so critical, but I personally think the show is quite bad. There are many unnecessary effects. Aladdin randomly jumping about 40 feet across the stage for no reason, and having to run off stage first so they can quite obviously replace him with the stunt double, is a big one. Also, Jafar is treated quite comically, (similar to the how they in my opinion ruined Scar for The Lion King musical), and the shows biggest number, "Prince Ali" is actually shortened. This is of course not mentioning the acting which is so so on a good day. "A Whole New World" is quite strong though, and with the exception of a cheaply designed puppet for the Jafar snake and genie, the technical aspects are very good also.

Personally, I think they've ruined all the Fab Four villains so far (Ursula, Gaston and Scar) by making them too "funny," though Scar was definitely the best of the three they've done. Maybe it's just me, but Jafar has always been more comical than the other three [in the films], so maybe he wouldn't change too much in a musical version. And I wonder if they'd be able to, or want to, use Jonathan Freeman in a the stage version? That would be awesome.

This isn't Broadway related, but it is about a stage production of Aladdin:

Dual-Language Production of Disney's Aladdin to Premiere in Houston
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/12 ... in_Houston
(via LaughingPlace.com)

I think the idea is kind of a poor one. I have no problem with an all-Spanish or an all-English production of Aladdin (or anything, really), but if you only speak one of the languages, then this would get really confusing. And what about songs?!? Will half of "A Whole New World" be in English, and half in Spanish? And Rajah and Abu will be translators...meaning they will speak?!?!? What?!?!? I'm guessing that one of them will translate in English and the other in Spanish. And Jafar will speak in both languages...that won't get confusing. I guess this will be interested for those who are bilingual, and in Houston, maybe most people are...I have no clue. But the idea, although whoever came up with it probably meant well, is a strange one. I hope to read more about reactions to the show later on.

Hm. I see no problem with this... but then again, I speak both English and Spanish.

Yay for being bilingual!

I speak both languages as well, but the idea's still stupid to me. If they were going to have any language other than English, the only one that would make sense for Aladdin is Arabic. Well, as much sense as alternating between languages in one show would make.

If such a show did become a reality, do you think it would make an international tour? I would like to see it in Montreal, Canada where I live.

Aladdin would make a good broadway production, but I'd like to see broadway productions of other live action classic such as Pete's Dragon and Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

Disney's Divinity wrote:I speak both languages as well, but the idea's still stupid to me.

I agree. I just wanted to feel special for speaking both.

I'm most curious about how they will pull the Genie effects off. It will be extremely difficult to pull off the Eric Goldberg-type constantly changing Genie live on stage, I would think.

Aladdin musical? Won't this just be a re-packaged and extended version of the DCA show?

I've seen the Aladdin show at Disney California Adventure. It was quite enjoyable. But the cut song, which is a solo for Jasmine, didn't impress me....

Aladdin is getting its first try-outs in a Seattle theatre this summer, which means it shall be coming to Broadway relatively soon.

Source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/t ... =head_main

carolinakid wrote:I've seen the Aladdin show at Disney California Adventure. It was quite enjoyable. But the cut song, which is a solo for Jasmine, didn't impress me....

I think it depends on the actress' interpretation. I personally like "To Be Free" and love how it's featured prominently in the background music while you're waiting in the theatre. The first time I heard the song, I wasn't too impressed, either. Every time after that, I liked it. I think it adds to Jasmines (underdeveloped) character. I just saw the Aladdin musical again on Saturday and was disappointed in the actress' performance. She sounded like she was going to cry throughout most of the song. Maybe you just caught the wrong actress.

With the official announcement of Aladdin: The New Stage Musical, I've decided to keep a blog to follow the shows progress from now until the end of its run in July;

http://aladdinmusical.blogspot.com/

The equity casting calls confirm the return of Babkak, Omar and Kassim and hint that Jafar has already been cast!

interesting that the three cutted characters are back. wonder if that mean Aladdin's mother coming back or not.

Jafar already cast?! Please, please, please: Let it be Jonathan Freeman!!!^^

"Sadly, it has also been announced that this limited run in Seattle is not an out of town preview before a Broadway opening. It is instead a pilot production that Disney Theatrical intend to use to launch the show as a licensed production through Music Theatre International (MTI) for professional and amateur organizations."
http://aladdinmusical.blogspot.com/

Okay, now I'm really disappointed. Will Aladdin ever get the full Broadway treatment, or does Disney Theatrical feel that they have done their version of Aladdin by doing this? Will there even be a cast recording?

Prince Edward wrote:Okay, now I'm really disappointed. Will Aladdin ever get the full Broadway treatment, or does Disney Theatrical feel that they have done their version of Aladdin by doing this? Will there even be a cast recording?

That's exactly how I feel. I was hoping this was a preview run (like Mermaid had in Denver) and I'd be able to see the show next year. I'm getting married in July so there's no way I can get to Seattle even if I could afford it!

I'm hoping that the Seattle run will go really well and Disney will do an official tour next year. Kinda like they did with HSM On Stage, they designed it to be licensed out, but did their own tour because it was popular. HSM On Stage never got a CD, but with all the changes to this show and the fact that it's going to have all the unused Howard Ashman songs in, I'm really hoping Disney see fit to do a CD.

Even if they don't want to do a studio recording, they could easily do a live recording of the Seattle show. I know a lot of UK productions have done this - Zorro, Oliver, Les Mis 25th Tour, and I'm guessing it's a cheaper way of doing it.