Aladdin on Broadway

[rubyslippers]

I'm jumping on the upset about Jafar not singing enough bandwagon. Mega bummed. Especially since there are 2 songs that were already written for him that they could've used.

I hope that between now and the Broadway opening, they add in a solo for Jafar. I read that Diamond in the Rough is great, but IMO A Disney show really benefits from having a great solo "villain" number.

[Jay]

I'm jumping on the upset about Jafar not singing enough bandwagon. Mega bummed. Especially since there are 2 songs that were already written for him that they could've used.

I hope that between now and the Broadway opening, they add in a solo for Jafar. I read that Diamond in the Rough is great, but IMO A Disney show really benefits from having a great solo "villain" number.

I agree! Who doesn't love a great villain number! Plus Jafar got a bit of a bum deal in the film song wise. He is the only villain from the "fab four" that didn't get a tune of his own. Ursula has "Poor Unfortunate Souls", Scar has "Be Prepared" and Gaston has "Gaston", "The Mob Song" and "Belle". Actually he sings more than Belle and Beast in the film...interesting. Poor Jafar only got a quick reprise of "Prince Ali". While epic Jafar deserves his own diddy. I was so excited Jafar/ Jonathan Freeman would finally get his chance with the musical but it doesn't look that way. Hopefully they add in a solo for him.

[Lady Cluck]

Makes no difference from a visual perspective.

People going to see Aladdin obviously wouldn't be bothered by a talking parrot anyway

But this sounds like a mess regardless of this issue.

I think you should keep your DVD of Aladdin since you obviously don't want to see the Broadway version attempt to adapt the film in anyway.

I'm excited about any Broadway Disney adaptation but I'm not going to pretend what I'm hearing sounds good. It's not like Disney has never failed before on the stage.

[TsWade2]

I never had a problem with it at the stage show at Disneyland.

LOL at expecting this to win Tonys though. I highly doubt it'll be nearly as original or epic as TLK on Broadway.

I have higher hopes for Hunchback.

Do you really think it'll be critically acclaimed and maybe win some Tonys?

[UmbrellaFish]

I'm excited about any Broadway Disney adaptation but I'm not going to pretend what I'm hearing sounds good. It's not like Disney has never failed before on the stage.

Ah, I see. You just don't understand the meaning of the word "adaptation."

[Lady Cluck]

Oh please. Even The Lion King is filled with Timon and Pumbaa fart jokes taken directly from the movie. Let's not act like this is more serious than it is. Most people going will be Disney fans and they know that.

And for that reason, don't count on any Tonys LOL

[UmbrellaFish]

What the hell are you talking about? And why do you keep harping back to the Tony's? I've never once mentioned the Tony Awards. Or "fart jokes." You're bewildering.

[thelittleursula]

Disney makes a few changes

OMG IT'S RUINED 11!!!!


Jumping the gun much guys ? Most of you peeps haven't even seen it yet. They're clearly going for a more mature style, hence the lack of cartoon-y animals.

Chill guys


Chill.

[Lady Cluck]

Not everything is about you. Other people were discussing Tony Awards

I'll probably see this eventually but we're not obligated to love everything we hear about it. The Little Mermaid on Broadway was a DISASTER and so far this sounds not that great either. There are a lot of things I don't like about it, not just Iago. But the idea that they're going to be 100% serious and dramatic is absurd - they know where their bread is buttered and will mostly be catering to families and tourists. My point about the fart jokes was that while The Lion King on Broadway has a fairly serious and epic feel to it, they still have cartoony elements for the kids too. It doesn't really hurt the quality.

The reason I have more faith in Hunchback is it's more serious and darker by nature, and it's not a beloved Disney classic so if they cut the gargoyles out and make everything an epic drama, great. People will have certain expectations with Aladdin.

[Lady Cluck]

Anyway, this debate is OVER. LEAVE ME ALONE!


On to more important matters...I wonder if Jonathan Freeman can't sing as well anymore. There's no other explanation. Not having him sing is offensive and insane otherwise.

[UmbrellaFish]

Not everything is about you. Other people were discussing Tony Awards

I'll probably see this eventually but we're not obligated to love everything we hear about it. The Little Mermaid on Broadway was a DISASTER and so far this sounds not that great either. There are a lot of things I don't like about it, not just Iago. But the idea that they're going to be 100% serious and dramatic is absurd - they know where their bread is buttered and will mostly be catering to families and tourists. My point about the fart jokes was that while The Lion King on Broadway has a fairly serious and epic feel to it, they still have cartoony elements for the kids too. It doesn't really hurt the quality.

The reason I have more faith in Hunchback is it's more serious and darker by nature, and it's not a beloved Disney classic so if they cut the gargoyles out and make everything an epic drama, great. People will have certain expectations with Aladdin.

TsWade2 was not talking about Tony's for Aladdin, but for Hunchback. No one has talked about Tony's and Aladdin for quite a couple posts, but you keep bringing it up in your "points." And nobody ever said you were obligated to love everything about a Broadway adaptation, but you're being so pigheaded you've already written it off on rather minor, totally sensible changes. And who said "Aladdin" was going to be serious and dramatic? Who even implied it? Or that Disney wouldn't retain "cartoony" elements in their adaptation? The Iago thing isn't about being "dramatic" or "cartoony," it simply wouldn't work on stage the way Disney is adapting "Aladdin."

But of course, nothing you've said so far has made any sense so why am I asking you to start now?

Anyway, this debate is OVER. LEAVE ME ALONE!

Welcome to a discussion forum! When we disagree, we discuss.

But whatever, carry on.

[Lady Cluck]

Wow, I'm really REALLY excited about this now

[rubyslippers]

Not everything is about you. Other people were discussing Tony Awards

I'll probably see this eventually but we're not obligated to love everything we hear about it. The Little Mermaid on Broadway was a DISASTER and so far this sounds not that great either. There are a lot of things I don't like about it, not just Iago. But the idea that they're going to be 100% serious and dramatic is absurd - they know where their bread is buttered and will mostly be catering to families and tourists. My point about the fart jokes was that while The Lion King on Broadway has a fairly serious and epic feel to it, they still have cartoony elements for the kids too. It doesn't really hurt the quality.

The reason I have more faith in Hunchback is it's more serious and darker by nature, and it's not a beloved Disney classic so if they cut the gargoyles out and make everything an epic drama, great. People will have certain expectations with Aladdin.

But the idea that they're going to be 100% serious and dramatic is absurd


It's pretty clear that you a) haven't read any reviews of the show (Seattle production or otherwise) and b) haven't even read the interview linked on here and c) are making things up to suit your odd arguments.

It's not a 100% serious, dramatic show. The Broadway subtitle of the show is The New Musical Comedy, for goodness sake. Deciding not to have any talking animals does not mean they are trying to make it 100% serious or dramatic.

[Lady Cluck]

I never said they were? My argument was that they're not. Learn to read.

[Prince Edward]

People who wants Jafar to actually sing a bit in the musical should write to Alan Menken about their concers and in a supportive and polite way tell him how important Jafar is as a villain and to the story and urge him to put in some more songs for Jonathan Freeman. Either on Twitter or Facebook for example.

Alan Menken on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/AlanMenkenStudio

[ChrisLyne]

I know a few people have already cleared a few points up but I wanted to clarify a few things to since I was lucky enough to see the show last year at the Tuacahn in Utah.

As others have said Aladdin and his friends are certainly not "One Direction of Agrabah". If you've heard the previously cut Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim then you know what to expect. That's the only song they sing as a band. Beyond that the trio act as both Aladdin's friends and also narrators of the show (they sing Arabian Nights and all its reprises and break the fourth wall a lot).

As much as I love Abu the no animals thing works and Iago works just as well as a human.

Why not Tim Rice? I know he's busy opening his own show in London right now, but honestly I don't know if he was even approached. Remember that originally Disney weren't intending to bring this to Broadway, they planned to license it to regional and amateur groups who had been asking for a full length version they could perform. Disney approached Chad Beguelin to do a book for that purpose (he had previously done the book for Disneyland's Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular).

When Beguelin spoke with Alan Menken about Aladdin it was Menken who said the only reason he could think of doing a full stage version of Aladdin would be to add back in the "lost" Howard Ashman songs. That then became Beguelin's goal - to keep the core story of the film that everyone loves but to go back to Howard Ashman's original vision as much as possible. The show is a balancing act between the two - you can't go back to Jasmine being a spoilt brat and Aladdin's true love being a street girl called Abby but you can find a way to include Call Me a Princess (in this case acting spoilt to get rid of unwanted suitors, soon followed by a reprise much truer to her character). The show is in many ways a love letter to Howard Ashman and his vision for Aladdin.

And I will say that I loved the new songs. A Million Miles Away is beautiful, if you're worried about Jasmine's character in Call Me a Princess, the new reprise and this song are a much truer reflection of her character.

I get where people are coming from wanting more songs for Jonathan Freeman, it's amazing having him back and I can't wait to see him bring Jafar to life on Broadway next year. But looking at it realistically Humiliate the Boy isn't going to be added in as the only place it could go is in place of Prince Ali Reprise and they won't cut that as it was Jafar's big (only) number from the film. And let's be honest, that's the song audiences want to hear him sing, especially with Jonathan back in the role. When I saw the show in Utah it still had Why Me when Jafar was casting the spell to find the diamond in the rough and it's a great song, but again it was intended to be in the place Prince Ali Reprise occupies, they'd tweaked the lyrics so it fit just fine but it was limited in its ability to move the plot along. I've not seen the new production but the one person who's commented on Diamond in the Rough said they preferred it to Why Me and it did more to move the plot along.

Looking at the song list they're tightening the production. Why Me didn't really move the story forward so they've given Jafar a new song that does (replacing one of Ashman's Arabian Nights reprises). I guess what it ultimately comes down to is time and focus. If this had been like Beauty and the Beast or The Little Mermaid and they were just extending the film's story with new songs then I expect Jafar would have had more to sing (probably Jasmine, Genie and Sultan as well). But the focus here is Howard Ashman's songs and his vision for Aladdin. Adding more new songs for Jafar would likely mean having to cut something else to make room for it and the creative team have chosen to focus on bringing Ashman's vision and songs back as much as possible (whilst still remaining true to the heart of the film). Jonathan Freeman embodies the role even when he's not singing. I'm just excited at being able to finally see him bring this character to life in person!

And for those worried, Hunchback won't clash with Aladdin because it won't open on Broadway next year. It's having a development lab, that's all. Aladdin's early workshops were in late 2010 and the pilot production was summer 2011. Most likely Hunchback will have more workshops in 2014 followed by a regional pilot in early 2015 hopefully followed by Broadway later that year (but 2016 is probably more realistic). This seems to be Disney's new approach - small scale pilot productions that they can re-work/re-scale into full on Broadway productions if they are successful.

As for Tonys, who cares? Sure it would be great if the show did win them, but what's more important is that it's a good show and a LOT of fun. I saw it 3 times in a week and loved it every time. It never dragged or felt slow, it felt fresh every time. I can't wait to see it again next year!

Oh and priority tickets for Broadway are ON SALE TODAY!! Sign up at www.aladdinbroadway.com to get the codes for early access discounted tickets

[Prince Edward]

I was excited about this show and thinking about going to New York to watch it because of Jonathan Freeman. Hearing how much it is altered from the movie, I have kind of lost my interest in this.

It sounds like Disney did not go all the way with it like they did for Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, making Alan Menken write many new songs. Disney should have hired Tim Rice (or Glenn Slater or any of Menken's other lyricists) to make new songs expanding on the story known from the movie - not an early vision of how the movie should have been.

I know all about Howard Ashman's original vision for the film, but that did not end up being the movie people know and love. I have The Music Behind the Magic CD set and have listened to the original demo versions of all the songs written for Aladdin and his friends, but I think this show would have been better off with more new songs and less songs performed by Aladdin's friends. In fact I think the stage musical would have been better off without any of Aladdin's friends. To me they seem distractive to the story. It's almost like it's "Aladdin and friends" a la "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", and it seems like Jasmine, Jafar, Iago and the Genie have been pushed aside to serve in minor roles.

And the talk about Jafar not getting any songs because they "did not serve the story", that excuse can be used anytime anyone would like to cut a song. Ursula had several songs on Broadway. Were they all really necessary for the story? Not so much, but they were great, show-stopping songs and they gave the iconic villain the opportunity to shine.

[ChrisLyne]

It's not altered from the movie as much as you might think, the movie is still the core of the show it's just been expanded in a different way to Disney's previous shows. All the characters from the film have more to do in the show (with the possible exception of the Sultan, though I hear he now sings part of an extended Prince Ali Reprise leading into Jafar's song from the film). It's definitely not the Black Friday version of the story.

I know all about Howard Ashman's original vision for the film, but that did not end up being the movie people know and love. I have The Music Behind the Magic CD set and have listened to the original demo versions of all the songs written for Aladdin and his friends, but I think this show would have been better off with more new songs and less songs performed by Aladdin's friends. In fact I think the stage musical would have been better off without any of Aladdin's friends. To me they seem distractive to the story. It's almost like it's "Aladdin and friends" a la "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", and it seems like Jasmine, Jafar, Iago and the Genie have been pushed aside to serve in minor roles.

That's fair enough. To be honest if I hadn't known what to expect going in then I probably would have been expecting an extended version of the films just like other shows. Proud of Your Boy I'd have expected, maybe they'd have a sung battle moment like High Adventure (in the same way they did One Jump Ahead to have a song in the vein of Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim). But honestly, I prefer what they did. Hearing those songs brought to life on stage is a fantastic experience and the book fits everything together really well (and the revised order looks to have made some improvements I wouldn't have even considered). The show has been extremely popular with audiences, that's the reason it's coming to Broadway now.

To be fair my reasoning on Why Me being cut is purely conjecture on my part based on knowledge of the original intention behind Why Me and comments made by someone who's seen the show in Toronto. And they didn't use that reasoning to take songs away from Jafar. They removed a song they obviously felt wasn't working (for whatever reason) and gave him a new one they felt works better. Ursula actually had even more songs in Denver, they cut a reprise of Her Voice before the show reached Broadway. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to hear Jonathan Freeman sing more, but when I saw the show in Utah it didn't feel like Jafar needed anymore songs and he's got the same number of songs now as he did then so I don't think there's anything to worry about.

[ProfessorRatigan]

All I'm saying is that the Aladdin, Jr. musical for kids has more songs for Jafar than the official Broadway production... That's a disappointment beyond compare for people (like me) who are wanting to see this show almost ENTIRELY because of Jonathan Freeman reprising his iconic role from the film... The Ashman songs definitely deserve to all be included. That they aren't is pretty much my major gripe. How Quick They Forget (which should follow the Prince Ali number...) and Humiliate the Boy are nixed in favor of (to my ears) songs of inferior quality (such as Somebody's Got Your Back and A Million Miles Away). That's what irks me.

There is no reason Humiliate the Boy couldn't take place immediately BEFORE the Prince Ali Reprise. Jafar gets the lamp, unleashes the Genie, screws with Aladdin, humiliates him, then undresses him in front of Jasmine and the Sultan and sends him away (To the dungeon, I'm assuming, in the stage version? I recall a Disney On Ice type of special that aired in 1995 or thereabouts that changed the lyrics of the Prince Ali Reprise from, "His assets frozen/the venue chosen/Is the ends of the earth...WHOOPEE!" to, "And all that remains/Is him tied up in chains/For the rest of eternity!" I had this special taped as a kid and was OBSESSED with this version of the song, which, in the special, was actually performed by Jonathan Freeman! The show's cheesy as hell, but it can be seen here, around the 7 minute mark: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPigktm-SS0) in the Prince Ali Reprise. I think that'd be the best way to do it on stage and then you could include Ashman's Arabian Nights Reprise 3, "You've got rats in your cell/But you'll live with the smell/Til the dawn, when you breath your last!") following that and then High Adventure as it is in the show now, with Babkak, Omar and Kassim rescuing Aladdin.

Put Why Me? back where it was in the Seattle show and you've pleased all the Jonathan Freeman fans. And before you say, "But, that'll slow the show down!" so does having the One Jump Ahead Reprise still in place even though they've reinstated Proud of Your Boy. I don't see a difference. Besides, Why Me? gives us some actual insight into Jafar beyond just "I'm evil--mwa! Ha! Ha!" Cut the new songs, give us the ones we fans have known about (and dreamed of hearing fully orchestrated!) for years and then you'll please both the original fans of the movie and the hardcore Ashman fanatics who prefer the original score. Win-win.

[Prince Edward]

You made some very good points there ProfessorRatigan!:)