Aladdin on Broadway

[Wiggles]

Honestly, I think they should've just stopped at Tarzan. While I WAS surprisingly impressed with Tarzan, I think Disney's kinda going overboard in making EVERY SINGLE friggin' movie into a Broadway show. Then again, they're not the only ones guilty of this. *COUGHSHREKSPIDERMANCOUGHCOUGH*

[DisneyJedi]

Excuse me, I haven't been on the up and up with this lately. Mind telling me what changes they've made since the Utah and Toronto productions?

[ChrisLyne]

When Toronto opened this was the song list;

ACT 1
Arabian Nights - Babkak, Omar, Kassim and Company
One Jump Ahead - Aladdin and Crowd
Proud of Your Boy - Aladdin (using OJA Reprise as a lead in)
Arabian Nights Reprise 1 - Babkak, Omar and Kassim
Call Me a Princess - Jasmine and Attendants
Call Me a Princess Reprise - Jasmine
Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim - Babkak, Omar, Aladdin and Kassim
A Million Miles Away - Aladdin and Jasmine
Diamond in the Rough - Jafar, Iago and Aladdin
Friend Like Me - Genie and Company
Arabian Nights Reprise 2 - Babkak, Omar and Kassim
Act 1 Finale (Friend Like Me Reprise/Proud of Your Boy Reprise 1) - Genie and Aladdin

ACT 2
Prince Ali - Genie, Babkak, Omar, Kassim and Company
Arabian Nights Reprise 3 - Babkak, Omar and Kassim
A Whole New World - Aladdin and Jasmine
High Adventure - Babkak, Omar and Kassim
Somebody's Got Your Back - Genie, Aladdin, Babkak, Omar and Kassim
Proud of Your Boy Reprise 2 - Aladdin
Prince Ali Reprise - Jafar, Sultan and Company
Genie's Exit (Somebody's Got Your Back Reprise) - Genie
Finale Ultimo (Arabian Nights Reprise 4/A Whole New World Reprise) - Company

The changes from Seattle and the Regionals were;

Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Kassim was moved to later in the show (it used to follow Arabian Nights) so Aladdin's introduction is now more in line with the film with One Jump Ahead. It now takes place in the marketplace when Aladdin meets Jasmine.

Why Me was cut. This was sung by Jafar and Iago as they cast a spell searching for the Diamond in the Rough.

The original Arabian Nights Reprise 2 was cut (Toronto's Reprise 2 was Seattle's Reprise 3) This Ashman/Menken verse was sung by Babkak, Omar and Kassim as Aladdin's "uncle" Jafar led him to the Cave of Wonders. It has been replaced by the new Menken/Beguelin song Diamond in the Rough.

In Act 2 new reprises of Arabian Nights and Proud of Your Boy were added. I'm not sure about Arabian Nights Reprise 3 but I believe that Proud of Your Boy Reprise 2 takes place after Aladdin breaks his promise to Genie and realises he needs to tell Jasmine the truth about who he really is.

The pre-wedding reprise of High Adventure was cut and the Sultan and the crowd were added to an extended introduction to Prince Ali Reprise

During the Toronto run Call Me a Princess and its Reprise were cut and Jasmine was given a new song called Beyond These Palace Walls.

Since Toronto Casey Nicholaw has confirmed that Babkak, Omar and Kassim are no longer narrators of the show. What this means for the Arabian Nights Reprises is not yet known (they could be cut or the ensemble could now narrate, I think the former may be more likely) and if they are cut we don't know what, if anything, will replace them. We should hear some answers when previews start next week. Personally, I'm going to try and avoid spoilers as I'm seeing the shw next month and want to be surprised by the changes.

[rubyslippers]

When I saw it in the middle of November:

Arabian Nights Reprise 3 took place after Aladdin acts like a jerk in his attempt to impress Jasmine by "behaving like a prince." The trio call Aladdin out for behaving like a phony and leave Aladdin on his own.The reprise wasanother narrative bridge, except this time it started with Kassim being obviously angry/annoyed and they stopped to address it.

Proud of Your Boy Reprise 2 took place as Aladdin is being dressed for his wedding and realizes that he has to tell Jasmine the truth.

[DisneyJedi]

Any chance we might get a more dynamic finale, in the sense of like how Mary Poppins would end with Mary flying at the end of the show?

[rubyslippers]

Any chance we might get a more dynamic finale, in the sense of like how Mary Poppins would end with Mary flying at the end of the show?

As of the end of the Toronto previews, Aladdin and Jasmine fly off on the magic carpet in the finale. (When I saw it, they rode off on camels that said 'JUST MARRIED')

[DisneyJedi]

Any chance we might get a more dynamic finale, in the sense of like how Mary Poppins would end with Mary flying at the end of the show?

As of the end of the Toronto previews, Aladdin and Jasmine fly off on the magic carpet in the finale. (When I saw it, they rode off on camels that said 'JUST MARRIED')

That's as it should be.

[ChrisLyne]

Broadway previews start tomorrow! Over the last few weeks I've posted some look backs at previous versions of the show;

5th Avenue Pilot - http://aladdinmusical.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... -2011.html
Tuacahn - http://aladdinmusical.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... -2012.html
The Muny - http://aladdinmusical.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... louis.html
European Premiere - http://aladdinmusical.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... 22013.html
Asian Premiere - http://aladdinmusical.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... -2012.html
Toronto - http://aladdinmusical.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... 32014.html

[rubyslippers]

It's amazing how far this show has come, ChrisLyne! I remember reading your blog when it first started and never dreamed the show would eventually end up on Broadway.

Also, new photos!

http://www.broadwayworld.com//article/P ... w0kClHnGSp

[ChrisLyne]

I know! I remember being absolutely devastated when Disney said they were only doing the 3 week pilot and then licensing the show out. I never dreamed it would come this far. I'm going to NY next month and I'm literally counting the days now until I see this.

Those pictures look beautiful.

I was just reading at Broadway World that during last night's invited dress rehearsal JMI got a massive standing ovation after Friend Like Me that went on so long he had to ask them to sit down so they could continue the show

[rubyslippers]

I read that too! When I saw the show, no one did a standing ovation (I didn't know you could do that mid-show! haha) but he did have to tell us to hush because we kept extending the cheers.

Also... drumroll.... cast recording is coming in May! I can hardly wait!

Preorder here: http://www.aladdinthemusicalstore.com/

[DisneyJedi]

Is this going to have an open ended run? Because if it isn't, that'll suck.

[rubyslippers]

Is this going to have an open ended run? Because if it isn't, that'll suck.

It has an open-ended run. There's no telling when a show will close, though... some shows only manage to stay open for a few months, a year, others for a few years, and others have decade+ longevity. I think it will be around (hopefully!) for at least a few years, given that it seems to be a fan favorite.

[Musical Master]

According to their official website, the cast album will be released some time in May.

[ChrisLyne]

High quality versions of the new photos;

http://aladdinmusical.blogspot.co.uk/20 ... ns-on.html

OMG Cast Album!!! Can't wait!!!!! Bit gutting they won't ship to the UK but I know a few places here I can probably pick it up shortly after release.

More merchandise;

http://www.disneystore.com/disney-princ ... 2+1001075/

And to chip in on the run length, Aladdin is currently booking until June (I think) but it's already pretty much sold out until April so they'll probably extend that soon. I'd love to say the reviews will be good, but going off Seattle and Toronto I'm expecting mixed reviews, but I don't think that matters too much as audiences for the most part love the show. If Disney were looking just at reviews they wouldn't have progressed past Seattle, they'd have stuck with the original plan to license it out. Audience support is the reason Aladdin's going to Broadway so I expect it will keep it there for a while. The worst case scenario would be a Tarzan or Mermaid length run of around 18 months to 2 years but I'm both hoping and expecting it to run for longer than that.

[Disney's Divinity]

According to their official website, the cast album will be released some time in May.

Oh, good! That's not too far away either. I still plan to get it even though I'm a little disappointed that it sounds as if they're deleting the songs from the early versions of Aladdin ("High Adventure," "Proud of Your Boy," "Call Me a Princess," the Jafar songs, etc.). I had hoped to hear those songs in high quality.

I would think this show would last at least 3 years if not more, because they don't seem to have screwed this up like they did TLM. Who knows though, hasn't there been all this stuff about Disney removing the film from their more exclusive film lines because it isn't selling well-enough or something? I hope the show manages to be very popular.

[ChrisLyne]

Oh, good! That's not too far away either. I still plan to get it even though I'm a little disappointed that it sounds as if they're deleting the songs from the early versions of Aladdin ("High Adventure," "Proud of Your Boy," "Call Me a Princess," the Jafar songs, etc.). I had hoped to hear those songs in high quality.

The only cut songs (so far) are Why Me which was cut before the Toronto run started and Call Me a Princess (and its reprise) which was cut during the Toronto run. The Arabian Nights reprises are looking likely to be cut now that the trio aren't narrating but that's not confirmed yet. As far as I'm aware High Adventure is still in the show and I know Proud of Your Boy is because Adam Jacobs was talking about singing it several of his press day interviews.

[Disney's Divinity]

Oh, that's good. I haven't been following very closely.

[Musical Master]

According to their official website, the cast album will be released some time in May.

Oh, good! That's not too far away either. I still plan to get it even though I'm a little disappointed that it sounds as if they're deleting the songs from the early versions of Aladdin ("High Adventure," "Proud of Your Boy," "Call Me a Princess," the Jafar songs, etc.). I had hoped to hear those songs in high quality.

I would think this show would last at least 3 years if not more, because they don't seem to have screwed this up like they did TLM. Who knows though, hasn't there been all this stuff about Disney removing the film from their more exclusive film lines because it isn't selling well-enough or something? I hope the show manages to be very popular.

I agree, it seems that when it comes to a stage adaptation of one of their animated films, Aladdin seems easier to bring to life on Broadway compared to TLM.

[TsWade2]

Well, based on the criticisms on Broadwayworld.com, those Broadway critical jerks will hate it and it'll never win Tony Award for Best Musical, except for the guy playing the Genie since I heard he's been well acclaimed and other categories. If I want to except Aladdin losing for Best Musical, then this time, I want to see normal musical to win. Something not controversial as Spring Awakening or boring as Once. Like maybe possibly Rocky or Bullets Over Broadway. If those two that I mentioned wins a TonY Award for Best Musical, I'll accept it. So DIsney better not screw up on The Hunchback of Notre Dame or Frozen which ever is coming first. Or just come up a new musical that wasn't based on movies.