A Whole New World

Hello my lovelies it’s time for an overdue update! With this seemingly never-ending winter looking like it’s finally coming to a close I decided that it was finally time to go see Aladdin. After an early wake up call, a three and a half hour wait for rush tickets (and trust me that was no where near my longest- I got to the Matilda rush line last spring at 5am and Pippin at 6), Starbucks, lunch and some good ole retail therapy the curtain finally went up and I have to say Disney knows how to win my heart!

I was born in the early 90’s during the Disney Renaissance Period and grew up with all those movies playing on a constant loop on my family's VHS player. It was movies like Aladdin that I loved as a kid making this new Disney incarnation a must see! By the end of “Arabian Nights” I was already head over heels for this show-trust me it’s worth the admission price just to see these musical numbers- I had tears in my eyes during “A Whole New World.” It was worth every second waiting in that rush line, hearing “Let It Go” blast through my alarm at 5:30 in the morning and all that jazz.

I tweeted during intermission that we are looking at a serious contender for this years Tony for best Musical and trust me we are. One of the amazing things about Disney is that they know how to put on a good, quality show for all ages. I’ve never seen anything from them that has been too childish, cheesy or too adult like. They carefully choose their pieces and make them equally appealing for anyone, which I think, is something that makes them stand out. Aladdin is no different. The story is essentially the same from the film-I won’t bore you with the plot that I’m sure you all already know but with a few new characters and touches such as Aladdin’s trio of friends. The music is astounding with all the films ones and a host of new ones and some that didn’t make it into the classic film. I don’t know if you guys know this but there were 14 songs written for Aladdin but only 6 made it in. This stage adaptation gives life to most of those songs while adding new ones that all work so beautifully with the ones that we all know and love. And the costumes-now let me tell you they are absolutely STUNNING! My friend Bernadette is the costume assistant at the show and just her verbal descriptions of them got me excited! They are no lie some of the most beautiful pieces of clothing that I’ve ever seen-the bright colors, the glitter and the oodles of Swarovski crystals that are no doubt sewn by hand into many of those costumes is just incredible. From my seat in the mezzanine I could see the sparkle of the crystals and all of the set and the effects, which I also loved. The sets are wonderful but what I really loved was the visually stunning effects. I don’t want to say much and spoil it for all you but the Magic Carpet has to be my favorite as it really completed my Aladdin experience.

Of course I can’t talk about this show with talking about this cast. Disney did such a phenomenal job casting them. It’s hard to play a role that is so iconic that millions have seen on film and recreate it with your own spin while still honoring the original work but this cast along with every other Disney cast I’ve seen finds that perfect balance. James Monroe Iglehart who plays the Genie (and who I also saw in Memphis) is so funny and captures that humor of the Genie so beautifully. It’s perfect that he opens the show because he sets that humorous tone with the audience and you love him within the first minute-he also has more comedy under his thumb than I do in my whole body. Like what Robin Williams did in the films, whenever you see him you know you’re going to laugh and cheer for him. Jonathan Freeman (he was awesome in Little Mermaid) who voiced the villain Jafar in the films recreates the role for the stage. It’s such a treat to see something like that because not only are you hearing the voice that you’ve heard for years in the films but you’re seeing him do it in full costume with all the mannerisms and literally bringing the role from the recording booth to the stage. It’s what makes it incredible and something that you need to see. Adam Jacobs who our title character and hero Aladdin is a. a dead ringer for the street rat turned prince and b. an incredible performer. He brings this nice gentle touch to Aladdin that from the first time he and Jasmine meet you’re rooting for him, you want him to succeed, you want him to get the girl. Courtney Reed who plays the princess Jasmine is absolutely phenomenal. Now, before I continue I need to say that I am a huge fan of the Disney Princesses. I was that kid who wore princess clothes everyday, a toy box filled with princess dress up and accessories and had princess everything. My mom has told me that there was a point when I was about 4 to 5 where I would usually wear only things with a princess on it! My first cast album was actually a cassette of Beauty and the Beast and I worshipped Susan Eagan as a kid. On career day in the first grade I came dressed up as Belle (my favorite with Elsa now in a close second) cause I was going to work at Disney World and be Belle it was that simple there was no changing my mind. While I have long since outgrown my first grade career dream I still and always will love the princesses-yes I’m that girl in her early 20’s who has the princess movies on DVD and still wanders into the Disney Store every now and again. So to me, if you play a Disney Princess I have very high expectations. Courtney did not disappoint at all-she’s joining the ranks of other amazing original Disney Princesses Susan Egan and Sierra Boggess. Jasmine is kind and caring but she’s a tough cookie as she’s a little feisty but staunchly independent like some of the newer princesses we’ve seen like Rapunzel and Elsa. Ms. Reed brings all that to the role and more. Her singing is beautiful and I know I tweeted this earlier but Broadway legend Lea Salonga who was the singing voice for Jasmine in the film (and also for Mulan) will be proud because she does the role justice that all the princess fans will be thrilled. Like I said last season about Keala Settle and what I’ve been saying about Annaleigh Ashford-this girl is going places and is star in the making with this role.

In case you couldn’t tell this production blew me away! Disney never cease to amaze me and make me fall in love with these stories all over again-I broke out my DVD of Aladdin today and was humming “A Whole New World” while I got dressed. I left the theater wanting to come back and see the show again which is always a sign of something great. Disney has captured lightening in a bottle again and I’ll see you at the Tony’s Aladdin!