All of the magic of animated classic “Aladdin” has been brought to life onstage. The Disney musical opened on March 20 at the New Amsterdam Theatre on 42nd Street.
The Broadway Channel arrived to interview stars on the red carpet who came out to support the opening of “Aladdin.” These guests included Disney stars like Corey Cott of “Newsies” and Josh Strickland of “Tarzan.” Also attending were TV’s Tina Fey, Broadway’s Joel Grey and Alan Menken, who wrote both the original music and the new songs for this production.
“It’s one of those shows where anything can happen, because it’s about magic,” says Chad Beguelin, who wrote the book and lyrics. “So people fly on a carpet, and people pop out of nowhere.”
“The great thing about Broadway is we have something for everyone,” says Harvey Fierstein, who’s promoting his own new show, “Casa Valentina,” along with Tony Award winner Gabriel Ebert (“Matilda”).
Many guests were enthused about the music, including Broadway’s Patrick Page: “What an incredible score,” he says, noting that he’s looking forward to “A Whole New World” and “Friend Like Me,” to name a few. “And it’s a story that’s been around hundreds — no, more — thousands of years.”
At the after-party, actors behind the beloved Aladdin (Adam Jacobs), Jasmine (Courtney Reed), Genie (James Monroe Iglehart) and Jafar (Jonathan Freeman) also talked about how exciting it is to be part of this magical premiere.
“We have glitz, we have glamor, we have showgirls,” boasts Iglehart. “We have a good old fashioned musical comedy.”
Find more behind-the-scenes videos about new Broadway shows — including more “Aladdin” clips — plus theater news and updates on national tours at www.broadwaychannel.com.
T. Michelle Murphy is Metro New York’s theater critic and also serves as a field producer for The Broadway Channel. Follow her on Twitter: @TMichelleMurphy.
