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[Big Apple2]

Posted: 5/6/17 at 7:09pm

Is this show basically a full blown version of the 45-minute production that ran at Disney's California Adventure for years?

[adagio]

Posted: 5/6/17 at 10:23pm

Has anyone tried rushing this show yet? Can you show up at/after box office open and still get tickets? How are the seat locations? Thanks in advance!

[Observation]

Posted: 5/7/17 at 12:14am

Yeah! I actually rushed today,I've never done it before. 

I went to the box office around 10:15 am and was able to walk right up and get tickets for either the matinee or the evening show. I went with evening show. 

This was for the Chicago leg of the tour. Paid my $25.00 and had a fantastic seat orchestra house left. My seat wasn't obstructed view or anything. I asked some folks that were rushing if they ever have any problems getting tickets when they rush and they said for every show they rush for, they've always gotten tickets. So that's good to know!

I went into the show with no expectations, I had only seen the Tony Award performance and wasn't too wowed by it, but on stage, it's a different story! I was rooting for them so hard by the end of the number.

Another note: You can only get up to 2 tickets I believe for rush tickets. 

[JennH]

Posted: 5/7/17 at 10:20am

trpguyy said: 

I understand why one would think that, but the Cave of Wonders set alone probably surpasses the wardrobe budget. 

 

"

I....disagree, however if I'm proven wrong, so be it. I only find myself disagreeing because I took a small backstage tour of the New Amsterdam with a friend two years ago as he knew someone who works in the Disney Theatrical office which of course is right above the N.A. so I saw those sets up close and personal as one can get. They're pretty much cardboard painted gold with strings of plastic shiny things that looked like they came from Party City hot glued onto them. I can't imagine that being more pricey than the costumes which actually look like some thought and care was put into them. 

[JennH]

Posted: 5/7/17 at 10:27am

Big Apple2 said: "Is this show basically a full blown version of the 45-minute production that ran at Disney's California Adventure for years?

 

"

Actually not really, if not outright no. I only can say this because I've seen both in person. Of course the DCA one is on youtube everywhere, so it's not hard to find anyway. Production design and script are almost completely different. And strangely enough...it at least LOOKS like the DCA one had a higher production quality/value. It just looked more impressive and filled the stage more. I found it more "magical" than Broadway, it just felt like the movie was thrown on stage at the N.A. without adapting it more. Neither script I would call good, but at least, the DCA one flowed well. 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/7/17 at 11:00am

"They're pretty much cardboard painted gold with strings of plastic shiny things that looked like they came from Party City hot glued onto them"

You saw only a fraction of that set. What you didn't see, up in the air, is the rest of the Cave set. The gold paint is actually a complicated and extremely time consuming ordeal (read: expensive). And don't forget that it's all automated, and tricked out with lighting and SFX. That one scene easily cost seven figures.

 

Not to take away from the costumes -- there's a LOT of intricate beading and hand painting on those too. 

 

EDIT: I wasn't originally thinking of these, but since the "toaster" traps used for the waiters' entrances in Friend Like Me are only used in that scene, we could lump those into the hypothetical scenic budget for the Cave of Wonders. 

Updated On: 5/7/17 at 11:00 AM

[adagio]

Posted: 5/7/17 at 11:27am

Thanks for the detailed write-up Observation! That's great to know, I'm definitely going to rush next weekend.

[JennH]

Posted: 5/7/17 at 11:42am

trpguyy said: ""They're pretty much cardboard painted gold with strings of plastic shiny things that looked like they came from Party City hot glued onto them"

You saw only a fraction of that set. What you didn't see, up in the air, is the rest of the Cave set. The gold paint is actually a complicated and extremely time consuming ordeal (read: expensive). And don't forget that it's all automated, and tricked out with lighting and SFX. That one scene easily cost seven figures.

 

Not to take away from the costumes -- there's a LOT of intricate beading and hand painting on those too. 

 

EDIT: I wasn't originally thinking of these, but since the "toaster" traps used for the waiters' entrances in Friend Like Me are only used in that scene, we could lump those into the hypothetical scenic budget for the Cave of Wonders. 

 

"

Totally fair. No I def didn't see the rest of the cave pieces that are stored in the fly space, all I have is the ground pieces. But even seeing the show, it still somehow just LOOKED cheap. Not trying to diminish was does go on in terms of stage tricks. And oh yes the costumes are absolutely intricate. They were probably my  favorite part of the production quality aspect of it. 

[Big Apple2]

Posted: 5/7/17 at 12:40pm

JennH said: "Big Apple2 said: "Is this show basically a full blown version of the 45-minute production that ran at Disney's California Adventure for years?"

Actually not really, if not outright no. I only can say this because I've seen both in person. Of course the DCA one is on youtube everywhere, so it's not hard to find anyway. Production design and script are almost completely different. And strangely enough...it at least LOOKS like the DCA one had a higher production quality/value. It just looked more impressive and filled the stage more. I found it more "magical" than Broadway, it just felt like the movie was thrown on stage at the N.A. without adapting it more. Neither script I would call good, but at least, the DCA one flowed well. "

Having not seen the Broadway version, I can only comment on the DCA show.  The Hyperion Theatre, where it was staged, is very big.  And they did a very good job of filling that space.  But to me, that show is what it is - a 45-minute spectacle that came with the park admission price.  For me to see the Broadway show, it will have to be more than a scene for scene, dialogue for dialogue adaptation of the hit film.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/7/17 at 1:38pm

"For me to see the Broadway show, it will have to be more than a scene for scene, dialogue for dialogue adaptation of the hit film."

It isn't, at all. 

[DivaDiana]

Posted: 5/7/17 at 4:55pm

Updated On: 5/7/17 at 04:55 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/23/17 at 2:14pm

Has anyone done rush lately? Myself and three of my friends are planning on rushing the Saturday matinee this week and I'm wondering if we even have a chance. We are planning on being there right when the BO opens. Thanks! 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/23/17 at 3:24pm

^^ you should be fine, though I'd recommend a Friday or Saturday evening performance over a matinee, if you can swing it. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/23/17 at 4:33pm

If I do an evening performance do you think I would still need to try rushing in the morning or should I be fine closer to the performance?

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/23/17 at 5:18pm

If it were me, I'd still go as early as possible, better safe than sorry. Alternatively, TodayTix does have tickets in the $50 range.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 12:28pm

I saw the matinee yesterday in a spur of the moment. Like it was an extremely last minute idea. I got to the box office at 1:59 for the 2 pm show. I was in the center orchestra second row and the view was spectacular. 

Manny Stark was on as Aladdin and he did a nice job, he looks good too.

Isabelle McCalla was fantastic as Jasmine and she is such a nice person. She kept on saying sorry at the stage door since her marker wasn't working.

Anthony was fabulous as the genie and his talent is incredible, but I felt like he was having a rough time with his bits where has to catch or throw things. Like he missed catching the microphone, then he did get the microphone thrown offstage(a stage hand came out to grab that) and he was a tad off throwing his hat to the conductor. 

Theres so much talent on that stage and the ensemble was doing a nice job, but I felt like they were already moving through the movements for this early on in their run. 

The sets were extraordinary for it being a tour. They had to extend past the proscenium with the lights. 

During the magic carpet scene I was able to see the mechanism that moved the carpet. It kind of took magic away, but it was pretty. 

[trpguyy]

Posted: 5/25/17 at 3:35pm

"...but I felt like he was having a rough time with his bits where has to catch or throw things..."

 

Maybe he does, maybe it was the pitcher/catcher's fault, or maybe it was a fluke. To be fair, professional athletes have bad days too. 

[illiniparkie]

Posted: 5/28/17 at 9:55pm

My wife, son, and I saw today's matinee.  The costumes and sets were pretty spectacular from our seats.  Disney didn't cheap out for the tour in my opinion.  The story stays pretty close to the movie and was probably the weakest aspect of the show (loved the parrot jokes though).  We also saw Manny Stark as Aladdin and he did a fine job.  Anthony Murphy was very funny as Genie.  Energetic and fun choreography.

This is a wonderful show for kids.  But please, parents, try to keep your little ones seated and not moving back and forth in your row of seats during the production.  We old fuddy duddies like to be able to watch the stage and not the back of your kids heads.  Grouchy rant over.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/8/17 at 8:27pm

Adam is on a minor medical leave. I Joe he recovers as soon as possible! http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/news/ct-jacob-dickey-aladdin-tour-20170608-story.html

[madela2]

Posted: 6/18/17 at 10:03am

Saw the matinee yesterday. Have to say I thought it was really...not great. I was hesitant to go because the animated movie is very dear to me. I found the whole thing to be lacking energy and underwhelming. I don't think it was something a few trap doors could have fixed, either. I thought it was maybe my nostalgia getting in the way but my friend, who usually likes everything we see, was feeling the same way about it as I was. It also bothered me that there are so many reprises of various songs. I didn't need to hear Proud of Your Boy a third time. The rest of the audience seemed to be enjoying it so there's that.

The streamers that pop out into the audience in the second act found their way to a group of kids across the aisle from me and they proceeded to crinkle them throughout the show. 

I do have some positive thoughts, though.

- Anthony Murphy as the Genie was excellent. He has plenty of charm and was very funny. He brings the show to life when he is on stage.

- I didn't know Adam was out on leave but Jacob Dickey was great as Aladdin.

- The trio of Al's friends were mostly entertaining.

- The magic carpet was impressive (though I thought A Whole New World was super boring to listen to). I was sitting in row E orch and didn't notice any of the floating apparatus. I think the illusion is even more impressive in the end scene when it isn't super dark in the theater.

Regardless of my thoughts, it's nice that there is theater for the kids to get them hooked and started on the path to spending way too much on their adulthood theater habits like I do now.

[3GamesToLove]

Posted: 6/18/17 at 11:11am

Wife and I saw this a couple of months ago. It was....okay. Aladdin was one of my favorite Disney movies as a kid so I was looking forward to it--I'd also never seen a Disney show on stage before regardless of level.

I think Adam Jacobs was having vocal issues because he sounded rough towards the end of the first act then seemed like he took it easy the rest of the show. I second A Whole New World being a pile of "meh." The writing is meh. I agree that Aladdin's pals are decent, and their high adventure song probably the highlight of the show. I was very underwhelmed by the climax. I kind of thought there would be something more interesting happening, both story and technically, then just two quick changes for Jafar. I was left thinking "...that's it?" Also thought Jasmine's friends were underutilized, especially considering how much Aladdin's were used.

The Genie........I like that they don't just go for a Robin Williams impression but he was just a bit much for me. I don't care for performances where every single line seems designed to be a laugh/applause line.

[madela2]

Posted: 6/18/17 at 12:01pm

3GamesToLove, totally agree about the ending! I agree with the sentiment regarding obvious laugh/applause lines but, for me, in this show the Genie one-liners were a welcome bit of entertainment.

Oh well. It's too bad about the show but at least I won't have to keep wondering whether or not I should have gone to see it.

[trpguyy]

Posted: 8/8/17 at 9:18pm

For those keeping track at home, Adam Jacobs returned to the show tonight.

[broadwaysfguy]

Posted: 11/2/17 at 1:52am

aladdin first night in SF tonight and

the magic carpet wasnt working  :)

adam jacobs was great as always, Korie Lee Blossey did a really fine job as the Genie. the crowd loved it and no one seemed to miss the carpet but me....

 

 

[wish i were here2]

Posted: 11/2/17 at 2:07am

How did they do “A Whole New World” if the carpet wasn't working?