Disney's ALADDIN to premiere at Seattle's 5th Ave. Theatre this summer

[MrBundles]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/thearts/2013877142_fifthavenue08.html?prmid=head_main

[aasjb4ever]

Eh.

[jagfkb]

Wait... didn't they, like, JUST announce that there'd even BE a stage version of Aladdin? Well.. I guess 2011-2012 just got more interesting... I'm also willing to guess Mary is either going to move or close this year, as I'm sure they'll want Aladdin in their flagship theatre. With the touring set (Or a decreased Broadway one) they could probably fit into the Lunt Fontanne...

[bwayphreak234]

No thank you.

[Jordan Catalano]

God, that was fast. I'm glad the world is getting another thrown together musical ala ELF. I'm sure it'll be...talked about.

[beautywickedlover]

I'm excited about this. I just hope it does not turn out to be another "Little Mermaid."

[B3TA07]

Y'all are haters.

[Jordan Catalano]

I'm not a hater. I just think that having only a few months to throw together a show that by all rights should take at least a year to develop is rushing things just a wee bit.

[Overkill]

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!! Don't be hatin. This is Alan Menken. He knows what be doin. I can NOT wait for this!

[B3TA07]

Where are you getting that it is being "thrown together?" Besides the fact that we haven't heard about any workshops that may have happened, I don't see where that's coming from.

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

I'm excited!!!!! Here's who I would cast as Aladdin. AN UNKNOWN!
Jasmine: either Ashley Brown or Krysta Rodriguez

[biglittlekid]

How exciting! Can't wait to see the stage design! =]

[Overkill]

Krysta Rodriguez could be a very good Jasmine. I would love to see Robin Williams return at the Genie, but of course, that won't happen.

[yournamehere]

Aw, cute. I was just talking to my friend about how I hope Julie Taymor does this and insists that they use a real tiger. This is my favorite of the Disney musical movies growing up so I'm glad it's finally making its way to stage. I was afraid they'd do Mulan first.

[adamgreer]

If they cast the show the way they cast the 45 minute version at Disney's California Adventure, Jasmine will be played by an Asian actress.

[theatreguy]

Interesting, perhaps this is why they stopped working on the Toy Story musical - so they can focus on getting Aladdin up and running.

[TheatreDiva90016]

"I just think that having only a few months to throw together a show that by all rights should take at least a year to develop is rushing things just a wee bit."

Oh please... Disney has been planning these shows for decades.

[brettystar]

Natalie Mendoza can be Jasmine lol

[rjjn]

I don't think the short amount of time will affect the show, they've been staging it at California for a while. Obviously changes are to be made, but they have a framework set.

[fashionguru_23]

I know its early for casting, but Christopher Fitzgerald automatically popped in my head as Iago. Also, I'm thinking that Disney may expand the Genie even more, and make that the lead male role, and star cast it.

I was thinking that because a lot of the movie (and I'm going to assume the musical) are set in a Moroccan city, that there won't be a lot of interpretation of set, and design. Little Mermaid was "under the sea", and the Lion King are all animals. There aren't many strange characters other than Iago and the Genie. So, the show maybe more about the story and score, rather spectacle.

Maybe, they will close Lion King, and move Mary Poppins to the Minskoff, and put Aladdin in the New Amsterdam, or close Mary Poppins, and leave LK.

[jimmycurry01]

"Oh please... Disney has been planning these shows for decades."

Planning is one thing, but actually producing a final product is another. There has been no director thus far, so there is now show thus far. Whipping something up this quickly may not be a wise idea. We have seen two Disney shows bomb on Broadway already. Little Mermaid is a show that should have been able to run for a decade, but crappy direction brought it down. Had Disney actually taken its time with the development of the show, and worked out the obvious problems, perhaps we would have seen better results.

[gypsy4]

Disney likes to keep things under wraps while a production team hasn't been announced there could already be one in place. besides it's Menken this is going to be one exciting production

[Overkill]

Exactly. I'm sure they already have a director, if not even a cast member or two. Definitley not all, though.

The Genie probably will and should stay the same size he's always been. The problem with doing the Genie on stage, is you don't have the freedom with the character like you did in the movie. In the movie, he was a cartoon, so you could change him into anything you wanted and have a million impressions. On stage, you can't just say "Listen here, Sparky.." in a Jack Nicholson voice and expect everyone to get it. As a cartoon, he changes himself to LOOK like Nicholson, so wether you think they sound alike or not, he definitley looks like him. That was the one thing I didn't enjoy much at the show at California Adventure. The actor playing Genie has a long shpeel where he says funny things that fall flat and he does impressions and pop culture references. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. But Genie on stage, loses his magic to me. I hope Disney finds a way to make it better.

I could see them closing Mary Poppins for this. They'll never close The Lion King. Psh. Or maybe after Addams Family closes, they'll try to take the Lunt again.

[darquegk]

The Genie will probably get an "improv segment." Hades, Pain and Panic got an "improv segment" in the Hercules show, and in the proshot video of the show, it's a bad night and some of the jokes aren't going over at all. However, in the bootleg footage on Youtube, the improv segment is going over even worse, complete with a Pussycat Dolls impersonation.

[suttonfoster]

Kyle Dean Massey as Aladdin please?