Dual Language Edition of Disney's ALADDIN to Open This Week at LATC

The critically acclaimed smash hit musical, Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edición De Lenguaje Dual will be presented by Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo and TNH Productions, in association with El Centro Del Pueblo and CASA 0101 Theater in a new expanded guest production, bowing on Stage Three at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 for two weeks only. Opening Night is Friday, September 8, 2017.

Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edición De Lenguaje Dual, based on the 1992 Academy Award-winning film, Aladdin, follows the familiar story and characters, with a new twist. The family friendly musical fantasy is set in the fictional Middle Eastern city of Agrabah, where a beloved Disney princess named Jazmín, finds true love with a commoner named Aladdin with the help a bigger than life Genie equipped with a Magic Carpet. Agrabah is a land inhabited with sassy gossiping royal translators, fast-talking comedic bilingual sidekicks named Abu, Raja and Razul, and a power hungry Grand Vizier named Jafar, who is the nemesis behind a magic spell cast upon the city! 2017 marks the historic 25th Anniversary of the Disney film, Aladdin. The show is based on the Arab-style folktale "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" from One Thousand and One Nights; the musical includes iconic songs like "A Whole New World" and "Friend Like Me."

VIPS who will be in attendance on Opening Night performance on Friday, September 8, 2017 include:

- José Cruz González, Book Writer with Jim Luigs of Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edicíon De Lenguaje Dual. He will attend with his wife,Cory González and children.

- Gilbert A. Cedillo, Councilmember, City of Los Angeles, 1st District, A Co-Presenter of Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edicíon De Lenguaje Dual.

- Rigo Tejeda, Founding Artistic Director of TNH Productions and Director of Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edicíon De Lenguaje Dual.

- Abel Alvarado, Associate Artistic Director of TNH Productions and Costume Designer for Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edicíon De Lenguaje Dual.

- Conrado Terrazas, Chief Financial Officer for TNH Productions and Executive Producer of Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edicíon De Lenguaje Dual.

- Felipe Agredano, Government Relations Director for TNH Productions and Producer of Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edicíon De Lenguaje Dual.

- Sandra L. Figueroa-Villa, Executive Director, El Centro Del Pueblo, Sponsor of Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edicíon De Lenguaje Dual.

- Gricelda "Pepper" Farias, Finance Director, Los Angeles Theater Center.

- Selene Santiago, Program Director, Los Angeles Theater Center.

- Ingrid Oliu, Real Women Have Curves, Stand and Deliver, Batman: The Animated Series, Fixing Paco, Flatliners, Lies in Plain Sight

- Elias P. Ontiveros, Producer, Huracan Productions, Inc.; son of the late actress Lupe Ontiveros, Founding Member of the Latino Theater Company.

The cast of 24 includes: As Aladdin, a street rat: Daniel Sugimoto; As Princess Jazmín: Valeria Maldonado (Sept. 8 Evening, 9 Evening, 16 Evening, 17 Evening) and Sarah Kennedy (Sept. 7 Matinee, 8 Matinee, 10 Matinee, 14 Matinee, 15 Matinee and Evening); As Genie, resident of the magical lamp:Finley Polynice (Sept. 8 Evening, 9 Evening, 16 Evening, 17 Evening) and Lewis Powell III (Sept. 7 Matinee, 8 Matinee, 10 Matinee, 14 Matinee, 15 Matinee and Evening); As Jafar, the Sultan's Grand Vizier: Omar Mata (Sept. 8 Evening, 9 Evening, 16 Evening, 17 Evening) and Luis Marquez (Sept. 7 Matinee, 8 Matinee, 10 Matinee, 14 Matinee, 15 Matinee); As Iago, Jafar's pet parrot: Andrew Cano (Sept. 8 Matinee, 10 Matinee, 15 Matinee, 17 Matinee); and Luis Fernandez-Gil (Sept. 7 Matinee, 8 Evening, 9 Evening, 14 Matinee, 15 Evening, 16 Evening); Evan Garcia as Razú, Captain de los Guardias; Henry Madrid as Sultán; SebastIan Gonzalez as Abu, Aladdin's pet monkey; Rosa Navarrete as Rajah, Jazmín's pet tiger; Danielle Espinoza as Magic Carpet; Blanca Espinoza as Royal Translator; Shanara Sanders as Royal Translator; Beatriz Tasha Magaña as Royal Translator; Jocelyn Sanchez as Ensemble; Andrew Cano as Ensemble; Abigail "Abey" Somera as Ensemble; Andrea Somera as Ensemble; Jesse Maldonado as Ensemble; Alejandro Lechuga as Ensemble; Bryant Melton as Ensemble, and Monica Beld as Ensemble.

The production team for Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edición De Lenguaje Dual will include: Rigo Tejeda, Director of the musical and Founding Artistic Director, TNH Productions; Abel Alvarado, Costume Designer and Associate Artistic Director or TNH Productions; Conrado Terrazas,Show Executive Producer and Chief Financial Officer for TNH Productions; Felipe Agredano, Show Producer and Government Relations Director for TNH Productions; Marco De Leon, Scenic Designer; Sohail j. Najafi, Lighting Designer; Vincent A. Sanchez, Sound Designer; Caroline Benzon, Music Director; Tania Possick, Choreographer; YeeEun Nam, Projection Designer; Jerry A. Blackburn, Production Stage Manager; Christina "Crispy" Carrillo-Dono, Assistant Stage Manager; Jules Bronola, Costume Assistant; Roxanne De Ment, Costume Assistant; Miguel Carachure, Sound Operator;George Villanueva, Spot Operator; Angelica Enos, Spot Operator; Ramon "Rooster" Cabrera, Stage Hand; J.P. Torres, Stand Hand: Gilbert Valenzuela, Ambassador, TNH Productions; Luis Gaudi, Pre-Production Photographer; Ed Krieger, Production Photographer and Steve Moyer Public Relations, Press Representative.

Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edición De Languaje Dual is an 80-minute production which will be presented without intermission on Stage Three at Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 for Two Weeks Only on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 5:00 p.m., September 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17, 2017. Matinees performances will be given on Thursdays and Fridays, September 7, 8, 14 and 15, 2017 at 11:00 a.m.

Tickets $39.00 each for General Admission, $49.00 each for Preferred Seating, $59.00 each for Gold Circle Seating and $79.00 each for VIP Tickets which includes the best seating in the house, one free drink and snack and photos on stage with the cast following the performance. Tickets may be purchased by calling toll free (866) 811-4111, or online by visiting www.thelatc.org/events. Tickets are also available for Groups of 25 or more at $30.00 per ticket and may be obtained by E-mailing conradoterrazas@gmail.com.

Metered Parking is available on streets surrounding the theatre and in an adjacent parking lot next to the theatre located on Spring Street. Parking lots range in price from $10.00 to $15.00. The nearest Metro Stop is located at Pershing Square two blocks west of LATC on West Fifth Street and South Hill Street.

Watch footage of the musical below!

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Ken Cerniglia, Dramaturg and Literary Manager for Disney Theatrical Productions said, "Our dramaturgical mission for Aladdin Dual Language Edition/Edición De Lenguaje Dual was to weave two languages into the plot while making sure that both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking audiences could follow the story. We hewed closely to the text and structure of Disney's Aladdin JR., adapted for the stage by Bryan Louiselle and Jim Luigs, but amplified the show with a new back-story."

Gil Cedillo, Councilmember, City of Los Angeles, 1st District, said, "Given the political climate in Washington D.C., Disney's Aladdin Dual Language Edition, is timely. The play takes place in Agrabah, a place that draws many parallels to our country, and drives the message home that every member of society contributes to the vitality of its future."

Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edición De Lenguaje Dual was first presented in January, February and March 2017 at CASA 0101 Theater to great critical acclaim. BroadwayWorld wrote: "Love transcends the limitations of language...bright and full of life...there is pageantry, romance, and plenty of humor...the joy of theatre and the whole new world it can open up is on full display."

And now the musical will return in a new expanded production! Rigo Tejeda, Founding Artistic Director of TNH Productions and Director of the musical said, "We are very excited about the remount of our production of Disney's Aladdin, Dual Language Edition/Edición De Lenguaje Dual. We will have much larger stage at the Los Angeles Theatre Center with a cast of 24 led by Daniel Sugimoto, our newly cast Aladdin, and a new set designed by Marco De Leon. Audiences will be blown away by our new special effects, including The Magic Carpet and other special surprises."

The musical features a Book by Jim Luigs and José Cruz González, Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Music Adapted, Arranged and Orchestrated by Bryan Louiselle, with Lyric Translations by Walterio Pezqueira. This remount of the musical will be directed by Rigo Tejeda, executive produced by Conrado Terrazas, produced by Felipe Agredano, musically directed by Caroline Benzon, choreographed by Tania Possick, with costumes by Abel Alvarado, set by Marco De Leon, projections by YeeEun Nam, sound by Vincent A. Sanchez and will be stage managed by Jerry Blackburn.

Production sponsors of Disney's Aladdin Dual Language Edition/Edición De Lenguaje Dual include: The office of Councilmember Gil Cedillo, City of Los Angeles, 1st District, El Centro Del Pueblo, Los Angeles Unified School District, California Teachers Association, CASA 0101 Theater and Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis.

Themed Performances:
In addition to the Opening Night Performance and After Party, Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo and TNH Productions will present an LGBTQ NIGHT on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. Admission is $79 per person and includes a Wine Reception, Premiere Seating and a "Blue MarGENIE" After Party with the cast of the show at the nearby Redline Bar. Call 866-811-4111 or visit online at www.thelatc.org and enter Promo Code: LGBTQ. Then, Sunday, September 10, 2017 at 5:00 p.m. will be Disney Character Night with a Costume Contest for All Ages with Prizes.

Serving Our Community:
During the course of the run of this production, schools, senior groups, recreation centers and neighborhood councils in Councilmember Gil Cedillo's District 1 will be bussed in to see performances of the show. Groups will include: Nightingale Middle School, Cypress Park, Latona Elementary, Montecito Heights, Puck's School Exel Academy, Lincoln Heights, Cecilia Dominguez, Northeast Los Angeles Seniors, Carlos Santana Arts Academy in Councilmember Monica Rodriquez' District 7, Lincoln Heights Senior Center, Glassell Park Senior Club, Glassell Park Senior Domino Club, Glassell Park Seniors, Ramona Hall Ballet Class, Montecito Heights Senior Center, Arroyo Neighborhood Council, Tenth Street Elementary, Pico Union, Esperanza Elementary, Westlake, Richard Merkin Middle School, Magnolia Place Elementary, Pico Union, Highland Park Schools, City of Los Angeles Recreation and Parks, Lincoln Park, Lincoln Heights Recreation Center and Toberman Park.

More Background on the Musical:
In Disney's Aladdin Dual Language Edition/Edición De Lenguaje Dual everyone in the fictional city of Agrabah used to be able to speak two languages. The show is based on the Arab-style folktale "Aladdin and the Magic Lamp" from One Thousand and One Nights; the musical includes iconic songs like "A Whole New World" and "Friend Like Me." When the evil Jafar, the Sultan's Grand Vizier, first finds a Genie's magic lamp one day, he wishes to divide Agrabah by language so that the people of the palace speak one language and the people in the streets speak another (hence, Spanish and English respectively). However, Jafar speaks both languages, giving him more power. Before making another wish, Jafar, annoyed with his pet parrot, Iago, throws the lamp out the window, and while doing so, he spills some magic "fluency" dust on Iago. The lamp's dust also enables two other animals, Princess Jazmín's pet tiger, Rajah, and Aladdin's pet monkey, Abu, to also speak human languages. To help the audience follow this class conflict adventure, Royal Translators serve as narrators and facilitate official state communication, while the multi-lingual animals translate more intimate conversations. As the story starts Princess Jazmín is running away from the palace, unwilling to be betrothed to yet another snobbish suitor. Aladdin, a street rat, and Princess Jazmín become friends and fall in love, but Jafar has Aladdin apprehended. Later Aladdin befriends at Magic Carpet, as well as a Genie who makes his wishes come true.

About The Director:
Rigo Tejeda (Director of the musical and Founding Artistic Director, TNH Productions) began his career in the theatrical arts over 20 years ago. Raised and trained as a musician, his endeavors as a pianist and accompanist developed his love for music early on. Along with this came his introduction to amateur theatre and acting. His directorial debut came soon after as Music Director of his local church community. Starring in various community theatre productions, Tejeda delved into directing with his first theatrical production, Esperar, in 1994. Soon after, his self-taught skills, schooling and inclination for direction, landed several projects, including American Icon at Disneyland Resort, Un Triste Amanecer and Cats en Español. Being recognized for his passion and talent he was then asked to develop and teach workshops and classes in acting, pantomime, musical theatre and theatre 101 at Telacu, a program for inner-city students aspiring in the theatrical arts and higher education. With his strong accolades as a business owner, theatrical director and founder of a theatre company, he has become a well-recognized and respected artist in his own right. He is on the forefront of the Latino Theatre Movement in Los Angeles. Rigo Tejeda was the director of CASA 0101 and TNH Productions 2013 presentation of the Tony Awardâ-winning musical In The Heights which received great critical acclaim, including a Critic's Choice in the Los Angeles Times and "Pick of the Week" in LA Weekly, as well at critically acclaimed production of Disney's Aladdin Dual Language Edition/Edición De Lenguaje Dual presented earlier this year.

About The Executive Producer:
Conrado Terrazas (Executive Producer of Disney's Aladdin Dual Language Edition/Edición De Lenguaje Dual and Chief Financial Officer, TNH Productions) Terrazas has experience in government, labor, fundraising development, film and television development, publicity and promotion for films and producing musical theater. Terrazas was Creative Associate at The Walt Disney Company; Manager, Drama Development at Fox Broadcasting; Executive Assistant for the Academy AwardÒ campaign for Rain Man at United Artists and Extras Coordinator for HBO's Walkout. Terrazas serves as District Director and Special Events Producer for Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo. He was also Communications Director for Senator and Assemblymember Gil Cedillo and Community Organizer for Los Angeles Councilmember Jackie Goldberg. Terrazas received a B.A. degree in Chicano Studies from Pitzer College, an MBA degree from Yale University with a focus on marketing and a Master's degree in Fine Arts from the USC School of Cinematic Arts - Peter Stark Motion Picture Producing Program.

About TNH Productions:
The mission of TNH Productions (Teatro Nuevos Horizontes) is to produce musical live theater that tells the stories by and for underserved audiences. The company strives to hire individuals onstage and backstage that reflect the diversity of our country. The company's production of In the Heights in 2012 and 2013 enjoyed many sold out performances and excellent reviews in La Opiníon, named "Pick of the Week" by LA Weekly, "Critic's Choice" in the Los Angeles Times and was featured on ABC's American Latino TV. In The Heights is Pulitzer Prize winning, Tony AwardÒ winning and Academy Award nominated composer-lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda's first show. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/TeatroNuevosHorizontes.

Photo Credit: Ed Krieger

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