Adam Jacobs News

Disney's Aladdin, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20. Below, hear what Jonathan Freeman -- the original voice of Jafar in the animated film -- had to say about bringing his infamous villain to the stage!

The Gypsy Robe began in 1950, when Bill Bradley, in the chorus of GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, borrowed a dressing gown from Chorus member Florence Baum and sent it to a friend in CALL ME MADAM on opening night Oct 12, 1950 saying it was worn by all the Ziegfeld beauties and would 'bless' the show. A cabbage rose from Ethel Merman's gown was added and the robe was passed along to next Broadway musical on opening night. The tradition evolved so that the robe is now presented to the 'gypsy' who has performed the most Broadway musicals on a chorus contract. Along the way, the robe is decorated, painted, patched, stitched, and signed by everyone in the show, becoming a fanciful patchwork for an entire Broadway season.

In honor of Les Miserables' opening tonight, BroadwayWord brings you the actors who've taken on the many complex and vocally challenging roles of Victor Hugo's world, from the unscrupulous Thenardiers to innocent Cosette, or principled Javert against the compassionate and strong-willed Jean Valjean. From Fantine and Eponine, unfortunate in life and romance, to Enjolras and Marius, the fiery young leaders of the French Revolution.

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for the opening night after party, where he got to chat with all of the stars on their big night. Check out what they had to say below!

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include a first look at the Broadway company of MOTHERS AND SONS, a peek into rehearsals of THE WAY WEST with Amy Morton, coverage of opening night of BLITHE SPIRIT starring Angela Lansbury, and more!

BroadwayWorld was there for all of the magical opening night festivities, and Richard Ridge was on hand for the special purple carpet to chat with the evening's guests. Below, check out interviews with Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Kate Wetherhead, Michael Arden, Harvey Fierstein, Corey Cott, Josh Strickland, Alan Menken, Cheyenne Jackson, Laura Benanti and more!

BroadwayWorld was there for all of the magical opening night festivities, and below you can check out full photo coverage from the theatre arrivals!

BroadwayWorld was there for all of the magical opening night festivities, and below you can check out full photo coverage from the curtain call!

Disney's Aladdin, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, opened on Broadway last night, March 20th, 2014, at the New Amsterdam Theatre, after beginning performances on February 26th, 2014. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the show features music by Tony Award® and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken(Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winnerTim Rice (Evita, Aida) and two-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winnerCasey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). BroadwayWorld was there for all of the magical opening night festivities, and below you can check out full photo coverage from the after party!

The laughs are plentiful, the songs are bright and jazzy and there's not an actor dressed as an animal or inanimate object in sight .

Disney's Aladdin, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, opens on Broadway tonight, March 20th, 2014, at the New Amsterdam Theatre. Let's see what the critics had to say...

They're at it again! Hop on a magic carpet ride with the writers of MURDER FOR TWO and escape to a whole new world as they play you one of the songs they definitely wrote from the new Broadway show ALADDIN. Watch below!

Disney's Aladdin, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, opens on Broadway tonight, March 20th, 2014, at the New Amsterdam Theatre, after beginning performances on February 26th, 2014. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the show features music by Tony Award® and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken(Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winnerTim Rice (Evita, Aida) and two-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winnerCasey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). BroadwayWorld brings you highlights of the cast in action below!

Disney's Aladdin, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, opens tomorrow night, March 20th. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the show features music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and two-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). Scroll down to learn more about the full company, plus watch interviews with the cast!

Casey Nicholaw, the Tony Award-winning director and choreographer of Disney's ALADDIN, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, is featured in the April 2014 issue of Vanity Fair. Renowned photographer Max Abadian shot Nicholaw along with ALADDIN's beautiful ladies Tia Altinay, Daisy Hobbs, Nikki Long, Rhea Patterson, Khori Michelle Petinaud, Ariel Reid, and Marisha Wallace. Check out a behind-the-scenes look at the photo shoot below!

From the magical romances of ALADDIN and THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY to the perils of showbiz in CABARET, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY and ACT ONE; from the gripping physicality of ROCKY to the revolutionary tune of LES MISERABLES and the friendship and loss of OF MICE AND MEN, this season runs the gamut when it comes to captivating tales. BroadwayWorld has rounded up this season's musical adaptations and the plays, books and films that inspired them. Scroll down for the list, and be sure to let us know your favorites!

Disney's Aladdin, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, began performances at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre on February 26th, 2014 for a March 20 opening. In anticipation of the big Broadway opening, we're getting acquainted with the company. In the video below, meet composer Alan Menken!

Disney's Aladdin, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, is currently in previews at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre, prior to opening on March 20th. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the show features music by Tony Award® and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and two-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). In the video below, go behind the scenes of the Broadway sitzprobe with the cast!

Brandon O'Neill, currently starring in Disney's Aladdin on Broadway as one of the title character's sidekicks Kassim, will perform the national anthem tonight when the New York Knicks take on the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden. Tip off is at 7:30pm.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include a first look at the cast of THE REALISTIC JONESES, a peek backstage with Saturday Intermission Pics, a peek into rehearsals for THE THREEPENNY OPERA, coverage of ALL THE WAY on Broadway, and more!