Jonathan Freeman News

The Studios of Key West continues its innovative online conversation series, 'Between Two Palms,' streaming live each Wednesday from 6-7PM in March. The program invites award-winning theater, television, film, literary and visual arts personalities online for a lively, unscripted hour-long conversation produced by The Studios.

Today (January 13) in live streaming: Myths & Hymns on Stars in the House, Kelli O'Hara visits Backstage Live, and so much more!

On Wednesday, Jan 13 (8:30pm PT) Join actor Jonathan Freeman as he shares behind-the-scenes stories from voicing the villain Jafar in the Aladdin franchise and appearances on Broadway in Disney's Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, and Beauty and the Beast.

On this day in 2008, the Broadway adaptation of the classic Disney film, The Little Mermaid, opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

A host of Broadway and Disney stars are the latest guests on David Alpert's 'E-Ticket to Broadway' podcast. 

Jonathan Freeman and Mary Testa have found a way to celebrate theatre through their legendary portrayals of Bert Barry and Maggie Jones in 2001's Tony-winning revival of 42nd Street. They will also share stories and laughs from their varied careers while taking questions live from fans.

My Broadway Memory, in association with the Broadway Podcast Network, is presenting Waiting in the Wings, a virtual gala benefiting Wingspan Arts. Tonight’s event will be live streamed on My Broadway Memory, featuring performances and appearances from Alice Ripley (Next to Normal, Side Show), Beth Malone (Fun Home), and more.

The event will be live streamed on My Broadway Memory, featuring performances and appearances from Alice Ripley (Next to Normal, Side Show), Beth Malone (Fun Home), Jeremy Kushnier (Head Over Heels, Footloose), Performers from Freestyle Love Supreme, Lindsay Heather Pearce (Glee, Wicked), Luke Islam (America's Got Talent), and more, and will be hosted by Michael Kushner. 

My Broadway Memory, in association with the Broadway Podcast Network, has announced a month-long partnership with Broadway for Biden. The live streamed episodes will be available every Thursday at 7pm EST exclusively from the Broadway Podcast Network.

Today we rewind to 2014, when Aladdin was getting ready for Broadway. Aladdin opened on March 20 at the New Amsterdam Theatre, where it has played 2506 performances (as of March 15).

On this day in 1995, the first Broadway revival of the classic musical comedy, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying opened at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre.

On this day in 2014, Disney's Aladdin, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award-winning animated film, opened on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

Mark DiConzo, an cast member of Aladdin on Broadway, has found a truly adorable way to pass the time throughout the Covid-10 crisis.

La Mama will present Ellen Foley and Robert I Rubinsky's CLUB DADA (IN DIFFICULT TIMES): an all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza with a sprinkle of bad taste, bawdy and not so bawdy humor mixed with Sympatico pathos and surrealistic bathos as two ancient vaudevillians try to hide their show biz scars - slaves to wounded egos, age and outside forces.

Disney's Aladdin has announced new principal cast members ahead of the company's sixth anniversary. Ainsley Melham, star of the original Australian production of Aladdin, will return to the title role on Broadway in March. The exact date will be announced in the near future. Melham previously played the role on Broadway in 2019. Rodney Ingram will re-join the Broadway company to play the role starting Monday, February 17th until Melham's return. Marina Pires (On Your Feet! National Tour) will make her Broadway debut as Jasmine.

Watch the original voice of Jafar and Jafar on Broadway actor Jonathan Freeman receive a surprise serenade from his fellow cast and audience members for his 70th Birthday. See video below!

Disney's Aladdin is flying into East Lansing from December 4th through 15th at the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts. The hit musical, based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, has been amazing audiences since the show's Broadway debut back in 2014. It has the music that we all know and love from the film and new songs that add to the Disney magic. a?oeMagical, romantic, surprising, exhilarating and funny,a?? is how Jonathan Weir, who plays Jafar the villain on the tour, described the show. a?oeIt's a fantastical story of a young man's adventure to become himself, the friendship he creates with a genie in a lamp, and the adventures and romance it unfolds.a?? Read more of BroadwayWorld Detroit's conversation with Jonathan Weir below to find out why he thinks Disney's Aladdin is special and if Jafar is really all that villainous!

Actor/director/author Bruce Kimmel is best known to audiences for his tremendous work with Kritzerland, his own company that produces updated albums of classic musicals as well as recordings of new ones like his A Carol Christmas, produced last year at Group Rep and currently nominated for several BroadwayWorld Awards. Kimmel is about to open The Man Who Came to Dinner at Group Rep on December 6. In our convesation he talks about his fondness for the play and gives us his vision for a successful production of it. How do you envision The Man Who Came to Dinner onstage? BK: Fast. Funny. I love the play, have played Banjo twice, so it's really fun to come back to it as a director. The comedy is as funny as it's always been and it's also great to be able to bring whatever we can bring to it. But, for me, pace is key - the play can run long, but I'm making sure that doesn't happen here. Why do you think it has endured all these years even though it's a period piece with the mention of many, many names people today do not recognize? BK: The central situation is so relatable - someone takes over your house and your life, and disrupts everything, but, in the end, ends up being helpful to people. Add to that, the assortment of crazies who populate Sheridan Whiteside's wo

Disney has officially been making magic on Broadway for 25 years! As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Disney on Broadway is partnering with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS to put on a special benefit to celebrate the momentous occasion. We're getting in on the celebration by looking back at Disney's show-stopping productions, from classics like Beauty and the Beast and Newsies to current favorites like Aladdin and Frozen. Check it all out!

Disney's Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical, will welcome new stars to both the Broadway and North American tour casts.