Broadway Philadelphia is now presenting Disney’s Aladdin: The Hit Broadway Musical (aka Aladdin) at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia.  If you haven’t yet seen anything this season, then you must see Aladdin. You owe it to yourself to see the most exciting and physically beautiful musical ever.  Aladdin rivals anything to be seen on Broadway today, and far exceeds the wow factor of most musicals. Aladdin, to paraphrase one of its hit songs, is “A Whole New World.”

 

Aladdin has music by Alan Menken, with Lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, and Chad Beguelin, with Book by Chad Beguelin. The nine principal characters are Clinton Greenspan as the adorable Aladdin, Michael James Scott as the indefatigable, incredible Genie, Isabelle McCalla as the feisty, lovely Princess Jasmine, Jonathan Weir as a crazy-good Jafar, Jay Paranada as Iago, Jerald Vincent as the Sultan, with Zach Bencal, Philippe Arroyo, and Jed Feder as Aladdin’s buddies. Of special note is Brandon O’Neill who is both Spooky Voice and Voice of the Cave. This wonderful cast along with supporting cast members, dancers and singers in this North American Tour are all masterfully directed and choreographed by Broadway luminary Casey Nicholaw.  

 

The Design Team has outdone itself in the spectacle department. From the beautiful costumes, to the lighting, to the astonishing scenes, from the cave, to the unbelievable and unending peaks during Prince Ali’s (Aladdin’s) introduction to the court, to the flying carpet scene, all set new standards in stagecraft. How do the dancers keep changing into differently colored costumes with only minutes to spare? The Touring Orchestra played with passion and emotion.

 

Aladdin is a wonderful show, but at over two hours, it isn’t for tots. Many children under five years old were seen in the opening night audience on June 14. One mom and young daughter across the aisle were singing along and clapping in time as the performance was occurring onstage. Not fair to anyone sitting next to, behind, or in front of the duet in the seats.

 

Opening night was perfect in every respect. The audience response was wild enthusiasm. You owe it to yourselves to see this thrilling production of Aladdin.

 

Aladdin will be at the Academy of Music until July 1. Aladdin is the final presentation of the Broadway Philadelphia 2017-2018 Season.  Next season will include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Anastasia, The Book of Mormon, and Hamilton, along with many other Broadway hits. For more information on Aladdin as well as next season, visit www.kimmelcenter.org or https://www.kimmelcenter.org/events-and-tickets/201718/broadway-philadelphia/aladdin/