Disney Aladdin - Broadway Tour at the Orpheum

One week only, Disney's Aladdin has returned to Minneapolis at the Orpheum Theatre. I am here to tell you that it is totally worth the price. It has everything you could want, especially from a Disney musical. It has great music by Alan Menken, with lyrics by Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, and Chad Beguelin. It is wonderfully directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw. The scenic design by Bob Crowley, costumes by Gregg Barnes, lighting by Natasha Katz - all perfectly in sync. That doesn't even start to mention the Sound, Projections, Hair, Make-up, Speciall Effects, and Illusions!!

Is there sword swallowing? and quick changes? and magic? along with a Genie AND a magic flying carpet? YES!

If you have seen the Disney film, you know what to expect regarding the story. If you haven't, you get to see the story of Aladdin (Adi Roy) - an orphan who lives by his wits, scams, and some pick-pocketing. He has a crew of good friends who help him out of trouble, and also get into trouble with him - Babkak (Jake Letts), Omar (Nathan Levy), and Kassim (Colt Prattes). Somehow he meets and falls in love with the Sultans daughter, Princess Jasmine (Senzel Ahmady). Then he is recruited by the evil Jafar (Anand Nagraj) (and his sidekick Iago [Aaron Choi]) to go find a very specific lamp, hidden deep in the Cave of Wonders. This is where the fun really starts! This is where you get to meet Genie (Marcus M. Martin), and an incredible production number that somehow just keeps getting better and bigger till the end, all the the song "Friend Like Me." The show ends in a classic Disney way with characters realizing their mistakes, and making changes to be better people. A good wholesome story for the whole family.

The cast is fantastic through out. I saw an understudy go on for Babkak (J. Andrew Speas) and they were brilliant, as were the other two friends of Alladins. The ensemble looked gorgeous, and danced so well. Everyone was in top shape. The whole production was great to look at and watch. The colorful costumes, the lighting and projections, and the sets! There are a number of scenes done in one (meaning the front part of the stage while a curtain is down), after which the curtain rises to a new big set. Let me tell you that when the curtain rose (after some magic with projections) on the Cave of Wonders.... I was amazed as was my companion. 

If you have a chance to see this, or any Disney show that comes to town, take that chance.