Disney’s hit Broadway musical, Aladdin, is finally at the Sacramento Community Center Theater until June 2nd and you have to check it out! This Broadway on Tour show is probably one the best by far and I am super grateful I had the opportunity to see it with the Broadway Sacramento Ambassadors.
This musical has stunning sets and props, beautiful costumes, numerous special effects, and let’s not forget the 21 high-energy musical numbers full of dancing. I was blown away by how smoothly the show ran and how magical it felt to watch it in person!
Broadway’s Aladdin features all the songs fans love from the original 1992 film, but also new songs and characters. Although the production misses out on a chance for Abu, they make up for it with Aladdin’s band of hilarious thieving friends. The genie has always been my favorite character and James Monroe Iglehart portrays this character perfectly! The actors playing Jasmine, Jafar, Lago, Aladdin himself, and Genie all performed phenomenally to bring this show to life.
“NO WAY!” Facts About the Magic Behind Broadway’s Aladdin
Costumes
- Gregg Barnes, the Tony Award winning costume designer for the production, did an incredible job designing over 71 unique lavish costumes just for this musical.
- He got inspiration from belly dancers, Islamic architecture, modern wedding dresses, research of ancient Middle Eastern fashion, and even more sources.
- In the Act 2 “Prince Ali” parade number, 19 actors change 4 times each in the span of a 3 ½ minute number! That’s an insane number of costumed for just one song.
- In total, the show had to produce 350 costumes for their cast of 24 to wear.
- There are about 210 total turbans in the entire show, and in “Prince Ali,” about 80 of them are used.
- Also in this number, there are 47 different quick changes! I thought quick changes for dance shows were hard, but this takes it to another level.
“Everyone looks a little fatter at the beginning of the numbers; by the end, they’ve lost a little weight. It’s like a paper doll, each costume gets ripped off in one big ‘whoosh.’ They might also switch a turban or put on a piece of jewelry if there’s time (like 15 seconds).”
-Gregg Barnes
Special Effects
- Jimmie Lee Smith, the stage production manager for Aladdin, has a huge job throughout the show. In ONLY the “Friend Like Me” number (my favorite), he gives over 150 cues (about 1 every 16 seconds)! The longest break he has during the entire show is only about 30 seconds and it’s during applause.
- From fireworks and sparks and curtain drops to moving set pieces and lights, he handles what makes this show truly magical.
- It took roughly 20 semi-trucks to haul over all of the props, costumes, sets, and supplies. No wonder the stage looks incredible!
Obviously, you can tell I adored this show! If I could, I would see it again… maybe twice, just because it’s such a spectacular production of Aladdin. There was never a dull scene or weird moment, rather it brought the audience into a “Whole New World” of Broadway’s magic touch.
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