Aladdin on GMA and The View

[Famebroadway2]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 9:50am

I really enjoyed the Aladdin performance on GMA. Although, i wish they did "Friend like Me". I could watch that for days ;o)

Arabian Nights - GMA Updated On: 4/15/14 at 09:50 AM

[broadwaytbay]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 10:20am

That was pretty fab. Apparently Friend Like Me will happen on the View

[Skywalker3]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 10:29am

So I've only seen clips of the Toronto version. And the Genie wasn't in it. Is this how its currently done on Broadway?

[TheatreKid3]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 10:39am

"Prince Ali" will be on The View, I believe. I don't think they want to give "Friend Like Me" away. Let word of mouth carry people in to see it and the carpet.

Before it was just wishful thinking, but after seeing that first performance I honestly think this show stands a really good chance at winning several Tonys, if not Best Musical altogether. This is definitely the start of the momentum it wants to build going into awards season.

-It got great reviews that were on par or slightly better than most new musicals this season.
-It's a great crowd pleaser in a season lacking them.
-It's a slam-dunk commercial and tourable hit, more so than any other new musical this season.

It has a lot more going for it than people think. The only other musical I could also probably say the above about to an extent is BEAUTIFUL, except ALADDIN got a positive notice from the NY Times. Not that reviews matter all that much, it just differentiated them in that aspect.

Updated On: 4/15/14 at 10:39 AM

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 10:50am

Arabian Nights sets up the show better, and gives people a taste of what the show is like. Friend Like Me would probably have to be edited for TV, as I think it had a lot of extended tap sequences and such, as well as being the show stopper, so unless they save it for The Tonys, I can't imagine they'll want to use it...

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 11:03am

I still think ALADDIN actually winning the Best Musical Tony is a long shot -and its based purely on politics; there is still an awful lot of resentment towards the Big Mouse within the New York theater community (i.e. NYC based Tony voters). I think it will pick up an award somewhere - costumes seems like a good bet -- but don't think it will be taken seriously for the Big Prize.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 11:40am

I'm going to miss 'The View' performance because my Direct TV is not working. So, I hope that ABC or broadwayworld will post it.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 11:41am

After watching Arabian Nights, I think this could be a very strong contender for Best Choreography and Best Costume/Scene Designs. I'm unsure about Best Direction, which I loved.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 11:42am

I would gladly give this the Tony for costumes. However, it would be criminal if this won scenic design over Rocky or Bullets.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 11:50am

That was an impressive performance on GMA, though. I wish more shows would film in the actual theatre instead of the studio. Also, Danny Troob's orchestrations are out of this world, as always.

[eglassman11]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 11:51am

The problem with Arabian Nights is that it is not Friend Like Me or A a Whole New World which are much more popular. In fact, ABC described the cartoon as one of the most beloved of all Disney cartoons and then they chose a weaker number to "introduce" the show. If it is one of the most beloved, then it need not do an introduction number on GMA. It needed something like "Prince Ali" or one of the aforementioned numbers.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 11:54am

I would hardly call that a weak number. It was big, flashy, and showed all the major characters. I wouldn't be surprised if Friend Like Me was performed on the Tonys (if the show is nominated) to showcase James Monroe Iglehart.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 12:37pm

It actually kind of made me want to see the show, so I guess the song accomplished its purpose!

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 12:39pm

"In fact, ABC described the cartoon as one of the most beloved of all Disney cartoons and then they chose a weaker number to "introduce" the show. If it is one of the most beloved, then it need not do an introduction number on GMA."

I think the idea was more to show people how the Broadway show was staged/presented, not to play a better-known song.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 12:47pm

I'm sure I'm in the minority, but both numbers seemed really in your face schticky and everything-but-the-kitchen-sink. They looked and sounded great, but I was slightly underwhelmed. They probably are great in the theatre, but particularly in the Prince Ali, Genie standing stage center while a lot of costumes happened, and not much else, kinda shocked me.

[CukorLover]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 1:23pm

Thankfully that clip saved me the price of a ticket. While certainly entertaining, I got the gist of the rest of the show.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 2:14pm

Is the performance on The View online yet?

[heyheyitsjayjay]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 3:03pm

"Thankfully that clip saved me the price of a ticket. While certainly entertaining, I got the gist of the rest of the show."


Bwahaha! CukorLover, I can't with you... hahaha. Thankfully your post renewed my faith in these message boards. While certainly entertaining I get the gist of the rest of this online community.

Updated On: 4/15/14 at 03:03 PM

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 3:29pm

Maybe I'm a skeptic, maybe I'm too set on the original, maybe I needed more of the story, but something just didn't work for me. The sets and costumes look gorgeous, but it didn't make me want to see more. Don't get me wrong, I definitely see why people, especially families and tourists, would eat that up.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 3:37pm

I know what you mean, DramaTeach. This show came off very lackluster when I saw it. The big highlight "Friend like me" was highly disappointing. The Carpet was cool though. I also just can't get into the set design for Agrabah, it looks too cramped onstage for the actors to really do anything.

[broadwaytbay]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 4:04pm

I dunno, looked like they did lots to me.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 4:13pm

I guess I was just expecting something on a larger scale. I was expecting FRIEND LIKE ME to be something of the same caliber as BE OUT GUEST or CIRCLE OF LIFE. Instead..I got the Genie standing in the same spot for 8 minutes belting out songs from different disney musicals. Ho hum.

[lambchop2]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 4:23pm

"Instead..I got the Genie standing in the same spot for 8 minutes belting out songs from different disney musicals. Ho hum."

Hm? Iglehart doesn't remain in the same spot for the song. He dances, does cartwheels, etc, for most of the number. And during the song there's multiple magic tricks, 2 different "game show" moments (what's behind door #1, 2, 3 + the samba dancing number) plus multiple costume changes for the ensemble plus the 60-second Disney medley plus a tap dance number plus the staircase finale.

I'm really not sure how you would perceive the number as being "Genie standing in the same spot for 8 minutes belting out songs from different Disney musicals."

-

[justincharacter]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 4:24pm

If anyone is interested, there is footage of "Friend Like Me" on YouTube. I'm not completely sure if I am allowed to post it here though

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 4/15/14 at 4:31pm

Yes I was obviously exaggerating. I just wanted the number to be a bigger spectacle and it just wasn't. James does a great job, I just had problems with the overall direction of that particular number.