Disney's ALADDIN filmed for release- Page 3

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/18/20 at 5:57pm

theatreguy12 said: "GrantGrant said: "I saw the Broadway production in spring 2017 and I thought it was okay.It had its moments but overall felt too long. Courtney Reed must have been having an off night when I saw it because her singing was not good."

We must have been therethe same night. Just not good. My friend even commented on it coming out of the New Amsterdam. Told her I was thinking the same thing. Acting wasn't particularly good, and voice not really what I would expectfrom a Broadway Jasmine."

There were no "off nights" for Courtney Reed. She is just an extremely bland and unexciting performer. When Aladdin was in early previews, many people on here took issues with her performance. I recently saw her in Cambodian Rock Band, and she was just as boring in that as she was in Aladdin.

[greensgreens]

Posted: 7/19/20 at 2:12am

rattleNwoolypenguin said: "The Jerk is a classic film. That’s what most people know her from "

Don’t forget about HEARTBEEPS!!!

[binau]

Posted: 7/19/20 at 6:38am

Heartbeeps was Bernadette's oscar nomination, is that right?

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/19/20 at 7:35am

bwayphreak234 said: "theatreguy12 said: "GrantGrant said: "I saw the Broadway production in spring 2017 and I thought it was okay.It had its moments but overall felt too long. Courtney Reed must have been having an off night when I saw it because her singing was not good."

We must have been therethe same night. Just not good. My friend even commented on it coming out of the New Amsterdam. Told her I was thinking the same thing. Acting wasn't particularly good, and voice not really what I would expectfrom a Broadway Jasmine."

There were no "off nights" for Courtney Reed. She is just an extremely bland and unexciting performer. When Aladdin was in early previews, many people on here took issues with her performance. I recently saw her in Cambodian Rock Band, and she was just as boring in that as she was in Aladdin."

Her songs were totally out of her range too. If they cast her, they should've at least changed the key, it was painful to listen to.

[bdn223]

Posted: 5/12/22 at 12:30pm

Does anyone know why Disney has yet to release this? Its been almost 3 years since they filmed it, which just seems like a very long time to sit on this, especially after they just announced the release of the Trevor: the Musical proshot in June. 

There are only 2 possible scenarios that I can think as to why this has yet to released.

1. When they filmed the Aladdin proshot Disney was working under the assumption that Frozen's Broadway sales wouldn't start to fall off a cliff in Fall 2019. Due to this, the initial plan was to close Aladdin in 2020 or early 2021 to make way for Hercules, and release the pro-shot to commemorate the closure on Disney+. As the pandemic forced Frozen to close earlier than planned, Aladdin is running on Broadway longer than planned when the pro-shot was made. Disney fears releasing the pro-shot with cut into Aladdin's sales which are already a bit shaky, forcing them to close it and leave their own theater vacant for a prolonged period of time. As such I am guessing Disney is waiting for Hercules to transfer in 2023/24 or at least announce it before risking hurting Aladdin's ticket sales by releasing the pro-shot. 
2. The pro-shot Aladdin cast is not "diverse enough" and will be accused of cultural fishing, as while Isabella McCalla is not white, she is not Middle eastern, which may cause some backlash for Disney if they release this. It wasn't until 2021 that Aladdin and Jasmine were both played by actors of Middle Eastern ethnicity on Broadway. 

 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/12/22 at 1:03pm

If they are shelving this, would they make the effort to film it again with this current Broadway cast? It’s a shame Jonathan Freeman has left the show for good now…

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/12/22 at 2:02pm

qolbinau said: "I’ve gone back and watched most of her film and TV appearances. Of course I enjoy them all as a Bernadette fan and love that her career is so diverse but even I am not so self-deceived to think that the quality of material, production, prestige and her performances centre around anything but her Broadway musical career. When advertising for Hello, Dolly the marketers rightly used her Broadway career to sell tickets. She is a “Broadway Baby”."<

 

Lord Laurence Olivier did many crappy movies toward the end of his career. When questioned about them he replied, "One has to pay the Bill's. Don't you agree?"

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/12/22 at 2:17pm

bdn223 said: "The pro-shot Aladdin cast is not "diverse enough" and will be accused of cultural fishing, as while Isabella McCalla is not white, she is not Middle eastern, which may cause some backlash for Disney if they release this. It wasn't until 2021 that Aladdin and Jasmine were both played by actors of Middle Eastern ethnicity on Broadway."

I think it's a combo of both your points, but yeah Disney probably does not want to deal with the backlash related to this. Especially if the show is still running & making money onstage. Some lyrics/dialog were updated post-Covid too, right?

They can also hold onto this and quietly "dump it" on Disney+ in 5-10 years with a card before the film starts saying "this casting was wrong then and it's wrong now."

[QueenTwinnied]

Posted: 5/12/22 at 4:12pm

Its a bit of a bummer this might never see the light of day because I saw Trevor Dion Nicholas as The Genie and he was FANTASTIC. I would love to relive his performance. 
 

I recently saw some speculation that the recording will be released this year to coincide with the original film’s 30th anniversary, but we shall if that’s true. 

[lucynewlife]

Posted: 5/12/22 at 7:04pm

One would think if Disney cared that much about the optics of casting white actors and actors who aren't of Middle Eastern descent, they wouldn't have let the companies make such a fuss about Jonathan Freeman's last show on their social media accounts. I was surprised when it was all over various official public accounts, because I assumed that was the reason for this proshot not being released, that an uptick in people talking about casting white actors in these roles was going to look bad.

I hope they don't shelve it.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/12/22 at 11:46pm

Call_me_jorge said: "If they are shelving this, would they make the effort to film it again with this current Broadway cast? It’s a shame Jonathan Freeman has left the show for good now…"

What? He's one of the most glaring issues with releasing the filmed show as it is. Yes I know the novelty that he's been Jafar since the beginning, but he is a white man performing in what amounts to brown face. I don't know how they got away post covid reopening with him still in the role.

Updated On: 5/12/22 at 11:46 PM

[phantom39]

Posted: 5/13/22 at 2:03am

The casting for the pro-shot was AMAZING. Literally an all-star Aladdin cast. The only reason for them to not release it is probably the unexpected extended Broadway run of the show. Hopefully they do it this year, because as Hamilton showed them, the pro-shot will only help sales

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 5/14/22 at 2:53am

I really wish Disney could've shot ''Aladdin'' with its current Broadway leads: Michael Maliakel and Shoba Narayan. They're movie-star handsome, have beautiul voices and happen to be of South Asian descent. A  showcase of Disney & diversity!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3VnnG-y8mE

Updated On: 5/14/22 at 02:53 AM