The magic continues: Aladdin celebrates 9th Anniversar y on Broadway

by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress

ALADDIN, the hit musical based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, celebrated its 9th anniversary on Broadway last March. The hit musical opened at the New Amsterdam Theatre to critical acclaim on March 20, 2014, and quickly established itself as one of the biggest new blockbusters in recent years.

THE Broadway production is now among the top 20 longest-running Broadway shows in history as it recently played its 3,000th performance. It has broken 16 New Amsterdam Theatre house records and spawned nine productions on four continents

“We’re coming up to legendary status,” Michael James Scott, who plays the role of the Genie, told the Asian Journal. “Nine years of Aladdin is a triumph. It’s just that doesn’t happen in Broadway, in our industry often.”

The show’s longevity and how it has stood the test of time around the world are a testament to its success. The heart of the story is what stands out to some of the cast members as the story is universally loved, and everyone knows the tunes of Aladdin in every corner of the world.

In the 3,093 performances comprising Aladdin’s run thus far, a cumulative audience of 4.3 million has been treated to a staggering number of special effects:

• Aladdin and Jasmine have flown over 100 miles on the magic carpet while singing the Oscar-winning “A Whole New World”

• The Genie has set off over 115,000 pyrotechnics in the showstopping “Friend Like Me”

• In the Act Two opener “Prince Ali,” the cast and wardrobe team have made more than 200,000 lightningfast costume quick changes

“It’s an honor to be a eight years now. part of this beautiful longrunning show that so many people have been in and out, and I’m so grateful to be a part of it now,” shared Sonya Balsara who joined the cast as Princess Jasmine early this year. his favorite parts to play in the ensemble are the ones in the high adventure where he gets to be a guard from the palace that sword fights with Aladdin’s best friends.

Filipino American Angelo Soriano is in his eighth year in the show. As a swing, he has taken on most of the twelve male ensemble tracks and two principal tracks for the roles of Omar and Iago.

He also loves playing Iago “because anytime you get to play a Disney villain, it is definitely a moment to celebrate.” Another Filipino American, Don Darryl Rivera, originated the role and Soriano gets to take over when Rivera is not available.

“Playing Iago onstage is so fun,” he quipped. “My Iago also gets to be a part of the scheme and the planning on how to get the street rat.” He added that as Iago, he loves doing the evil laugh in front of the audience, and the audience loves it too.

Being a part of the show’s ninth anniversary is very special to him because he gets to celebrate the legacy that he and his work family have created. Since he has been with the show for eight years now, he has seen fellow artists come and go, including a handful who have left and returned.

“I have to be ready to go at any moment’s notice,” he told us. “The show really keeps me on my toes.” He said that sometimes he knows two weeks before the show which track he will be doing, while other times he only finds out two minutes before the show.

Soriano says he enjoys performing the show from many different points of view, which keeps it exciting and new for him. He adds that

“It’s very special to have seen every iteration of the show possible with the different types of cast members,” he shared.

Within the large cast is a small but thriving group of Filipinos. At one point, the number reached nine, a definite rarity on Broadway.

Soriano has worked with former castmates like Joshua de la Cruz (who is now on Blue’s Clues) and siblings Adam and Arielle Jacobs who