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Aladdin Jr.

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Aladdin Jr.
MusicAlan Menken
LyricsHoward Ashman
BasisDisney film Aladdin

Aladdin Jr. is a one-act, seven-scene theater musical adapted from the animated Disney film Aladdin. The play is a part of the Broadway Junior Collection by Music Theater International[1]. MTI's Broadway Jr. series adapts full length musicals into approximately 70 minute productions that are more manageable for younger (middle-school aged)performers. Aladdin Jr. rights come in a "Show Kit" which includes scripts for the main cast and chorus books for the chorus. Also included is a Choreography DVD and a Performance/Rehearsal CD. The performance tracks are first on the CD and include all the music without voices, whereas the rehearsal CD provides the music along with recorded voices. Also included is a Directors Book with the full script as well as area to make notes and suggestions for staging. Finally the full Score is included for music teachers or for a live orchestra.

Both the story and music in this truncated version closely follow the original film. Songs from the Disney film include "Arabian Nights," "One Jump Ahead," "Friend Like Me," "Prince Ali," and "A Whole New World," as well as a new song, "Why Me," which is sung by Jafar and Iago. It was originally written for the Disney film, but was not put into the final film. The songs are somewhat different in Aladdin Jr. For example, the One Jump Ahead reprise is sung by Jasmine, not Aladdin and Arabian Nights is sung by 5 narrators as opposed to the old man in the beginning of the film.

There are also many different twists to the musical, for instance, three princes come try for Jasmine's hand in marriage. The additional narrators reprise Arabian Nights several times throughout the musical in order to more quickly further the plot as well as have "red carpet" interviews with several characters at the beginning of the show.

The production runs between 60 and 80 minutes and includes five female parts, six male parts, and a chorus.

There are also similar musicals based on The Jungle Book, Cinderella, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Aristocats and Sleeping Beauty but they have the word "Kids" at the end of the title instead of "Jr.". MTI's Kids musicals are written for even younger performers and are shortened further to run approximately 30 minutes. [1] The musicals based on Alice in Wonderland and Mulan are "Jr." versions, which like Aladdin Jr. are more detailed and run approximately 70 minutes in 1 act.

Synopsis [2]

Inside the Royal Palace gates in the faraway city of Agrabah, Princess Jasmine prepares to choose a husband ("Arabian Nights"). Against Jasmine's wishes, her father, the Sultan, insists that she pick from among three visiting Princes by tomorrow. The Princes' public introduction is interrupted by a fleeing bread thief. Wandering among the crowd, the poor street urchin Aladdin suddenly finds himself holding the stolen bread and pursued by Guards. Amidst in the commotion, Jasmine adopts a disguise and seizes the opportunity to escape into the bustling marketplace, where she bumps into Aladdin ("One Jump Ahead"). The two runaways share their experience of feeling "trapped" and become attracted to one another. The chase ends when Razoul, head of the Royal Guard and the Vizier Jafar's right-hand man, corners them. Princess Jasmine removes her disguise and demands Aladdin's release, but Razoul takes Aladdin into custody anyway ("One Jump Ahead - Reprise").

In Jafar's chambers ("Arabian Nights - Reprise 1") the villainous Vizier and his sidekick parrot Iago secretly rewrite the law so that the Princess will have to marry the Sultan's highest-ranking official - Jafar - if she fails to choose a husband within the time allotted ("Why Me?"). With the dungeons all full of prisoners, Razoul and the Guards take Aladdin to one of Jafar's caves on the outskirts of Agrabah ("Arabian Nights - Reprise 2"). There Aladdin finds an old lamp and rubs it, releasing Genie ("Friend Like Me"), who helps his new master escape the cave on a Magic Carpet. Genie then grants the first of Aladdin's three wishes by turning him into Prince Ali Ababwa, which Aladdin hopes will help him woo Jasmine. Prince Ali enters with fanfare and impresses the Sultan ("Prince Ali"), but Jasmine remains reticent to follow anyone's orders. Informed by Razoul about Aladdin's escape from the cave, Jafar and Iago suspect that Prince Ali may be a fake - and in possession of a genie.

In another part of the palace, Prince Ali gains Jasmine's trust and invites her to ride the Magic Carpet ("A Whole New World"). Returning to the Princess's chamber, they agree to marry in the morning and bid farewell. As Aladdin revels in his success, Razoul's Guards seize him. Aladdin uses his second wish to freeze the Guards, then runs to hug Genie, accidentally leaving behind the lamp. The Genie confesses that he longs to be free himself. Iago finds the lamp and shows it to the elated Jafar ("Why Me? - Reprise)"). The next morning at the wedding, Prince Ali confesses his true identity. Jafar seizes the opportunity to reveal the law that he forged and claim Jasmine as his bride and himself as Sultan ("Prince Ali - Reprise"). With Jafar in possession of the Lamp, Aladdin tricks him into wishing to become the most powerful genie of all time - and forever trapped! Aladdin then uses his last wish to free Genie and promises to give all his love to Princess Jasmine, if she will have him. The initially reluctant Sultan now grants his consent, and everyone lives happily, and freely, ever after ("A Whole New World - Finale").

Characters (in alphabetical order)[3]

  • Aladdin (Disney character)
  • Attendants
  • Genie
  • Guards
  • Iago
  • Jafar
  • Magic Carpet
  • Narrators 1-5
  • Prince Baba of Ganoush
  • Prince Dahdu Rahn-Rahn
  • (The) Prince Formerly Known as the Artist
  • Princess Jasmine
  • Razoul
  • Sultan
  • Townspeople
Abu and the tiger may or may not be added in as optional characters

Musical Numbers

References

  1. ^ http://www.mtishowspace.com/mod/shows/mtishow.php?showid=000271
  2. ^ http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000271
  3. ^ http://www.mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000271


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