‘Aladdin’ brings magic to BLT stage
Published 8:30 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2015
It isn’t necessary to travel to New York to see Aladdin, the popular musical fantasy currently playing on Broadway.
Bainbridge Little Theatre Teens are bringing it here live for all to enjoy—Genie, the magic lamp, flying carpet and all.
Based on the 1992 Disney animated film, the script is now set to the music of Alan Menkin, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice.
It tells the tale of Aladdin, a young homeless boy, coerced by the evil plotting Jafar and his parrot side-kick Iago, into entering the Cave of Wonders in search of a treasured lamp.
Aladdin finds a Genie living in the lamp and makes a wish to marry the Princess Jasmine with whom he has fallen in love. This ultimately thwarts the evil plan of Jafar, who has his own designs on the Princess so that he can become Sultan.
The show is co-directed by Christina Greene and Austin Rowe, both “graduates” of the BLT Summer Class Act Workshop for Youth.
Greene began performing in the shows at age six and directed a summer show in 2013. Rowe debuted at age 13, and although this is his first experience at directing, he has plenty of stage appearances in his resume’.
The two directors chose this play following what they described as the Disney theme of the last couple of years. “The kids really like doing Disney shows,” said Rowe, as Greene added, “We all grew up on Disney movies. They have good moral lessons on friendships and hard work instead of taking the easy way out.”
Musical director is Mike Inlow and Scott Brown has designed and painted the castle background set for the wedding scene.
The cast of characters includes: Conner Rentz as Aladdin, Quest Brown (Genie), Sarah Michael Farrington (Princess Jasmine), Edward Moorehead (Jafar), Devan Poole as Iago, the parrot; Reson Cutchin (Sultan), Chasen Wood (Razoul), Jennifer Cerone (Magic Carpet), Rosie Rentz, Rachel Rentz and Alaiya Schuyler (narrarators) and Karoline West (Harem Girl).
When asked how the magic flying carpet will be accomplished, Greene answered with a hint of mystery, “People will have to come see for themselves.”
The show opens Friday at 7:30 p.m., continues Friday evening, and concludes with a Sunday matinee at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at the door.