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[0:00] Frank DiLella: Hello again, everyone, and welcome back to The Magical Making of Aladdin. This is Episode 2, Becoming Aladdin & Jasmine. I'm your host, Frank DiLella. As we heard in the previous episode, the creative team had a particularly challenging time putting together the pieces of the puzzle that would eventually become one of the biggest hits on Broadway. And part of this challenging task was casting the roles of Aladdin and Jasmine, roles that eventually found their way to Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed. During the multiple stages of development, the production was constantly in flux, having to change, adapt, and experiment, often from one show to the next. To eventually nail down what we see on stage now, Casey Nicholaw, the director, also smartly looked to Adam and Courtney themselves to help bring their own personalities to these already widely known roles. Adam and Courtney, welcome to the podcast, and let's get started by talking about what it was like working with director Casey Nicholaw in the very beginning. Adam, how was that for you?

[1:29] Adam Jacobs: Back in 2011, we did the production of Aladdin. Casey brought together such an amazing group of people, and we all just fell in love with each other. And he created such a positive work environment. We were all just able to feel free to try stuff out. Being an actor himself, I felt like really allowed us to feel comfortable. And it was just such an amazing experience. And then 2013, Toronto, that was like, we're going to Broadway, guys, so we better get this right. There's more pressure there.

[2:03] Frank DiLella: Courtney, what's an example of something you made up on the fly that made its way into the final production?

[2:08] Courtney Reed: We were doing Million Miles Away in rehearsal, and we were still learning the lines. And I'll never forget this day, but I think Chad had written something about like, oh, you live here. It's so, I don't remember what the real line is like special, or I really don't remember. But I was like, I couldn't remember what the line was. So I was like, it's so nice. And it just became this thing. And even Casey at the 10 year anniversary, he's like, we always talk about things as being so nice. But he'd be like, you know, we'd say something and then Casey be like, keep it, keep it. And Adam, I think he said, I feel so stupid when I'm around you. I think it was a different line. I feel so silly or something or I don't remember what it was.

But you're like, I feel so stupid when I'm around you. And he's like, yeah, keep it, keep it, keep it. So it's just really kind of fun to see all these like little moments that you're like, oh, this just happened out of happenstance. And it's it's stayed. And it's really fun to watch.

[3:00] Frank DiLella: The rest of the cast was able to bring themselves to their roles, too, right?

[3:03] Courtney Reed: Yeah, I mean, there were so many times where, like the Babcocco Marcus scene, like the friends were improv-ing left and right all throughout the process, you know, and Casey would be like, oh, that's that's, you know, keep that. And or, you know, the stuff with the slow motion and we're like, we're not moving like that. That was all Brian Gonzalez, you know, like stuff like that. And Brandon O'Neill doing the voice of Kassim and the Cave of Wonders and then having that go with the show forever like that was in all the productions everywhere. And so every time you hear him, he was Kassim, but also the Cave of Wonders. So I don't know if people probably don't know that as well. They used his voice on an offstage mic for a long time because he's like a very talented voiceover artist.

[3:46] Frank DiLella: So you do the show in Seattle. There was a little bit of time in between. Then the show opens up in Toronto. Courtney, I was there on your opening night. It's not the show we know now. I want to point out that Toronto audiences did not like the show and it was clear work had to be done. Tell me about Toronto.

[4:10] Courtney Reed: We went through a lot of little incarnations of the show. You know, I think Adam and I were a part of one of the very first readings with like actual cast members that could play the roles in 2010. So it changed a lot from then to Seattle and then to Toronto and Toronto. Princess Jasmine had this song called Call Me a Princess, which was kind of like a trunk song from the movie, and they really tried to make it work.

[4:36] ♪ Musical number: "Call Me a Princess" — performed by Courtney Reed ♪

[5:19] Frank DiLella: From what I remember, Alan Menken, the composer of Aladdin, didn't he go off and write a song, a new song, super quickly?

[5:26] Courtney Reed: Alan wrote these palace walls like during the production and I was rehearsing that during the day and then doing Call Me a Princess at night. And we were just doing script change after, you know, scene after scene, different things to try and work it out. So Disney did a great job because they really took the notes. And I think that's a really hard thing to do, but they took those notes, honey.

[5:52] Frank DiLella: Just for context, I'm going to play a little clip from Disney Theatrical Group Chief Creative Officer Tom Schumacher and Aladdin's executive producer Anne Court, who we first heard from back in episode one. Here they are explaining why originally Alan Menken put Call Me a Princess in the stage production and then ultimately why they decided to cut it again.

[6:11] Thomas Schumacher: We performed Call Me a Princess in Toronto. So we had done it disastrously. Courtney was so gloriously trying to make that number work. Alan wanted it because it was a Howard Ashman song, but it was an awkward character introduction because we're introducing a character who is so beloved in Disney culture, Jasmine, and means so much to so many young women.

[6:35] Anne Quart: By the way, what she represented in the movie originally, and then the huge step forward we do with the show, right? This is important to people. And we introduced her by being obnoxious.

[6:44] Thomas Schumacher: And also the only leading lady, the only female lead, to have her essentially behave like a brat and be very surface and care only about... It just wasn't a good... None of it worked. And so I think we kind of universally all felt that that number needed to change.

[7:05] Frank DiLella: Adam and Courtney, coming back to you. We have to talk about Alan Menken for a second because Alan Menken, for so many of us, created the soundtrack of our childhoods. Adam, you mentioned loving Aladdin as a kid, and I remember in 1992 going to the movie theater and seeing the film. I just wanted to see it over and over and over again. It was such a thing for me and the music was so iconic and a part of my childhood. So I'm curious, what was it like being in the room with the Alan Menken? Courtney, Alan writing a new I Want song for you. I mean, he wrote Part of Your World for Little Mermaid, Somewhere That's Green for Little Shop of Horrors. He wrote an I Want song for you for Aladdin. As a musical theater nerd, it doesn't get better than that.

[8:02] Courtney Reed: He truly is a living legend. He shaped so many of our childhoods. I can't even tell you how many times I sang Part of Your World in the shower or just on the streets, walking down the sidewalk. To have him in the room was very surreal. Adam, I'm sure you probably remember this quite well, but he came to, I think maybe a run-through of A Whole New World. He was like, I don't know, we got to redo this. We're thinking like, what? What do you mean? Rearrange the most iconic song of all time? Are you insane? But hey, you're Alan Menken, so I'll trust you. There was a little intro that wasn't always there. You must feel trapped inside these walls. That wasn't always there. He added that because it did seem kind of like the scene went straight into the song and it didn't translate from the movie to the stage in the same way.

He wrote that little intro and Adam was singing it to me and I could not stop crying. I was like, this is so beautiful. It was a constant theme throughout this process, Adam having to console me from crying all the time. It was so beautiful.

[9:19] Adam Jacobs: I had to dry her tears constantly. It's like, all right, get it together so we can actually do this song, please.

[9:22] Courtney Reed: How dare you?

[9:26] ♪ Musical number: "A Whole New World" — performed by Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed ♪

[9:41] Frank DiLella: So obviously the show eventually makes it to Broadway and it was an absolute hit. Adam, take me back to that opening night on March 20th, 2014 and talk about how much opening this tremendous show on Broadway made an impact on you.

[9:51] Adam Jacobs: Opening Broadway was like, oh my God, we finally made it. And we all had our crew, all of us together. I mean, how often does that happen where you have people from the original readings and pilot productions go all the way to the Broadway production? That's pretty rare. Kudos to Disney and to Casey for believing in us and believing in what we were doing and trusting us with the property, as they like to call it. So it was a big deal. It was obviously a ton of pressure, but we trusted each other and we did the work and we found ways to make it real and relatable and fun. And I think that's what really just set the bar and look at it now. It's crazy.

[10:45] Courtney Reed: Oh gosh. Once we got to New York, we were ready to put the work in. And I think still, you just get so nervous because it's like the PTSD of these terrible reviews. But I think it really set us up for success and they loved it. They absolutely loved it. I think one of my favorite memories of all time was after Whole New World, because that was the first time anyone in New York had seen the carpet. After Whole New World, we got a standing ovation and that just, oh my gosh, I'll never forget that feeling. I've never felt so much love until basically like the 10-year anniversary party that really felt like an opening night. And just to look at the folks on stage who had been in so many incarnations of the show. I think like Adam was saying, it is so, so, so rare to have that many people doing a show in so many different cities and, like I said, incarnations and sticking with it.

[11:40] Adam Jacobs: I think it just goes to show the success of a company coming together and like really just loving, loving telling the story.

[11:53] Frank DiLella: Don't go anywhere. More with the Aladdins and Jasmines right after this break.

[12:05] Frank DiLella: You know, you think about these characters. These are legendary Disney characters. Aladdin and Jasmine. What does that do to you to know that you're a part of this history? Part of this legacy that so many people have seen over the years?

[12:20] Adam Jacobs: I just still have to pinch myself every day. I mean, it's still unbelievable to me that it actually worked out that way. You know, it just feels almost surreal because I grew up watching that VHS. You know, I watched that video. It was my favorite Disney movie. And then Lion King was my second. And the fact that I got to do both of those is like, what? You know, what is my life? You know, it's just insane. And I feel grateful. Obviously, I will always be known as the first Aladdin. And that's something that nobody can take away. Now I'm starting to like branch out from that. But it's cool. It's like, it's something I will always take with me and cherish forever.

[12:59] Frank DiLella: Courtney, how about you being part of this legacy?

[13:01] Courtney Reed: When we first opened it, I think I was young enough to really feel so much pressure to feel the weight of the pressure of that, of carrying on that sort of legacy and Linda Larkin and Lea Salonga and sort of taking their spirit with me on the stage. And but now, now that it's many years later, I feel the impact of that a lot. You know, at the stage door Moulin Rouge, I get a lot of people who say Aladdin was my first show I saw you in or they'll say things like it was the first time I saw a person of color in a role like that, that I really wanted to dream of being and thank you for being an inspiration. It's really I pinch myself thinking, like, how can I have an impact on someone in that way?

And then they proceed to say they're like, I was like, seven years old. And I'm like, Okay, you don't need to, you know, add that part. But it's really I feel it's so fun, because I think once you play the role, you are considered sort of that forever. So like, what an honor. What a thrill.

[13:59] Adam Jacobs: After Alan Menken and Howard Ashman wrote the original songs for the film version of Aladdin, one of the songs that ended up being cut from the film was Proud of Your Boy. In the stage production, they were finally able to bring that beautiful song back for the world to hear. The fact that we were able to bring that back, cut from the film, but brought back for Broadway, it's that song meant so much to Alan and because of Howard Ashman and his work, their work together. And I do remember one time after working on it with him, he gave me the biggest compliment. And he said, the way you're doing this song, it's beautiful. And Howard would have been very proud. That just got me, you know, it made me so emotional and made me so happy and grateful that I was given the chance to do it.

And it's just such a beautiful, simple song. Alan does so well at just creating the simplicity of it and creating the character within the song and allowing us to find the character, I should say. And in the orchestrations, all of it, I just felt like, you know, I got to sing this beautiful song every night, and I never get tired of it. And then having children myself, they were born first day of rehearsal for the Broadway production, my twins. Then the meaning of the song completely changed for me, you know, being a father. And, you know, I wanted to make my parents proud. And now I have kids and I want to be there for them. And hopefully they'll be proud of me. It's that kind of thing where it's like it's a whole journey that you can have with just one song.

And I sang it over a thousand times, fifteen hundred times. And it's a living, breathing thing, how these things go. And yeah, it's just incredible. I will try to try hard to make you proud of you. Goodbye.

[16:16] Frank DiLella: Joining us now in the studio are Adi Roy and Sonya Balsara. Adi has now taken over the title character in Aladdin on Broadway after holding the same role in the national tour. And Sonya has held the role of Jasmine since January of 2023. Thank you both for joining this chat with Adam, Courtney and myself. Adi, I want to begin with you. How has it been adding your name to the list of Aladdins? And did you get a chance to talk to Adam at all before starting on Broadway?

[16:45] Adi Roy: Everyone that's played the role, I think, has been so open and receiving to my interpretation. I'm pretty sure I got the chance to talk to Adam when we were in Chicago, his hometown. So it was just wonderful.

[17:00] Frank DiLella: Sonya, what about you? Did you know Courtney before sharing the stage with her before the 10 year anniversary performance?

[17:04] Sonya Balsara: Well, fun fact is that the first time I auditioned for the show, which was a while ago, Courtney coached me, actually. And that was the first time I met her. And I was so, like, starstruck. And it was awesome. We had so much fun. And like, obviously, I didn't get it back then. But then, you know, that's the point of this industry is you just keep going. And then things work out. In the end, I still thought about the notes that she gave me in that final callback that I had actually with Michael Malyakel in the room. I remember, she's like, you turn and then all of a sudden you have a new objective and like that kind of stuff. And I always have held on to it. And I think there's such a sisterhood.

[17:51] Frank DiLella: I just want to paint a picture here. Since podcasting is a listening medium, Courtney just gave Sonya a big heart with her hands. You can just feel the sisterhood in the room.

[18:01] Sonya Balsara: There's such a sisterhood. I got to talk to your sister, Adam Ariel, at the 10 year and she was like, I was the fire Jasmine and you're the 10 year and I started off coming in temporarily too. And like, I think that there is this beautiful passing of the torch and it's so that's what made the 10 years so special too.

[18:32] Frank DiLella: For years prior to Aladdin coming to the Broadway stage, there had already been an Aladdin Junior, a one hour condensed version of the movie made for productions with children and young adults. And Adi and Sonya, I understand that both of you have a relationship with this property that began at a young age. You both played versions of Aladdin and Jasmine in Aladdin Junior when you were kids, right?

[18:47] Adi Roy: Yeah, I actually didn't know that you did that too. That's awesome. We'll just talk a little bit about, you know, doing that way back when.

[19:03] Sonya Balsara: One of my first experiences of theater, as we knew it, or as I know, so like, I was in eighth grade. So it was my actual like second show ever performing. And I got to play Aladdin in Aladdin Junior. And I like to say that that's probably one of the spots that I fell in love with it. So now getting to do this like, what, many years later, it's just it's an honor.

[19:28] Sonya Balsara: I was in eighth grade too.

[19:30] Adi Roy: So this was all meant to be, right?

[19:32] Sonya Balsara: Totally. Now there's like footage of it that I'll watch back and it's, you know, I had braces and I'm nervous and I don't know how to act or anything. And our carpet was like, I don't even know what our carpet was, but I hold that little girl with me on stage every single day. So it's such a beautiful full circle moment.

[19:51] Frank DiLella: Adam, is there any advice you can give to Adi since he just stepped into this role on Broadway?

[19:55] Adam Jacobs: Obviously they love you enough to bring you to the Broadway company. You have it all in spades. Trust, trust it. Don't think you have to do anything different. Just be yourself and have fun. Obviously it's like the top of the top as you would in your mind, right? You're like, oh, I finally made it to the big leagues. Just know that you've already, you're, you are enough already and trust that.

[20:20] Adi Roy: Thank you. Thank you so much. You've carried the show for so long. I mean, how has that shaped your life now being, I guess, like kind of removed from it? This has been so much of your journey. I just want to hear your thoughts.

[20:33] Adam Jacobs: It's weird. It's weird that it was 10 years ago that I did this show. It's such a part of me. It will always be a part. I'm just eternally grateful that I had the opportunity and, and I will still get stopped at a supermarket in Chicago and be like, you know, you played Aladdin, you know, and it's incredible that I have that legacy and, you know, hopefully I can still continue to do the Epcot festival of the arts, because I love performing, you know, I still perform that the Proud of Your Boy and some Disney stuff there occasionally and in my concerts that I'm going to do. So I don't know. It's just, it's such an amazing gift and I'm happy and I'm, and I'm happy for you that you're going to be able to continue it and carry the torch.

[21:17] Adi Roy: Thank you.

[21:26] Frank DiLella: I doubt that anyone can say that a show like Aladdin now running on Broadway for over 10 years hasn't created a legacy that still continues to this day. Adam, Courtney, Adi, Sonya, you all, and so many others now have this rare opportunity to claim your part in this legacy, which showcases a wonderfully diverse cast, inspiring new generations of performers. Sonia, you've talked about seeing Jasmine as a kid and feeling seen. Now you are doing that for so many kids being on Broadway.

[21:56] Sonya Balsara: Yeah, it makes me emotional, honestly. I think that of all the princesses, especially like from the nineties, there wasn't a lot of inclusivity. Jasmine, if you were Brown or, you know, that was your princess. I think every little girl felt that way, who looked different, and couldn't see themselves represented. And oh my gosh, like she means so much to our community. I think to get to represent all the little girls out there who are like, that's the one I can see myself in, like, just truly makes me very emotional.

[22:34] Frank DiLella: And Adi, just coming off the tour, what kind of feedback did you get when you were on the road?

[22:38] Adi Roy: Yeah, I think the biggest thing I've seen is that the opportunity to tour, I've really gotten to understand how much this character means to so many people. And like we, our tour is designed to stop in every city for like a week. So we're going to many, many cities across America, parts of Canada and each city, someone comes up to me and says, you know, this is my favorite movie ever. And you did the part great. And like, I loved your interpretation of it. And just to hear that is such an honor. And I didn't really understand the impact that this had on, I guess, all people around United States of America and Canada until I had gotten this opportunity and it's been an honor.

[23:35] Frank DiLella: All of Disney's productions on Broadway, Aladdin included, are made for people of all ages. In April of 2024, Disney celebrated 30 years of being on Broadway. Obviously, it started in 1994 with Beauty and the Beast. And I think what's amazing about that, so many young folks have been introduced to the theater thanks to Disney, and it's going strong. When I was there on the 10th anniversary performance, there were a ton of young folks in the crowd. These are life-changing moments for young kids that grow up appreciating theater. We're all involved in theater in some way, shape, or form, and that is important to keep that going strong. So, what does it mean to you to be a part of that? To be a part of this legacy for people that ultimately become theater fans? Courtney, we'll start with you.

[24:22] Courtney Reed: Yeah, I think it's a beautiful thing that Disney is on Broadway because they bring a ton of people who wouldn't normally see Broadway shows, they bring them to the theater. And if that's what we really need, because it's Disney that really brings those folks in. And we're so grateful for that. And I'm grateful to be a small part of it.

[24:41] Adam Jacobs: It's just an honor to really be able to pass on the gift of theater to young people. There's so many young families that come to the show every day when I was doing Aladdin, and I got such joy seeing them from the stage and also at the stage door. We had boys dressed as Aladdin, girls dressed as Jasmine, and you could just see the magic in their faces and in their eyes, and coming out to greet them. And I made it a point to do the stage door after every performance. It was just something that I felt obligated, but also something I really wanted to do. Because when you're up there, oftentimes you don't know the impact you're having. And so, just to have that come back to you, even just a little bit, is great.

And yeah, the legacy, the future of the theater is with these young people. And that's why I love doing masterclasses and teaching young theater artists as well. I just feel like it is part of this continuum that we are fortunate enough to be a part of, and just to be able to put your little mark or your signature on the wall or wherever it is on the poster and the Broadway Cares poster. You're just that little piece creating this magnificent whole, and it's amazing.

[26:00] Adi Roy: Yeah. I mean, I just think back to the times that I was introduced to theater, and obviously I did Disney shows in middle school that brought me to the theater. And that's what made me fall in love with it. And I grew up with so many Disney shows, like Hunchback of Notre Dame, Newsies. And so, when I got to go to the Disney Theatrical Office and see pictures from Aladdin, pictures from Newsies, original productions, it's so monumental that it feels so cool to be just a small part of that. And I always think back to that, and hopefully that brings out the happiness in my performance.

[26:35] Sonya Balsara: We live in a very digital age, and to go to the theater and see something that is innately human is such a rare thing these days. And I think it is such a beautiful thing to sit in a dark, hallowed hall and watch something live, and be present, and have that full experience. And what's great is we have this program called Disney Musicals in Schools, and I actually got to be one of the hosts of it last year. And so, I got to see all of the public, so it's like different arts programs from different public schools, and they get to perform. But they also then got to come see the show. So, I think that there's a beautiful lesson in there about being present, about being confident, about connecting with a community, and that is just so valuable to young people.

And then to get to do it, to practice it, and then also get to witness it, and sort of have that joined experience is so special. I'm just so grateful that Disney does that, and we get to be a part of that, too.

[27:46] Frank DiLella: It's clear Aladdin's not going anywhere. I mean, the show is living on for years to come. So, for the four of you, what advice would you have for a young listener listening right now who may be a future Aladdin or Jasmine? Best piece of advice for taking on these roles. Sonia, why don't we start with you this time?

[28:05] Sonya Balsara: The job for me starts right when I walk to the door. And I try to be my best self every single moment I'm in the building. I think that being a good, kind person has carried me through this role. And I think Jasmine's a really great girl, but I also think showing up every day, working hard, and being kind to everyone you work with is the most important thing at the end of the day.

[28:32] Courtney Reed: Oh my gosh, Sonia, you took the words out of my mouth. That is so everything that I believe in. I think in addition to that, I would say one of the ruts of these roles is that people assume that they're not difficult to play, and that they're just cartoons, and they're not real. These characters are so real, and they're so honest, and they lead with their hearts. And there's a lot of innocence to these roles. And I think that's what's so beautiful about it. And I think that's why it's so successful is because people can see themselves or even their younger selves in these roles. And so I think lead with your heart and be a good person, and you're going to go really far.

[29:11] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, just piggybacking off that. You have to be present. You have to be there for your scene partners. And Aladdin especially, there's a lot going on for the character. It's a beast of a role. But as long as you lead with joy, I think that will take you to where you're supposed to go. It'll make sure that you're having fun. Because at the end of the day, although it's a job, it's very fun what we do. And remembering that kind of always helps me get through the shows and the tough shows, I'd say.

[29:39] Adam Jacobs: I would just say, remember that these are – find humanity. They're real people, right, who are going through struggles. And just like anybody, like any teenager around the world who is fighting with her dad, these are real scenarios and real situations. And don't think you have to do anything more than just play the reality of those circumstances if you're going to be going in for these roles. And know that, yeah, obviously, there's what everybody knows from the film, but you want to try to make it your own and tell it in a way that only you can.

[30:14] Frank DiLella: Adam, you, Courtney, and Sonia were part of the 10-Year Gala performance. But Adam, you were also opening a different show this same night at almost the same time. You were doing Double Duty that night.

[30:27] Adam Jacobs: Yeah, that was absolutely insane. The biggest crazy convergence in the history of my career, for sure. I was opening The Who's Tommy across the street from Aladdin doing the 10th anniversary. The fact that we were able to find a way for me to still do a cameo and then 20 minutes later, I'm on opening the other show at the Nederlander. I'm so happy we were able to figure out a way to make it work.

[30:53] Frank DiLella: All right, podcast listeners, picture this. Michael James Scott as Genie appears on stage at the beginning of the show as normal. He fumbles for his lamp but can't find it. Walking in from the other side of the stage is Adam, the original host of the 10-Year Gala performance. He's Adam, the original Aladdin on Broadway. Adam actually has the lamp. He hands it to Michael, who then says...

[31:17] Michael James Scott: Thank you. You may go now.

[31:27] Frank DiLella: And Courtney, you also made an appearance in the show. You got to do a moment of your Jasmine scene, one of the Jasmine scenes in the musical that night. Talk a little bit about what that was like for you, kind of stepping back into Jasmine's shoes, a role you created 10 years ago on Broadway.

[31:43] Courtney Reed: Oh my gosh, it was so surreal, but also felt very familiar. And it sort of was like, all coming back to me now. It was just like being out there and in the costume and on the stage. It reminded me, I had a lot of flashbacks in the moments and it was just a total love fest. So I was pretty overwhelmed.

[32:06] Frank DiLella: Are we positive everybody loves it? And Sonia, you got to play the role of Jasmine for the 10-year anniversary celebration on stage. I mean, dream come true moment for you?

[32:20] Sonya Balsara: Oh my goodness, yes. It's a once in a lifetime experience to be a part of a show that makes it to 10 years. We're the 15th show ever. And to get to do it and have original company members come back. Courtney and I were like backstage being silly, giggly girls after we did our thing. And just the palpable energy is unlike anything you'll experience because, I mean, I didn't get to open the show obviously, but it felt like that experience that I never, but except without the pressure of reviews. And it felt like an opening, but just a celebration.

[32:56] Frank DiLella: I love it. And Adi, the night of the 10-year anniversary performance, you were still on tour. Did the tour do anything special?

[33:04] Adi Roy: Yeah. I mean, I think a lot of us on tour have looked at the show as something that is a dream for all of us, especially with, I know our genie, Marcus M. Martin, he's been looking at this role since he was 16 for the past, since its conception, really. Like, so we all just kind of were thinking about the history of the show and an honor to be a part of it in a small way.

[33:34] Frank DiLella: Thanks for listening to episode two of The Magical Making of Aladdin. Be sure to get tickets to see Aladdin the Musical on Broadway or any of the international productions by visiting AladdinTheMusical.com. Special thanks to our guests for this episode, Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed, Adi Roy, and Sonia Balsara. Make sure to stay tuned for the next episode featuring James Monroe Iglehart, Michael James Scott, and Marcus Martin, all about Unleashing Genie. This episode is produced by Dory Bernstein, Alan Seals, and Kim Garris on behalf of the Broadway Podcast Network in partnership with Disney Theatrical Group. Audio engineered by Alan Seals and Sarah Goodman. Edited and sound designed by Alan Seals. Additional production design and content edits by Disney Theatrical Group. And Natalie Ott and Molly Barson from Situation Interactive. And I'm your host, Frank DiLella.

[34:48] Frank DiLella: Thank you for listening to The Magical Making of Aladdin. Be sure to get tickets to see Aladdin the Musical on Broadway or any of the international productions by visiting AladdinTheMusical.com.