Fariha Hossain
On a cold Saturday afternoon in January, thirty-three Honors students boarded a bus in Pleasantville with Dean Susan Dinan and, within an hour, found themselves seated in the balcony section of the iconic art nouveau style New Amsterdam Theater, Playbills open in their laps, waiting anxiously to enter a whole new world.
Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical, did not disappoint. The show opened grandiosely with the title song, “Arabian Nights,” sung by Genie (Major Attaway) and an ensemble of gypsy men and women performing perfectly choreographed moves in vibrant and dazzling costumes. The stage was illuminated with a glitter, sparklers, and colorful stage lights that captivated the attention of the audience. Genie would make surprise appearances from below the stage almost as if by magic. With each scene change, the set evolved from bustling market place to spooky desert to treasure-filled cave to luxurious palace.
Broadway took the Disney movie to a whole new level with the addition of witty puns and an energetic Genie who engaged with the audience and kept them at the edge of their seats. Watching Aladdin (Telly Leung) transform from a poor street beggar into a prince in an attempt to woo Princess Jasmine (Lauryn Ciardullo) was riveting, especially with Jafar (Jonathan Freeman) trying to villainously thwart Aladdin’s plans. Aladdin and Jasmine looked beautiful together in the Magic Carpet scene that looked like they were actually levitating off the ground and flying into the starry night. Overall, watching the timeless Disney animated film come alive through the Broadway performance felt surreal, as the inner child in all of us took over, ecstatic to sing along to classic show tunes and revel in the beauty of Broadway magic.
With $10 tickets, free transportation, and being surrounded by Honors College peers, the Broadway show was an unforgettable experience and perfect way to begin the spring semester. The Honors College will sponsor more trips to watch Broadway shows in future semesters, but until then, we will dream of stumbling across a magic lamp filled with a genie who grants three wishes!