Chicago Shakespeare Theater - Courtyard Theater (Chicago, IL)
Disney's enchanting 1992 animated film comes to the Navy Pier in a theatrical adaptation. Presented by Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the musical Aladdin follows the title character as he frees the kingdom from the villainous Jafar and wins the heart of Princess Jasmine, with the help of a friendly Genie. The score includes "A Whole New World" and "Friend Like Me."
Event summary prepared by the Goldstar Editorial Team.
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The last date listed for Disney's Aladdin was Sunday August 30, 2009 / 2:00pm. (view all dates)
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There's not a bad seat in the house at CST. Kids loved the performance with plenty of humor for them to understand and adults to enjoy too. Fabulous costumes and use of puppetry to enhance the story. Great job!
I went to this production with my boyfriend and two nieces (5&7). It was a wonderful time. The seats were second row, can't beat that for discounted tickets. The costumes were bright and lively, as was the set & cast. The songs were upbeat & familiar to those who have previously seen the movie. Also, the cast made a point of turning to the audience and smiling. After the show some of the cast members were signing autographs & taking photos - an added bonus for the kids. It was fast paced & just long enough for two young girls to endure. I highly recommend it to anyone with young children.
I went to see the Aladdin musical with my sister was on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, the matinee show. The set was very nice and magical but not alike the movie. Of course, you cannot expect to add some of the things that were in the film to adapt on theater because it would be too much and complicated. Therefore, since I knew it was a children's musical, my expectations weren't much for it. It was cool, however, with the Genie's presence and I'll have to give it to him for his performance because with that great humor, I think the play would have been mediocre otherwise. Another comic relief for the play was Iago and the evil guy, Jafar. He was portrayed much funnier than in the movie, for he was much more the sinister of character. I would definitely recommend this event with and for the children. And if your just a Disney's Aladdin or just Disney aficcionado to remember the good ol' days of the film, then this would be your best bet!
The show was fantastic. I took my 22 year old son and my 5 year old son, they both enjoyed it very much. It was the first time attending this theater and wow is it great.
Really cute show and lots of funny stuff for the grown ups too. My 5 year old ate it up!
I was amazed at Jafar. He was a magically wonderful villian. All the actors did an amazing job. Kudos especially to the people in back. It was an amazingly intricate dance and the cast and crew played it to perfection. I loved everything about it. Especially how the actors/director managed to combine a sense of adventure and fun with serious moments without causing either to suffer. Bravo!
Great, great, great!! Nothing not to enjoy! Fantastic show, colorful costumes, great performers, something for everyone! If you have children of any age, this is a must see. You will not be disappointed.
Very enjoyable production. Totally held the attention of children of all ages as well as the adults. Highly recommend.
Fabulous! I took my four year old son to this show and he loved it. The theater is just the right size for kids - big enough but small enough to sit close and get the full experience. The characters do a lot of running up and down the aisles; we happened to be sitting on an end (aisle) seat and he just loved it. It would've been worth it at full price but even better paying half price for these tickets!
The genie was awesome...and the show too fast moving! WE realy enjoyed!
very well done, the only thing missing was the tiger according to my 5 year old granddaughter! beautiful intimate theater
great show for kids - my nephew loved it.
A bit cheesy, but entertaining and worth seeing for the cost. Any seat will work well, but the front of the balcony would be best to see everything. We on the main floor and it was still a good show, but sometimes we misses facial expressions. Worth seeing.
Our family loved this performance, and my kids were just in awe. We felt like we could reach out and touch the actors, and it also seemed very interactive... as if the actors were talking directly to us. The stage really came alive with the magic carpet, smoke, and other props. Fantastic!
We had great seats - the actors interacted with our little ones. Fantastic performance!
Costumes, acting, were great, and I dont think there is a bad seat in the house
it is a must see!! I really loved it..especially the Genie is too good..
This play is perfect for adults and children, I took my two grandchildren 4 and 7 and they both loved it. We had a great time and they both got an autograph for Jasmine..FUN day with the kids..
The seats were perfect.
although it was supposed to be for children my friend and i enjoyed this without kids.....very short and sweet....well worth the half price tickets
A great show for children and adults alike. Enough hidden humor for adults, and visual thrills for kids. Very funny genie and evil Jafar. Validated parking saved $$$. Seats were good, off to the side, but they played enough to all seats that it didn't matter too much. Excellent all around.
This show surprised me a bit. I wasn't expecting a lot and wondered how the sets and things would work out but it turned out very nice. The genie definitely stole the show--he was very funny and interacted with the audience. The strong ensemble members did well in their many different roles. The only big complaint I had was the vocal talents of the main actors. No one was really amazing. Most of their voices, including Jasmine and the Genie, were a bit subpar. I think Aladdin's voice was the only one that lived up to the part. However, they were several amazing voices in the ensemble that helped some of the actor's songs where they would have alone fell short. The choreography was good for what was needed--nothing over done, and very in tune with what the show needed. All in all I would gladly recommend this show, especially to families with children, who in fact were sitting all around me, and seemed to enjoy themselves quite a lot.
My kids and I really enjoyed this show! The quality of the production was actually much better than I'd expected. The theater in the round was very engaging for the kids. Not a bad seat in the house. I'd definitely attend Chicago Shakespeare again.
This was a great show and my 3 & 6 year old grandsons loved it. We sat at the side near the stage, I would never have bought the tickets, but as it turned out the cast played to everyone and we could almost touch them.
It was full of fun with the magic rug, the white smoke a prince and a princess - what more could you ask for? A great afternoon's entertainment.
Disney isnt just for kids anymore. I loved the play alot. It was alittle short but worth every dollar.
very entertaining and the theater it was in was very nice. Every seat was a good seat. Some of the lines were a little much for little children. My daughter is 4 and she really enjoyed it
The children and the adults loved this performance. The performance was fantastic - singing, dancing, and constant interaction of the characters kept us smiling throughout the whole play. I am calling friends to encourage them to take their children - a performance that will make a beautiful memory. The theater is beautiful and every seat in the theater is an excellent seat!
This play was terrific! The actors did a very professional job - the scenery was great - the magic carpet was clever. We sat on the side of the stage and had the "smoke" they use full force on us. It really does smell!
This is recommended for 5 year olds & up. I think that is a good idea. My 6-yr old thought the play was great but my 3-yr old who was very familiar with the story was restless from the beginning.
Great for kids and adults. The show is 70mins - just long enough for the kids.
Fast-moving, lovely, entertaining production. Perfect for kids of all ages.
The show was great. The story line was for children, but there were Shakespearean lines and other historical lines for the adults. The actors are energetic and the production with the pit and the flying carpet are worth the price of admission.
This musical was great!!! My mom and I went on a girls' day and had a fantastic time. I'm in my 20s and went back to my childhood with all the songs from the movie. The play moved along quickly and was just the right amount of time. We were amazed at the similarity to the voices in the movie... a definite hit! Everyone should go and have a blast, especially with the great price.
Very short, just over an hour long. More hamming up than real acting. Mediocre.
Magical. There were three teen age girls and two younger girls in our group and they all loved the show. A grat interpretation of "A whole new world" and great special effects. We loved the genie too.
My 7 year old girl and 5 year old boy really enjoyed the show. They loved the special effects of the smoke, genie and magic carpet. Jasmine was beautiful and the songs and dancing were a lot of fun.
The show was very cute and had a lot of fun "updates".
This is a wonderful show, a show for all ages.
great performance, my daughters absolutely loved the show
While this was clearly aimed at children (shorter production), my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it! We would recommend it to anyone who enjoys theatre.
An enjoyable way to spend an afternoon with kids. We all loved the performance.
Went with 3 kids, ages 5-9, and they all loved it for different reasons. Very fast-moving, visual, fun.
Excellent very profesionally done and our grandchildren ages 4 & 9 years old both enjoyed it
That was my first time in the Shakespeare Theater and I would definitely return. There were several modern elements to the play that made it enjoyable for adults and children. I would recommend this to any fan of Aladdin!
Although it's more a children's show we enjoyed it tremendously. Good cast, especially the genie, and great production values....
The seats were fantastic. The children and the adults of our party were thrilled. The humor was enough to keep the adults laughing and the special effects had a 4 and 5 year old mesmerized.
Just the right length, and so many visuals. Grandkids (ages 7 and 4) loved it, so did we
Great show...good music...wonderful costumes and sets. tons of energy. fun, fast paced.
We all had an excellent time, adults and child alike. I highly recommend this as a family outing.
I loved it! it was so much fun to watch it. It is very similar to the movie but they added some new stuff and adapted it to fit 1 hour. And yes I was there with a whole bunch of parents and their 5 year old children. But I think anyone who enjoyed the disney movie will enjoy the show! My mom did and I'm 24!
It was fabulous great seats and good actors. Great costumes and props used throughout the play. Great humor with the role of the Genie. Since I loved the Disney songs it was delightful to sing along. Remember to use the ticket to eat at Riva with 20% off. It was a wonderful 4th for me!
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Chicago Shakespeare Theater is prominently located on Navy Pier, the Midwest's most-visited destination. It's a seven-story, glass curtain-walled structure, housing a courtyard theater and an upstairs theater, affording panoramic vistas of the Chicago skyline.
Website: http://www.chicagoshakes.com/main.taf?p=2,37
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Book adapted and additional lyrics by Jim Luigs
Music adapted and arranged by Bryan Louiselle
Based on the screenplay by Ron Clements,John Musker, Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio
Directed by Devanand Janki
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) brings Disney's Aladdin, an enchanting adaptation of the 1992 animated film, to the stage continuing CST's tradition of bringing family-friendly theater to Navy Pier all summer long. The production features Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice's awardwinning songs, including "A Whole New World" and "Friend Like Me." Previously performing as Scar and Zazu in the national touring production of The Lion King, Larry Yando and Derek Hasenstab will reunite as the diabolical duo, Jafar and his sidekick Iago. Immediately following each performance, the actors join the audience in the Lobby for one-on-one conversations and photo opportunities.
Aladdin, a clever street urchin, is wrongly accused of kidnapping the beautiful Princess Jasmine and locked away in a dungeon, leading him to a cave of wonders and the discovery of a magical lamp. One rub of the lamp releases a larger-than-life, fun-loving Genie ready to grant Aladdin three wishes. Together, they make their way into the city of Agraba, where the devious, power-hungry Jafar and his parrot Iago are threatening to take over the kingdom. Aladdin and his newfound friends must now use their wits -- and three wishes -- to outsmart the villains and save the kingdom in this musical adventure full of unforgettable songs and lovable characters. A timeless message of friendship and the importance of staying true to oneself is at the heart of this entertaining family musical.
Casting both veteran CST actors and introducing Chicago audiences to some of the nation's newest talent, Aladdin will feature CST audience favorite Larry Yando as Jafar and Derek Hasenstab as Iago. The pair recently starred in the national touring production of The Lion King, in which they brought two other memorable Disney characters (Scar and Zazu) to life on stage. Opposite the villainous veterans are the production's heroes, played by CST newcomers Tony Clarno and Melissa Espinosa as Aladdin and Jasmine, respectively. They are joined by Bill Larkin as Genie and Joseph Anthony Foronda as the Sultan with an ensemble rounded out by Karissa Barney, Sean Blake, Alex Goodrich, Jillian Jocson and Erik Kaiko who will each take on several roles.
Making his directorial debut at CST is Devanand Janki, who recently choreographed the CST commissioned family musical, How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back? Among Mr. Janki's credits are concerts for the Broadway stage including Hair (director), Funny Girl (choreographer) and Dreamgirls (associate choreographer). Off Broadway, he directed and choreographed Zanna, Don't!, for which he received the Lucille Lortel, Callaway and GLAAD Media Awards, and choreographed Junie B. Jones, Henry & Mudge, Cupid & Psyche and Judy Speaks. Janki has also directed at Tokyo Disney among other regional credits.
"What I love about doing Disney's Aladdin is that it's not just for kids. The parents love it too," says Janki. "I think that's the thing that's so sophisticated about doing a production like this. There's something for everyone. And doing it in a space like the Courtyard Theater right here on Navy Pier makes for such a magical and memorable day for the entire family."
Chicago Shakespeare Theater offers a broad spectrum of theatrical experiences year-round, engaging and entertaining audiences from all walks of life and from around the world. The plays of William Shakespeare form the core of our company's work and Subscription Series, featuring selections from Shakespeare's 38-play canon complemented by other dramatic works--from traditional classical theater to new classics that resonate with Shakespeare's timeless insights into the human condition. As Chicago Shakespeare strives to share our uniquely American brand of Shakespeare with the world, so do we also strive to bring to Chicago some of the best theater the world has to offer. To our World's Stage Series, we bring international theatrical productions to our city, presenting new cultural expressions and experiences for Chicago audiences and artists alike. Chicago Shakespeare is committed to making theater an expansive, ever-changing and lifelong relationship. For our family audiences, CST Family presents abridged Shakespeare productions and classic musicals. Our education outreach program, Team Shakespeare, helps Shakespeare come alive for students and teachers in classrooms throughout the Midwest--and this year will reach its millionth student. Two complementary performance spaces in our theater on Navy Pier provide a perfect home for artists and audiences alike. The thrust stage of the 500-seat Jentes Family Auditorium (inspired by the Royal Shakespeare Company's Swan Theatre) necessitates an intimate relationship between the actors and their audience members, who sit around three sides of the stage. By contrast, the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Theater, a 200-seat black box, offers practically limitless versatility to suit the creative choices of an artistic team. Through a 48-week season encompassing more than 600 performances, CST leads the community as the largest employer of Chicago actors. CST attracts 225,000 audience members annually, including 20,500 subscribers and nearly 50,000 students and teachers.