Wish Granted: Disney's "Aladdin" Hits Tucson Stage in Style

I'm going to agree with Kathleen Allen on this one: "If I could have just one wish from Aladdin’s Genie, it would be this: Clear, crisp sound at Centennial Hall," Allen said in a review for the Arizona Daily Star.

The stage play of "Aladdin" originated in Seattle, Washington in 2011, and was written by Chad Beguelin. The show has performed on Broadway since 2014, and has been performed in tours and around the world numerous times.

This brings the show to it's 2023 National Tour, which recently arrived in Tucson as a part of the Broadway in Tucson series at Centennial Hall. The show is fun, entertaining, and perfect for kids and adults who grew up watching the animated film. But even if you haven't seen the film, you will still enjoy this spectacular performance of the show.

The show is energized by actors Adi Roy (Aladdin), and Marcus M. Martin (Genie), who bring oodles of energy to the stage. Another thing that brings energy to the stage: the sets.

I went to the show with Kathleen Allen and told her that my primary concern was (of course) the acting of main characters like the Genie and Jafar, but also the set design. A very important part of the story is where Aladdin's adventures take place and how Aladdin meets the Genie (amidst a sea of gold coins and medallions), as well as scenes in the palace in Agrabah. Immediately when the rug curtain rose (which was used in place of the classic red velvet curtain), the sets amazed me, making the story more engaging and believable. Over the course of the show the set undergoes changes for various locations, most spectacularly the Cave of Wonders, immersing the audience in the world of Aladdin.

The energy of the cast also got the audience engaged and on their feet (figuratively) for scenes like "Friend Like Me" and "Prince Ali," and quieter and more emotional scenes like "Proud of Your Boy," among others, where the emotions of a scene like "Friend Like Me" are separated from the sweeter and sadder scenes.

The only issue that I found with the show were two actors who overacted, including one ensemble member. Although that wasn't a huge issue within the show, it's worthwhile to note that two of the actors' performances may get on your nerves just a bit.

That being said, the cast as a whole did a nice job of appealing to both kids and adults, even throwing in references to Disney classics like "Beauty and the Beast," among others.

The one time when I felt that the Centennial Hall Genie was granting our wishes was in the song "A Whole New World," which was the only song that didn't feel like it was messed up by the sound system at the venue.

The show is extremely entertaining with incredible performances by lead actors on their first national tours, and experienced ensemble members who help bring even more energy to the already incredible performance of the stage version of Disney's "Aladdin."

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If you go:

"Aladdin" runs through Sunday at Centennial Hall in Tucson, AZ. It stars Adi Roy as Aladdin, Marcus M. Martin as Genie, and Senzel Ahmady as Jasmine. For tickets and more info, click here.

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Cover image by BroadwaySpain.