Aladdin Reviews
Stage and Cinema- Highly Recommended
"...Huzzah! As if by magic carpet, Aladdin—the stage musical—has flown into the City of Angels for a two-week stint at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. Based on Disney’s 1992 animated film, this touring production of the 2011 Broadway musical is a bold, colorful retelling of the well-known Arabian folk tale. Lavishly directed and choreographed by Casey Nicholaw and written by legendaries of the Disney Renaissance (Alan Menken—music; Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, Chad Beguelin—lyrics; Beguelin—book), the production offers audiences fresh theatrics while still honoring the original vision of its source material. Even with its mixed-bag of extras (an hour of new material, including new and formerly cut songs), it’s a dazzling production that, like Frozen, offers enough reasons for revisiting a beloved Disney tale."
Stage Scene LA- Recommended
"...A guaranteed entertainment bonanza for audiences of all ages, Disney’s Aladdin is not only late summer’s most all-around entertaining theatrical extravaganza, it may well be the most gorgeous-too-look-at production ever to light up the Pantages Theatre stage."
Daily Bruin- Highly Recommended
"...That being said, Aladdin’s most magical friend is indubitably Genie – both literally and figuratively. When the pair first meets in the gleaming Cave of Wonders, their apparent chemistry and sidesplitting banter quickly fills the theater with audible laughs. Much of this energy is attributed to Martin, who plays Genie as an extravagant showman, often breaking the fourth wall to effortlessly switch the theater’s atmosphere to a dynamic, concert-like setting. His show-stopping performance of the hit “Friend Like Me” is unarguably the most impressive in the production. Packed full of pop culture references, illusionary prop work and exquisite dance breaks, the number boldly surpasses any traditional theater experience."