What a journey this has been! I'm so excited to share this production with the Trenton community. I saw this show title on the Musical Theatre International (MTI) website during my final year working at Life Center Academy before directing Seussical the Musical. It looked like a fascinating idea, but that wasn't the time, place, or students for this musical. After coming here, I mentioned it a few times as a possibility, but we needed to get things up and going with MTI. A huge thank you to Ms. Elizabeth Zwierzynski, Ms Hope Grant, and Andrew Seabert for getting things sorted with MTI so that we can do this production and be able to do more shows from MTI's collection in the future.
This script was written almost 20 years ago by a team from Disney. They wanted the audience to feel like you are a part of the citizens of Agrabah. You might only speak English, you might only speak Spanish, or you might be the small group that speak both. Our Royal translators, the animal translators, and a few others bounce between languages to help you (and our characters) understand what is happening.
Most of the story we know from the animated version of Disney's Aladdin is the same. A "street rat" named Aladdin falls for Princess Jazmin who is being forced to get married. He finds a lamp and wishes to be a prince to win her hand. The difference in this version (besides a song for Jafar) is that Jafar had access to the lamp beforehand and was able to make people only speak one language. He threw the lamp in anger and needs to find it again and use his other wishes.
I truly enjoyed working with our students and the new members of our creative team. We had a lot of new faces join us this year! The tenth graders are definitely coming in strong, which is great news since we will be saying good-bye to a large number of faces who have been a part of our theatre community for three years.
Some major thank you's that I need to say:
Administration--Thank you for continuing to support theatre education and purposeful making sure we had the budget to make this production happen.
Andrew Seabert--None of this would be possible without you. I know I say that a lot, but it is true. You take my crazy ideas and make them come to life. Seriously, thank you for being the amazing and calming person that you are.
Kara Kamenski--I didn't know what to expect, but I am ridicously grateful you have been added to the team. The amount of times where we both said, laughed, or pointed something out at the same time is almost scary. Thank you for bringing your dance skills and creativity to this production.
David Charris--Wow, dude! Our first conversation was completely geeky and fun, and it has been that way almost our whole time working together. Your language and vocal skills have been a great asset to this production. The students have learned so much from you, and that will not be forgotten. You have impacted them so much, that many of them plan to continue with you on the concert choir even after the show is over. Well done!
Annie Coleman, Danita Bell, Kathy Mulcahey, and teams--Thank you for handling so much. From the front of house box office and vendors to the meals and snacks for the students during tech week, you took a major load off my shoulders and I greatly appreciate it.
Theatre III (Class of 2025)--You have been a frustrating joy to teach and direct. You have challenged me in new ways and we have grown together. I wish each of you all the best as you prepare for and take the next big steps in life. Remember to advocate for the arts and arts education as you move through life. It is always needed.
If I forgot anyone, I apologize. I am running out of room. But I would be remissed if I didn't thank my family (especially my mother), Adam Jewell,Guy Crawley, Josh Cole, Shamsun Caldwell, and Dr. Oyin Bankole. These people from my non-school life have been supportive in so many ways. I can't even list them all. Thank you all. May God bless you all.
Sincerely,
Felicia Latoya Brown, Director (and a whole host of other titles)
