Aladdin new creative team member guesses

[bdn223]

So who do you think will be joining Aladdin's creative team?

My guess wierdly enough is Julie Taymor. Although Spiderman is horrendous, she is great at delivering spectacle, which is what according to out of town reviews Aladdin needs. The book is apparently decent, and as long as Taymor's hands aren't allowed to write anything or create any subplots she could be an asset. She is also "out there" enough that she could figure out ways to handle Genie's costume, and the Jafar transformation.

[Johnnycantdecide]

My first thought was also Taymor

[Tag]

It will probably be Rob Ashford or Jerry Mitchell. Someone overexposed right now.

[ucjrdude902]

I'm saying Kathleen Marshall, Taymor, OR if they go bold someone from the Cirque family.

[finebydesign]

Mary Zimmerman. And I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't significant changes to the score.

[Jonwo]

Didn't they write new songs for the pilot production, the bulk of them were the unused songs like Call Me a Princess and High Adventure.

Zimmerman's doing the Jungle Book in Chicago although I don't think the production destined for Broadway.

[finebydesign]

Nah, but she is their darling right now. From everything I've heard, her Jungle Book is going to be a really neat show (not up for Bway) but light years better than the dreck that was Aladdin. Anyway both projects have a lot in common, with sensibility and sound.

[Jonwo]

The Jungle Book sounds like it has potential, I've read it's similar to Poppins in the sense it's an adaptation of both sets of material, It'll be interesting how it looks visually and musically.

[JohnyBroadway]

Francessca Zambello (or whatever her name is) did mount the theme park production. I know what she did little mermaid was awful, but her Aladdin was quite promising perhaps Tom still has hope in her.

[Justin D]

Wondering what set designer they will pick, hope its NOT Bob Crowley, his last few musicals were bore fests.

[CATSNYrevival]

I bet it's just Glenn Slater writing lyrics for new songs.

[TheatreKid3]

Both Bob Crowley and Francesca Zambello were responsible for DTP's only flops (from a directorial point of view), so I doubt they will be seen in that capacity of they are brought on. Crowley does some fantastic scenic work, as is evident in MARY POPPINS. That's the only capacity I could see him being brought in as (although I was not too fond of some of his sets or any of his costumes in the the MERMAID productions in Europe).

Taymor would be interesting and exciting. I would also be pleased with Nicolaw remaining as director.

Regardless, we have no idea what position this person will serve on the creative team.

[Jonwo]

Disney have reused a lot of people from previous productions like Bob Crowley, Stephen Mear etc but it would be nice to see new people, What about Bartlett Sher as a potential director, he's been linked to Father of the Bride and he can handle musicals as evident with South Pacific and Light in the Piazza.

[Joviedamian]

My BIG GUESS would be Robin Williams will make his directorial debut for the show! Any other "creative team" member is not really big news, unless you know theater folks well.

[SondheimFan5]

When they say it's a member of the creative team, I think they mean it's a director/choreographer, co-producer, or co-writer. I don't think a new designer would be THAT much news.

[ucjrdude902]

I wouldn't mind Robin Williams have something to do with production. Anyone think its a famed magician coming in to help with the tricks and illusions?

[chewy5000]

New songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber?

[jacobsnchz14]

This makes me wonder what Taymor would've done if she had directed MERMAID...

[ucjrdude902]

I think if Taymor is given creative control but not FULL control (much like Lion King) it could work.

[shrekster224]

I'd love for Nicholaw to stay on, but I was also thought Taymor. Maybe she can be billed as Creative/Artistic Supervisor or something? Also was thinking Christopher Gattelli for choreo, but wouldn't think they would make a huge deal out of that.

[Scarywarhol]

I'm excited to see how this improves on the Seattle production. Freeman as Jafar is the only part of that show that I would like to see transfer. What will be really interesting is how they make the arabian setting more culturally sensitive (in 2012, they'll have to try harder than the movie) while being as heightened and entertaining as the film was. People forget that, due to animator Eric Goldberg's early interpretation of the Genie, that Al Hirschfeld became the major visual influence on the entire crew. I would love to see that translated to the theatrical version. It would be a bit of a homecoming, in a weird way. It would also be a last homecoming for the truly great Howard Ashman...

[Briaansmith]

I think Bob Cowley should do the costumes

[somethingwicked]

I don't know who the new member of the creative team is, but I do know Disney held a reading of ALADDIN a couple weeks ago and Casey Nicholaw was definitely still involved.

According to Michael Reidel, they're bringing in Bob Crowley to re-design the physical production and the script is going to be "rewritten," though he didn't specify whether it was by Chad Beguelin or a new additional writer.

[JohnyBroadway]

Nicholaw sure keeps himself busy with overlapping projects, I imagine adding the cut ashman material besides proud of your boy was a fail, and they're going back to the original movie? I also wouldn't be surprised if Slater is now lyricist.

[CurtainPullDowner]

I'm hearing Zambella with an all Female Asian Traditional Cast.

[Joviedamian]

Maybe Harvey will be writing a new book???