Rainbow Players Presents Disney's ALADDIN Dual Language Edition, 7/10-12

Bienvenidos a Agrabah, City of Enchantment! Disney's ALADDIN Dual Language Edition features the Academy-Award winning score from Disney's Aladdin movie, with lyrics in both Spanish and English. This bilingual adaptation has been a smash hit in schools and regional productions, including Houston's Theatre Under the Stars.

Disney's ALADDIN DLE features a revamped plot that creates dramatic necessity for the bilingual script. Our story begins centuries ago, when the royalty of Agrabah spoke one language and the citizens another. Communication is impossible without translation - which is controlled by the evil vizier Jafar. When the rebellious princess, Jazmin, and a delinquent street rat, Aladdin, meet in the marketplace, they find something special in one another. Together they work to transcend the barriers between them, and with a little magic, help create a better future for themselves and for Agrabah.

This touching musical adventure will thrill both Spanish- and English-speaking audiences.

Rainbow Players director Gloria Goodwin recruited former students at the high school and current students at the college to take part. The current Rainbow Players roster also includes area residents from Sublette, Satanta and Plains.

Goodwin has long wanted to direct the dual-language edition of "Aladdin." No wonder: the hybrid is perfect for Liberal, with our bicultural population, signage in both English and Spanish, and a delicious array of food trucks and restaurants and grocery stores and bakeries available to people of all races.

Translators also play an important role in the Rainbow Players' "Aladdin," a version of the popular Disney animated movie released in 1992. Based on the classic Arabian Nights tale of a boy who finds a magic lamp, releases a wish-granting genie, and then goes on to win the heart of the Princess Jasmine, the movie featured the voice of comedian Robin Williams in the genie role.

As is typical of Disney hits, the show became a performance piece at Disney World and Disney Land, eventually morphing into the dual-language version. Plot changes altered the original story so that language itself became part of the story. The folks at Disney worked their usual magic to include material in English and in Spanish, in a way that makes both accessible to all viewers whether or not they are bilingual.

The local cast of Aladdin reflects the community itself, with a mixture of native Spanish speakers and some who learned Espanol in the classroom. The contrasts continue with singers young and old, nimble people who navigate the song and dance with ease, and those who need extra practice with choreography. The results, so far, are impressive and a heck of a lot of fun. Seeing the show will be another example of what is possible when we put aside labels and get on with the business of everyday life. In this case, it's music, acting, some gymnastic feats, and a whole lot of magic.

Shows are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on July 10, 11 and 12; 2 p.m. performances will run July 12 and 13, so even families with small children can plan to take in the wonders of Aladdin and friends. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, and $8 for children younger than 12 years old and senior citizens.

Disney's Aladdin Dual Language Edition is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

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