The Muny has announced principal casting for the third show of its 94th season, Disney’s Aladdin (July 5-13), directed by Gary Griffin, and choreographed by Alex Sanchez.

Tony® Nominees Robin De Jesus and John Tartaglia star as Aladdin and the Genie, respectively. Joining them will be Jason Graae as Omar, Curtis Holbrook as Iago, Francis Jue as Kassim, Eddie Korbich as Babkak, Samantha Massell as Jasmine, Ken Page as the Sultan, and Thom Sesma as Jafar.

Based on the Disney film by the same name,Aladdin features a book by Chad Beguelin, music by Alan Menken, and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, with additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin. The Disney film was written by Ron Clements, John Musker, Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, and directed & produced by Ron Clements& Jon Musker.

The Muny’s production features scenic design by Michael Anania, sound design by Jason Krueger, lighting design by Seth Jackson, and costume design by Mara Blumenfeld. Greg Anthony serves as the musical director, and the production stage manager is Nevin Hedley.

TO LIE OR NOT TO LIE 

By Marilyn Tam

Scott Thompson, the four months old CEO of Yahoo, was forced to resign because he lied on his resume. Worse, he lied about his lying and was found out. He denied that he inserted an extra degree into his resume, and then he blamed the recruiting firm he worked with for doing so. The recruiting firm, wanting to maintain their reputation, showed that it was Mr. Thompson who lied. Net result is that Mr. Thompson now has much more time to contemplate the efficacy of lying. 

            The question is, what are we willing to tolerate in our leaders’ behavior and reflectively in our own? Lying is bad. We’ve been told that ever since we were little. Or have we? Haven’t we also been told, “don’t say that, it will make them feel bad”, and there are such things as “white lies”, as compared to I guess black lies, which are bad.

            So we have grown up with some sense of expediency in what we call lying. Why do people lie? Is it because there is a perception that one can get ahead faster by lying than by telling the truth? Why would someone who is already well credentialed and respected feel the need to embellish his or her story? Is it a basic human nature to try to appear more than we are?

Lia Chang with the camels of Disney's Aladdin at The Muny in St. Louis. Photo by Larry D. Pry

Last Saturday, I was in the mood for a little Arabian adventure, so I caught a two hour flight via United from New York to St. Louis, to see the new stage musical of Disney’s Aladdin, currently playing through July 13th at The Muny, the nation’s oldest outdoor musical amphitheatre.

It was 108 degrees when I arrived at the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. A short ride on the air conditioned Metrolink to the Forest Park Station, with a transfer to the #3 Trolley, conveniently delivered me to the front door of The Muny in less than half an hour. Celebrating its 94th season this year, The Muny, located in Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri, seats 11,000, of which 1,500 free seats in the last nine rows are available on a first come, first served basis for each performance.

More than 10,000 people came out to see Aladdin, the only children’s show of The Muny’s seven show season. Attending a musical theater production at The Muny is unlike any I have experienced before. There were flashes of lightening and rumbles of thunder as I settled into my box seat in section K next to a woman who had been coming here for 50 years, and was accompanied by her granddaughter. As the orchestra began to play the national anthem, the entire audience rose to face the flag and sing.