Cate Discovers the Stage Magic of 'Aladdin'

Cate at the "Aladdin" merchandise kiosk (Photos by Gerry Barker)

Rub the lamp, Cate!

By GERRY BARKER

Ask Cate -- our 10-year-old granddaughter -- what our favorite movie is, and she'll answer, without hesitation, "Aladdin." So you can imagine how excited she was to learn she would be seeing the stage version at the Kravis Center.

This was her first visit to the Kravis, and she was "wowed" as soon as she entered the lobby. There at the top of the stairs was the giant poinsettia tree; downstairs there were "Aladdin" items for sale, costumes on display and a place for a photo op. She took it all in. Before the show started, a children's chorus performed songs from "Aladdin." The mood was definitely set.

As we found our seats and got settled in, she surveyed the stage and seating areas, proclaiming, "it's so beautiful." As an aspiring actor herself -- she played a role in her school's production of "Annie" and is set to appear in the forthcoming "Seussical the Musical" -- she leaned over and told me, "I'm so excited!"

---

A costume from "Aladdin"

​Then the lights went down and it was showtime!

Needless to say, she loved every moment, and said she was glad they added more songs than were in the movie. The production is amazing, with colorful, eye-popping sets, marvelous special effects (Cate jumped in her seat once during the "Cave of Wonder" sequence) and even elaborately-choregraphed dance numbers worthy of Busby Berkeley (look him up)..

Kudos to the actors, too.  Marcus Martin is a force of nature as the Genie; Adi Roy plays an engaging Aladdin, as is Senzel Ahmady as Princess Jasmine. The rest of the cast is solid as well, delivering funny one-liners and moving the story along in a fast-paced first act.

It's great fun for kids and adults alike, and Thursday night's show looked to be a sellout.

Cate left more determined than ever to fulfill her own "three wishes" to become a professional actor. And I don't think she'll need Genie to make that happen.

"Aladdin" will be at the Kravis through December 23. Find out more HERE.

---

Cate by the poinsettia tree

Cate listens to the children's chorus