"Aladdin"

What makes Aladdin at the New Amsterdam Theater is that the story is as good as the acting, costumes and dancing. Even though Genie (Michael James Scott) borders at times on Ru Pauls' Drag Race, he is a pleasant enough character in this blockbuster musical. Songs by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman (Little Shop of Horrors), this dynamic duo teamed up with Tim Rice (Aida) and Chad Beguelin for its lyrics.

Most know the story of a young peasant that falls in love with a princess. Her wicked uncle tricks Aladdin into a cave to retrieve a lantern which contains the Genie. genie emerges and gives this gentle soul three wishes in which Aladdin (Michael Malaikel) wants Jasmine (Heather Makalani) to be his wife. As trouble ensues, Aladdin who is very adept as skirting trouble, after all, he has lived out on the streets most of his life; dodges a few white lies to gain his beloved Jasmines hand in marriage.

Aladdin's ensemble cast is as great as is the chorography/ direction by Casey Nicholaw. Bob Crowley's scenic designs and Gregg Barnes costumes are first rate. As a show that is made for children, this musical is for all ages. The plot story flows evenly throughout the evening, the dancing too keeps the audience in the game.

Aladdin has been on Broadway for years and like "Lion King" it is a very pleasing show that brings all the bells and whistles along with it. This Disney show will likely run for many more years barring some unforeseen problem like a Covid 19.

On the Broadway shows are opening as well as closing. The new spring season will feature "Skelton Crew", "MJ", Plaza Suite", "Music Man" . Later on "Take Me Out", "Minutes", Birthday Candles", American Buffalo" and "Funny Girl" will be on The White Way in the spring. Shows closing are: "Waitress", "Thoughts of a Colored Man", "Jagged Little Pill". In what has been a very unusual year on Broadway it still plods along with new openings.

Broadway week is back and is extended. It includes a two-for-one ticket pricing. See great shows like Phantom and Wicked for half the price.

What Happened to Playwrights Horizon's?

Playwrights Horizon's used to be formidable back in the 80's and 90's. Today, Playwrights has become a center for woke writing like "Tambo and Bones". "Tambo" is so woke and anti-American. It places white people as racist, in fact, the other night a person, a white man according to a person at Playwrights, " a white man" (when a black commits a crime it is forbidden to mention his race) went on a tear after seeing that bigoted garbage. People have left Playwrights in droves as subscribers head for the exits. Theater is no longer good there; in fact, it has gotten downright bad. What was once an enjoyable experience back when is downright painful.

Playwrights would rather tell you that we are on the occupied island of Manahatta than put on a solid performance. Forget that even this fundamentally false statement, it is offensive to any American sitting in the audience. From the first minute in the theater to watch this debacle of "Tambo", whites are made to be uncomfortable. It seems these days that it is okay to shame white people but no other people.

If Playwrights doesn't get it together, they will lose more and more people. not just white conservative people, but white liberal people. In case Playwrights has forgotten, whites still make up over 80% of the audience./