Aladdin - Opening Night!

Four months of rehearsals.  Three days of tech week.  One dress rehearsal.  

Thursday night it was finally Showtime!

Before the show started, these kids had a few jitters, but were mostly just ready for that curtain to open. The whole cast has been working so hard since January to make this the best production of Aladdin Kids.

Mom and I are Madison and Lila's stagehands and love helping them make their dreams a reality.   So many kids auditioned for this show that they chose three casts. Each cast does two shows.  Madison got to do the honors of playing Jasmine!  She's so perfect for it.  Lila is a villager in Act 1 and then turns into the Magic Carpet for Act 2.

Madison may or may not have a crush on Aladdin!  She acted all silly when I asked to take their picture together.  I'm sure she was secretly thanking me, though!

Act 1 was fabulous!

There they are!  My favorites came out dancing side by side while singing Arabian Nights!

This time, Lila even had her own mic!

Princess Jasmine's first encounter with Aladdin and pretending to be a villager.

"He's a prince...at least he is, to me."  Her first solo!
She knocked it out of the ballpark.  I had tears in my eyes.

Time for Act 2.  Let's see that Magic Carpet!

Little Avis was ready to shine.

Right after the Genie popped out, she called for her sidekick.
"Come here, Avis" and Lila scurried onstage on all fours!  The audience was all hers after that.

She sang and danced with the Genie so well!  It was such a cute role with lots of physical comedy.
We had no idea little Lila was so funny.

She helped the Genie turn Aladdin into Prince Ali by placing his silver hat on his head...ta da!

Then all the cast began singing Prince Ali while bowing down to the new royal.

It was a cool scene and so colorful with all the different costumes.

Princess Jasmine met Prince Ali on the balcony and sang A Whole New World together, as they were on their magic carpet ride.  So impressive!

Jafar tried to ruin their union and was this close to doing so--oh no!

Thank goodness, love prevailed.

Bravo, bravo, bravo!
Mom and I breathed a huge sigh of relief as the show was ending.  They did it!  They really did it.  And they were fantastic!

Lila came to thank her fans and was so happy to see Emma and Addison and their families.
Sweet soccer and school friends.

She was also very thankful that Finley and Brooklynn came to see the show.
They are always so supportive of her performances.

Madison's counselor and teacher came to see her!  Very cool.  Mrs. Bogardus told me afterwards,"It's my treat to come watch her--she's so talented!"

Such a fun group of girls.  Opening night was a huge success!

These two made a hilarious duo.  The best Genie by far!
I'm so thankful that Lila got cast with her--and so is Lila!

Of course, no one was more proud of Lila and Madison than their family.

This was our favorite performance to date.  We can't wait to see more, though!