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    Theater Review

    National tour of Aladdin isn't quite what Dallas wished for

    Lindsey Wilson
    Jun 11, 2019 | 3:13 pm

    Disney has become such a theatrical powerhouse that each film-turned-musical comes with a lot of expectations. From The Lion King's breathtaking puppetry to The Little Mermaid's clever swimming effects, there's a high expectation to see that special Mouse magic come alive onstage.

    The national tour of Aladdin has that in the form of its flying carpet (try to spot the wires or lift, I dare you), but sadly that's about where the wizardry ends.

    The 90-minute animated film on which the musical is based has been stretched into two-and-a-half hours, full of extra songs that stall the momentum and extra characters that fall short of their movie counterparts. And with a few notable exceptions (and some gorgeous costumes by Gregg Barnes), the show definitely doesn't look like it has Disney money behind it.

    But let's start with the good. As mentioned, Barnes' costumes are a sequined bonanza, lushly lit by Natasha Katz. Their Agrabah is mysterious and romantic, with a touch of Las Vegas pizzazz. Inhabiting this world is a large cast of lithe dancers who parade their pecs and perfectly toned abs through director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw's immense group numbers, including the showstoppers "Friend Like Me" and "Prince Ali."

    Fort Worth native Major Attaway is a valuable asset, tossing off sassy one-liners and displaying Herculean stamina as the wisecracking Genie. It's a role he'll return to on Broadway this fall, and the energy clearly dips whenever he's not onstage (which, sadly, is often).

    Another hometown boy, Clinton Greenspan, is the street rat Aladdin, who uses his first magical wish to become a prince so he can win the hand of the feisty Princess Jasmine (Kaenaonālani Kekoa). Both Greenspan and Kekoa often seem dwarfed by the kicky, kooky happenings surrounding them, and admittedly Jasmine doesn't have much to work with even after Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice wrote her a new, girl-power ballad ("These Palace Walls").

    Chad Beguelin's "modernized" book, however, feels just as lifeless, making several tongue-in-cheek references to the movie that just end up as reminders of its superiority. Instead of animal sidekicks (Abu the monkey for Aladdin, Rajah the tiger for Jasmine, and Iago the parrot for the evil Jafar), we get three buffoonish sidekicks, three dull ladies-in-waiting, and a still screechy minion played by Reggie De Leon.

    They all cavort on Bob Crowley's oddly cheap-looking set, which even in its most extravagant looks like someone went nuts in the clearance section of Jo-Ann Fabric. Josh Marquette's wigs are similarly uneven, with anachronistically modern lobs and flat-ironed tresses showing up on several female characters.

    But as is often the case with a big-budget musical based on a well-known property, perhaps Aladdin isn't designed to be studied. Instead, you can let the gold spray paint and giant rhinestones wash over you, hum along to "A Whole New World," and be thankful that the kids still seem to be enjoying themselves.

    ---

    Dallas Summer Musicals' presentation of the national tour of Aladdin runs at the Music Hall at Fair Park through June 23.

    Aladdin is playing at the Music Hall at Fair Park through June 23.

    Aladdin national tour Arabian Nights
      
    Photo by Deen van Meer
    Aladdin is playing at the Music Hall at Fair Park through June 23.
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    Football for Footlights

    Dallas Cowboys player debuts on Broadway before heading to Texas

    Lindsey Wilson
    Jun 16, 2025 | 1:57 pm
    Solomon Thomas MJ The Musical
    Photo by Andy Henderson
    Solomon Thomas onstage at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York City.

    Before he hits the field for the Dallas Cowboys’ 2025 season, NFL veteran Solomon Thomas took a final bow in New York City — not at MetLife Stadium, but on Broadway.

    Earlier this year, Thomas signed a two-year, $8 million contract with the Cowboys after three seasons with the New York Jets. But before heading to Oxnard, California, for training camp with the 'Boys in July, he gave the Big Apple a dramatic farewell befitting a true Broadway fan.

    On June 13, Thomas made his Broadway debut in MJ the Musical, appearing for one night only in a special cameo role. The hit show, which celebrates the life and career of Michael Jackson, has long been a favorite of Thomas', who’s seen it six times.

    “I cannot think of a better way to celebrate my time in New York than by making my Broadway debut!” Thomas shared in a statement ahead of the performance. “I am so grateful to MJ for making this dream come true and for the support over the past few years. It’s truly an honor to be able to witness the greatness of these performers. I hope to see everyone at the Neil Simon Theatre on June 13!”

    Solomon Thomas outside MJ The MusicalSolomon Thomas outside "MJ The Musical" at the Neil Simon Theatre.Photo by Andy Henderson

    Thomas famously brought nearly a dozen teammates to see MJ, a moment featured in an episode of HBO’s Hard Knocks. He has also served as a CBS theater correspondent and presented at the 2024 Tony Awards.

    Thomas' special cameo is reminiscent of when Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson made her Broadway debut in late 2024 with a walk-on role in the hit jukebox musical & Juliet at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.

    “Solly has been such a great supporter and friend of Broadway and our show,” said MJ producer Lia Vollack in the statement. “We couldn’t think of a better way to thank him for his time in New York: giving him his Broadway debut!”

    MJ the Musical opened in 2021 and focuses on the creative process behind Michael Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour. With a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and direction and choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon, the show blends dazzling spectacle with emotional depth. It earned four 2022 Tony Awards, including Best Choreography, Lighting Design, and Sound Design in a Musical.

    The current Broadway cast stars Elijah Rhea Johnson, who made his Broadway debut in the show in April 2023. Johnson was involved in the development of the role as “Middle Michael” and succeeded original star Myles Frost, who made history in 2022 as the youngest performer ever to win the Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.

    The national tour of MJ recently stopped at Fort Worth’s Bass Hall in May as part of the 2024–25 Broadway at the Bass season. Other productions are currently running in London, Hamburg, and Sydney.

    Solomon Thomas MJ The MusicalThomas in his Broadway dressing room.Photo by Andy Henderson

    Solomon Thomas MJ The Musical
      

    Photo by Andy Henderson

    Solomon Thomas onstage at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York City.

    While Thomas is known now for both football and footlights, his off-the-field work continues to make a difference. He co-founded the nonprofit The Defensive Line with his parents in honor of his sister Ella, who died by suicide in 2018. Now in his ninth NFL season, the three-time Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee works to end the epidemic of youth suicide, especially among young people of color, by promoting open, honest conversations around mental health.

    As Thomas trades curtain calls for play calls, there’s no doubt he’ll bring the same heart and presence to the Cowboys locker room that he brought to the Broadway stage. And here's hoping the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders don't mind sharing the spotlight with Broadway's newest star.

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