NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Disney's Aladdin With "Iago," Don Darryl RiveraDon Darryl Rivera, who plays Iago in the 5th Avenue Theatre's world-premiere staging of Disney's Aladdin, takes Playbill.com readers on an exclusive backstage tour and offers a glimpse at a day in the life of a Seattle actor.
By
Matthew Blank
July 28, 2011
Rivera toted a camera on a recent two-performance day, snapping pictures of his morning routine with fiance Kate and documenting the backstage activities of the busy cast and crew.
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Disney's Aladdin With "Iago," Don Darryl Rivera
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at Disney's Aladdin With "Iago," Don Darryl Rivera
Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre is currently premiering the first full-length musical adaptation of Disney's Aladdin, helmed by director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw. Don Darryl Rivera, who plays the role of Iago, offers an exclusive look backstage at the production and shares a bit of his day in the life of a Seattle actor.
36 PHOTOS
It’s a 2-show day and we’re starting it with some relaxation. My fiancé Kate and I enjoying the deck at our new apartment. Yes, sometimes it is sunny enough to wear shorts in Seattle!
Don Darryl Rivera
Brusha, brusha, brusha!
Don Darryl Rivera
Vera’s Restaurant in Ballard. Kate and I go here every Sunday morning for breakfast, before we head over to the Ballard Farmer’s Market.
Don Darryl Rivera
Gotta eat something to keep my girlish figure!
Don Darryl Rivera
Kate's really excited for breakfast! And she should be – great food here!
After breakfast, we head to our neighborhood farmer's market. And yes, it’s just as fantastic as it looks.
Don Darryl Rivera
Fresh berries and farm fresh eggs! Who could ask for anything more?
Don Darryl Rivera
I’m arriving at work for the Sunday matinee, and people are lining up around the block to see our show! It’s such an exciting feeling!
Don Darryl Rivera
Signing in. I usually forget to, but I just wanted to take a picture of me doing it. You know, for posterity!
Don Darryl Rivera
Somehow actors always know when a camera is around! Some of our fantastic cast dressed as real people: Connor Russel, Nick DeSantis, Seán G. Griffin, Kenway Hon Wai K. Kua, Adam Jacobs, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, C.J. Eldred and Creighton Oliver.
Don Darryl Rivera
It was Daniel Watts’ birthday! Blow out the candle and enjoy some carrot cake!
Don Darryl Rivera
Candid? What's candid? Getting ready for the show with the friendly support of some of my fellow cast members: Nikki Long, Daisy Hobbs, Ronald Duncan and David Janett. Also on the right is the stunning costume design for my character by Gregg Barnes.
Don Darryl Rivera
Gettin' my hair did. And by that, I mean put on.
Don Darryl Rivera
Dressed and ready – check out the cool hat. It makes me almost as tall as Jafar.
Don Darryl Rivera
Who says only sultans get to have harems?
Don Darryl Rivera
Seán G. Griffin, myself and Jonathan Freeman enjoying our long intermission.
Don Darryl Rivera
Adam Jacobs dressed up as Prince Ali, myself, and James Monroe Iglehart in Genie garb, also enjoying our long intermission.
Don Darryl Rivera
Between shows we take a break and I get some dinner with friends at Gordon Biersch. From left to right: Kim, Bailey, myself, Steve and Adam. Also, turns out watermelon lemonade.... super delicious!
Don Darryl Rivera
Our PA Emily transporting all our yoga gear from the rehearsal studios to the theatre. I asked her if she needed help and then promptly took a picture. That's how I helped.
Don Darryl Rivera
The between-show ironing party. Only the dressers are invited though...
Don Darryl Rivera
Clifford, our stage manager, keeps the show rockin' and rollin'!
Don Darryl Rivera
The ladies getting ready for the spotlight.
Don Darryl Rivera
Friends, family and fans waiting by the stage door! Thanks for spending the day with us!
Don Darryl Rivera
It’s a 2-show day and we’re starting it with some relaxation. My fiancé Kate and I enjoying the deck at our new apartment. Yes, sometimes it is sunny enough to wear shorts in Seattle!
Don Darryl Rivera
Brusha, brusha, brusha!
Don Darryl Rivera
Vera’s Restaurant in Ballard. Kate and I go here every Sunday morning for breakfast, before we head over to the Ballard Farmer’s Market.
Don Darryl Rivera
After breakfast, we head to our neighborhood farmer's market. And yes, it’s just as fantastic as it looks.
Don Darryl Rivera
Fresh berries and farm fresh eggs! Who could ask for anything more?
Don Darryl Rivera
It was Daniel Watts’ birthday! Blow out the candle and enjoy some carrot cake!
Don Darryl Rivera
Candid? What's candid? Getting ready for the show with the friendly support of some of my fellow cast members: Nikki Long, Daisy Hobbs, Ronald Duncan and David Janett. Also on the right is the stunning costume design for my character by Gregg Barnes.
Don Darryl Rivera
Gettin' my hair did. And by that, I mean put on.
Don Darryl Rivera
Dressed and ready – check out the cool hat. It makes me almost as tall as Jafar.
Don Darryl Rivera
Seán G. Griffin, myself and Jonathan Freeman enjoying our long intermission.
Don Darryl Rivera
Between shows we take a break and I get some dinner with friends at Gordon Biersch. From left to right: Kim, Bailey, myself, Steve and Adam. Also, turns out watermelon lemonade.... super delicious!
Don Darryl Rivera
Our PA Emily transporting all our yoga gear from the rehearsal studios to the theatre. I asked her if she needed help and then promptly took a picture. That's how I helped.
Tony Award-winning Book of Mormon director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw helms the production. The stage adaptation incorporates the Academy Award-winning songs from the 1992 film, penned by composer Alan Menken and lyricists Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, with a new book by Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), who has also penned new lyrics along with Menken. Aladdin also restores several songs that were cut prior to the original film release.
The two-hour and fifteen-minute pilot production, which officially opened July 21 for a run through July 31, is being used to launch the new two-act version as a licensable property for professional and amateur organizations through Music Theatre International, which handles rights for Disney Theatrical titles. Disney representatives told Playbill.com that the production is not being groomed for a Broadway future.
The cast includes Adam Jacobs (The Lion King) and Courtney Reed as Aladdin and Jasmine, respectively, with James Monroe Iglehart (Memphis) as the Genie, and Tony Award nominee Jonathan Freeman, who voiced the nefarious villain Jafar in the 1992 animated Disney film, reprising his performance on stage. Also appearing are Seattle actor Seán G. Griffin as the Sultan; Don Darryl Rivera as Iago; and, playing Omar, Babkak, and Kassim — a trio of characters originally conceived by the film's creators but not used — Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Brian Gonzales, and Brandon O'Neill, respectively.
Rounding out the ensemble are Tia Altinay, Kristin Culp, Nick DeSantis, Ronald Duncan, C.J. Eldred, Daisy Hobbs, David Janett, Kenway Hon Wai K. Kua, Nikki Long, Stanley Martin, Creighton Oliver, Shanna Marie Palmer, Bobby Pestka, Connor Russell, Manuel Santos, Allysa Shorte, Daniel J. Watts and Matt Wolfe.
This new stage version of Aladdin "incorporates all of the beloved songs from the film's Oscar-winning score plus never-before-heard Menken/Ashman songs restored from early drafts of the film. It marks a return to the authors' original vision: a loving homage to the Hope-Crosby road pictures with a score invoking the jazz sound of stars like Cab Calloway and Fats Waller," according to 5th Avenue notes.
The creative team includes set designer Anna Louizos (White Christmas, In The Heights), Tony Award-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes (The Drowsy Chaperone, Mame at The 5th Avenue), Tony Award-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz (Beauty and the Beast, Aida), dance arranger Glen Kelly (The Producers, Drowsy Chaperone) and musical supervisor Michael Kosarin (Beauty and the Beast, Sister Act).
Performances continue through July 31. For tickets visit 5thAvenue.
The production will include Bernstein’s incidental music for Lillian Hellman’s adaptation of The Lark, and Menotti’s The Unicorn, The Gorgon, and The Manticore.
