A whole new world of entertainment, Disney’s Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular held its official premiere at Disney California Adventure on this day in 2003. The Broadway-style show features a hilarious genie, who undergoes about an hour and a half of makeup and prosthetics to achieve just the right look, a life-size elephant costume designed to shrink down to fit through the theater doors and expand as it enters the house and a magic carpet that carries Aladdin and Jasmine high above the heads of the theater audience. During his speech before the performance, Disney CEO and Chairman of the Board Michael Eisner said, “When we first set out to re-imagine Aladdin as a theatrical event we approached it as an experience that would be comparable to a major new attraction at one of our theme parks. And in much the same way that Walt Disney Theatrical Productions have redefined Broadway entertainment, we have now sought to redefine theme park entertainment by offering a staged musical of the highest caliber that is ideal for, designed for, of course, the family audience. As you will soon see for yourself we brought this timeless tale to life with lots of stunning designs, unforgettable imagery, and a wonderful sense of spectacle.”
