Get Tickets to ALADDIN: www.broadway.com/shows/aladdi... Go behind-the-scenes and see how Jonathan Freeman, the original voice of Jafar, gets into character as the Disney villain in ALADDIN on Broadway.
I love actors who say: 'People are working hard for their money and saving up for a Broadway show'. It tells me it's not just about them but the respect they feel for the audience.
Congratulations to Jonathan Freeman for staying 8 years on playing Jafar in the Broadway musical and back in 2011 which took place in Seattle after voicing Jafar for decades! He’s a real wizard for reincarnated the iconic villain back to life! 😮
I still have no idea why they didn’t just get him for the live action movie. Not only is he the original, not only is already playing the character live, but his costume here looks better than the movie’s!
Because, like the original Jafar, he's old and not good-looking. Nowadays, most movies' publicity is done on Internet by fans, especially fangirls who looooooves to fangirl on characters, ship them.... in such a context a character old and unattractive is not good. It's not fanfiction's material. Hence why they casted an uncharismatic bore that screams like an isteric but at least he's young and hot!
The whole cast was of east Asian or Indian descent, aside from the genie. They wanted to leave the spirit of Jafar for both live action and Descendant as well.
What's so wonderful about this is that the guy keeps going for the right reasons; I thought what he said about it being someone's first show, them saving up or seeking escape was so lovely.
Jonathan Freeman has been one of my favorite vocal actors ever since I can remember. Whenever I see him out of makeup, I always say, "That's my Jafar!" I've always been in love with his character ever since I was a little girl, and Jafar is undoubtedly one of the greatest Disney villains out there. He's so wonderful and I wish Jonathan all the best. Without him, there would be no dastardly hilarious vizier! Thank you for being a part of my childhood all these long years! ❤️
Wow to think that he does this eight times a week! He is really remarkable in this role - but then he created it in the 1992 animated movie, so he's the real thing! It's amazing to see the effort and time that goes into making the show that the audience sees! Thank you for showing this.
“There’s someone in the audience that has never been to a broadway show before” That was me when I saw this, it was my first broadway show, thank you ❤️😁
I have always wanted to meet Jonathan Freeman. He made one of my favorite Disney Villains so wickedly iconic! Jonathan is such an incredible and amazing actor.
Love the reason behind what keeps him going! There's always somebody among the audience who hasn't seen a broadway show, who really saved up just to see the show, etc. For someone who lives on the other side of the world (who thinks that getting to witness this is such a pipe dream), his words gave me comfort! It feels like my dreams are just waiting around the corner 😊
Jonathan Freeman: "The law says that if a proper actor for the villain can't be found for the Broadway musical the role will be played by the voice actor from the movie" The sultan: "But you're so old"
When I was 9 I dressed up as Jafar for Halloween. I made the costume myself (mostly; my mom helped me). The snake staff was a long cardboard tube (the type of thing you'd use as a container for a large map) with the snake head glued on. It served as the container in which I carried the candy I got while Trick or Treating. The costume was a big hit with everyone whose house I went to, and I got a LOT of candy that year. I was amazed at how much candy that staff/tube could hold! By the time I got home, the staff was quite heavy, and difficult for me to carry, lol! 🤣
I knew Jonathan way back when. We were in the Heights Youth Theatre together in Cleveland, OH. I have wonderful memories of being in all the shows. We had so much fun. It's so nice to see how far Jonathan has gone. Break a leg......
I was thrilled to see Mr. Freeman on stage back in New Year's Eve 2014-15. He was excellent. As soon as you hear that voice, you're like, oh yeah, that's definitely Jafar! Impressive that he's still in the role after all these years!
I love the animated movie. All of the voice work is great, but Freeman was the stand out. Of course Robin Williams was perfect, and I love, love, love Gilbert as Iago. But Freeman as Jafar is just so damned perfect.
I just saw the touring show of the Broadway production and it was phenomenal. Of course, Freeman is stationed in New York only, but I will say the guy who played the touring Jafar was astounding (as was the whole cast). Having seen all of the Disney Broadway productions (with the exception of Frozen) I have to say Aladdin was by far the best!
I love Johnathan Freeman soooo much wanna see him play jarfar live so bad but I live in the uk and Aladdin recently closed on the west end. I was lucky to go to New York in 2017 we saw Aladdin and Johnathan wasn’t in the show but the understudy was great. But would still love to see the original jafar live one day
@@Z-A-C I agree with you, but the pollitically correct people are morons! They would accuse him of whitewashing just because he isn't arab or something.
I really want to see him on Broadway before whenever he leaves....unless....Aladdin comes to the Pantages and he happens to be there for guest appearances 😁😁😁
"This is not called Aladdin, it's called Jafar. It's about a megalomaniac who wants to... take over the world." I love this approach to character work: every character should be treated as the main character because they are the main character in another story
Aladdin is my favorite Disney film and Disney Musical of all time and Jafar is my favorite Disney villain of all time. When I saw Jonathan freeman as Jafar on Broadway, it’s like he was re-enacting my entire childhood right before my very eyes! He’s incredible as Jafar.
I went to see Aladdin on Broadway in New York in 2017 and was so excited to see Johnathan Freeman as Jafar but unfortunately I went to the Sunday Matinee and they had his understudy fill in 😞 Still an amazing show and an amazing Jafar but oh how I wish I could’ve seen Johnathan!
@@josephmielke575 We didn't really meet one on one. I was there for a school band trip and he and other cast members greeted us as we left the show one night. But they were all nice guys who did a nice job
Wow that’s incredible and you didn’t have to use cgi for this and It’s crazy too back in the day they would use a live action reference and draw characters frame by frame 2d animation
