Woodland Hills Junior High Presents 'Aladdin Jr.'

Woodland Hills Junior High's stage will look like a 'Whole New World' when the school stages the Disney musical "Aladdin Jr." on Feb. 8 and 9 in the auditorium.

The Woodland Hills Junior High Musical Club will present the stage adaptation of Disney's hit film that's filled with mayhem, magic and maybe a magic carpet ride.

"They seem to be having a lot of fun," said Caitlyn Blainey, the musical's vocal director, who is also a substitute teacher in the district as well as a Woodland Hills High School musical alumna ('07).

About 30 to 40 students are involved in the cast, chorus and on stage crew, which is getting some help from high school students on lighting and other technical aspects of the production. Some parts have been double cast

The cast includes: Bobby Carr as Aladdin, Tessa Douglas as Jasmine, Benito Countouris and Lilly Adams as the Genie, Elisha Boynes as Jafar, Jacob Kefalos as Razoul, Ryan Rodman and Adam Reis as the Sultan, Claire Bachtell and Isabel Papariella as Iago, Jack Skowronski as Abu and Mya Cole as the Magic Carpet. For the complete cast list, click here.

Blainey said the musical is doing what it can on a minimal budget, which includes using a canned soundtrack for the vocal accompaniment, as per the licensing agreement.

As for the magic carpet? Blainey said you'll have to wait to see if that flies.

There will be three shows: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8 and 9, and one matinee at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets are $7 each and available at the school's box office from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 30 and 31, and Feb. 5 to 7. The box office will open one hour before each performance. Those wishing to reserve seats can email whjhmusical@gmail.com.

The musical is being directed by Anthony Martello, a 2009 Woodland Hills graduate who is still in college. He had been a dancer in the high school musicals and had asked Blainey for her assistance in bringing the musical to the stage.

Blainey majored in music education at Duquesne University. She also assists high school band director Tom Crone with the marching band.

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