Actors from Disney’s Aladdin on Broadway reunite in All-New Musical The Nice List

October 27, 2020

Tony Award® winner James Monroe Iglehart (Santa Claus), with Telly Leung and Don Darryl Rivera are heading to the North Pole
along with additional Broadway actors from
Avenue Q, Godspell and more.

Presented by Elliott and Cathy Masie of MASIE Productions and

Wendy Gillespie with Starhawk Productions

Music by Gary Adler; Book and Lyrics by Phoebe Kreutz

The Genie Transportation Services

Choreography by Michael Mindlin

Directed by Alan Muraoka

This Christmas, Broadway artists are coming together virtually, with you, to prove we don’t have to be together TO BE TOGETHER.

In July, Phoebe Kreutz (book and lyrics) received the news that a staged production of her new holiday show was now impossible due to social distancing concerns. But Phoebe was determined to make this Christmas a jolly one, no matter what. So she reached out to director Alan Muraoka (Sesame Street) and composer Gary Adler (Altar Boyz) with a new idea. Together, they teamed up with some of their favorite Broadway talents to bring to life a brand-new, one-act musical with the heart and warmth of a classic holiday theatrical event- all created from a safe distance!

“The Nice List” is an original 45-minute holiday family musical with 6 original songs (including “Always a Holiday” and “They’re All Naughty”). Harnessing the benefits of the Zoom Era, it will be available in time for the Holiday Season. Costume design by Brian Hemesath, props, toys and holiday treats designed by Kathy Fabian / Propstar.

The diverse, star-studded cast tells a heartwarming tale of empathy, understanding and inclusion. So while the show may be full of elves and reindeer, candy canes and Christmas magic, the message is an important one for both kids and grownups.

Synopsis

Teleconferencing and… Christmas? It sounds like a weird combination. But this year, Santa’s Head Elf Chestnut (Telly Leung, Aladdin) has convinced the whole North Pole to adopt this modern technology and go virtual. That means all the planning, the toys, the mayhem- it’s all happening online. And we get to watch!

At the beginning of the Christmas Season, all the elves are all feeling confident in their roles- including our mismatched protagonists: upbeat Crumpet (Julia Mattison, Godspell) and grumpy Raisin (Ann Harada, Avenue Q).

But when Santa (James Monroe Iglehart, Tony Award winner for Genie in Aladdin) announces that he’ll be supervising the season remotely this year, Raisin and Crumpet must take on the biggest responsibility of all: the famous “Naughty and Nice List”.

As the seasonal pressure mounts, Chestnut’s innovative plans start to fall apart. Workshop elves Cookie (Jennifer Barnhart, Avenue Q), Fruitcake (Nick Kohn, Avenue Q) and Gumdrop (Don Darryl Rivera, Aladdin) are running dangerously low on Christmas spirit. Even worse, overworked Crumpet takes a turn for the militant and starts putting kids on the Naughty List for minor infractions. Pretty soon, it looks like no one will be getting any presents at all. Can Raisin convince everyone that no one is all naughty or all nice?

Luckily, Santa appears just in time to spread some holiday cheer and remind us all that Christmas is about bringing people together- no matter who or where we are.

The Nice List is a holiday musical for the whole, cool family. It’s a timeless and timely story featuring a contemporary score, an irreverent sense of humor and lots and lots of toys. Thank goodness December is just around the corner! Our release date, along with a first look, will be announced very, very soon! Ho! Ho! HO!

author avatar
Michele Atwood Founder & Editor-in-Chief, The Main Street Mouse
Michele Atwood is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Main Street Mouse, one of Florida's leading Disney and theme park news sources since 2010. A credentialed Disney Partner and media professional, Michele serves as a theme park contributor and insider for Fox 35 Orlando and WDBO radio covering Disney and Central Florida attractions. Michele has also contributed to the Orlando Sentinel, WESH 2, and Spectrum News 13. Michele is the published author of four books — "Moving to Main Street U.S.A.," "How Many Sleeps Till Disney?," "How Many Sleeps Till Disneyland?" and "Daydream Believing: Confessions of a Grown Up Princess" and is co-owner of the House of Mouse Expo and Lost Princess Apparel. With over a decade of hands-on coverage of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and Central Florida theme parks, Michele brings firsthand expertise and media access to every story she covers.



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