During the curtain call for the April 12 performance of Broadway's Aladdin, the stage musical’s original and continuing Iago Don Darryl Rivera paid tribute to Gilbert Gottfried, who passed away at the age of 67 earlier that day.
Mr. Gottfried indelibly voiced the character of Iago in the 1992 Disney animated film Aladdin. Watch Rivera's tribute above.
Comic Gottfried made his Broadway debut as a replacement for the Narrator in the 2000 revival of The Rocky Horror Show.
Following the pandemic-related Broadway shutdown, the hit musical reopened September 28, 2021, at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre with Michael Maliakel in the title role and Shoba Narayan as Jasmine.
The stage production, which expands the 90-minute film into a two-act format, has music by Alan Menken, lyrics by the late Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and a book and additional lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Nicholaw directs and choreographs.
Aladdin opened at the new Amsterdam March 20, 2014, following previews that began February 26. The musical was nominated for five 2014 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. James Monroe Iglehart won the Tony for his performance as the Genie.
Aladdin is designed by Tony-winning scenic designer Bob Crowley, Tony-winning lighting designer Natasha Katz, Tony-winning costume designer Gregg Barnes, and sound designer Ken Travis.
The production team also includes illusion designer Jim Steinmeyer and hair designer Josh Marquette. The music team is headed by music supervisor and music director Michael Kosarin, who also created the vocal and incidental music arrangements, joined by orchestrator Danny Troob and dance music arranger Glen Kelly.
