On November 15th and 16th, Dobbs Ferry Middle Schoolers performed the musical adaptation of Aladdin – a production bursting with energy and color. The show is filled with iconic scenes and characters, and for the audience, it evokes a sense of nostalgia and wonder. One of the aspects that made this school production unique was the rapport between the actors and how effortlessly they bounced dialogue off of each other. Even through slip-ups, performers maintained their composure, making the show a delight to watch. The marketplace scenes were quick and clever, the actors sometimes broke the fourth wall in their dialogue. All of the kids were visibly excited to be on the stage, which added a giddy energy to each song and scene. Overall, the performance was not just well rehearsed but genuine. The sets and backgrounds themselves were creative- the magic carpet was stacked on top of the black boxes and moved around to imitate flying, and the roof of the sultan’s castle made for a lot of interesting chase scenes. Color schemes throughout the show were incredibly versatile, complimenting the flowy, colorful costumes worn by both the leads and the ensemble.
Sebastian Tranello (Aladdin), Alexis Libby (The Genie), and Eva Franco (Princess Jasmine) were kind enough to do a quick interview after the show. While talking to them, I learned all three of the actors had been in musical productions before. Sebastian voiced his enjoyment of acting in the DFMS production, “I’ve been doing school productions for maybe five years, and I’m not stopping anytime soon. I’ll definitely be doing it again next year.” Alexis and Eva agree, Eva adding “Being in sixth grade, this is my first Dobbs Ferry Middle School show, but I’ve been doing theater for a long time. Aladdin was such a fun experience, I can’t wait to perform again next year.” The three of them are extremely enthusiastic about performing, and they unanimously agreed they would like to incorporate musical theater into their future careers. “I’ve been doing every show since middle school, and now I’m in eighth grade. I’ll definitely continue in high school,” says Alexis. The thrill of being on stage with a cast you love and a performance you’re proud of is something that these actors want to chase within the Dobbs Ferry program, and hopefully beyond that.
The conversation also shed light on the work that goes into acting, singing, dancing, and then performing in a musical. There was a connection built not just between the students, but between the actors and their roles. Immersing oneself in a role requires a significant amount of dedication and respect for the production, but the effort is worth it to gain an understanding of their character. Alexis enjoyed her experience playing her role, stating, “I love playing the genie, he’s high energy for the majority of the show, but there are a few moments where he’s not as happy, which is fun to explore.” Alexis’s drive to accurately represent her character allowed for an immersive experience that required a huge amount of mental and physical energy. The choreography was very fluid, making the actors, extras included, appear as a single body. Eva, who played Princess Jasmine, stresses the group effort this required, “One thing that is crazy to me is how talented our entire cast is. Even the ensemble is just so talented.”
What made the musical so exciting to watch was the connection among the actors, and for the few moments I spent backstage I could tell there was an atmosphere of support. Talking to the leads provided some interesting insight into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the cast. Eva says about her relationship with her co-stars, “Everyone is just so kind to each other. The information meeting was two months ago, no one really knew each other. Now it’s like a family.” Adding on to this, Sebastian mentioned an exercise the team had done the hour before their first run of the performance. “We all went around and said a word describing how we felt about the cast. The most used word was family. I really agree with that word because, over these past two months, we’ve really become such a family. I love each and every one of them.” While this kind of community is preached amongst schools and clubs everywhere, it was truly evident that this idea of family amongst the Aladdin cast was no exaggeration. After watching the production and getting the privilege to interview the leads, it’s clear that this production and the community around it mean a lot to the kids. The supportive and fun environment of the production paid off, as it facilitated a fabulous rendition of this high-tempo musical.