Video: How ALADDIN Has Made Michael James Scott's Broadway Wishes Come True

Welcome to Backstage with Richard Ridge

Disney's smash hit musical Aladdin has become a worldwide phenomenon. It is celebrating its ninth year on Broadway

where it continues to play to packed houses here at the New Amsterdam Theater

where we dropped by to catch up with Michael James Scott, who plays the genie

Not only does he play him on Broadway, he's also played him in, London, the North American Tour and Australia

First of all, I am thrilled to be sitting with you here. What a dressing room you have, my friend

Welcome. It's so nice to have you here, of course. I mean, you know

We had to have you to the dressing room, to the Cave of Wonders. That would you call it the Cave of Wonders

I love this. I should call it the Cave of Kiki. Well, let me tell you, no one does it better than Disney

You're right. So what is it like living in the world of Disney? Disney and the world of his fantastic musical of Aladdin

I mean, you know, like you said, there is nothing, Disney, there's a true Disney magic

Like, the phrase Disney magic is actually real. It really is. And I don't think I really fully quite understood it until now

And what it brings, I think what it, for me, it has been this energy

and this vibe of when you hear the word Disney and what it evokes to literally everyone in the world

You know, there's always a positive, joyful, wishful, wonderment thing to it

And so to be able to be connected to that and that that be my job

and that be the thing that I'm doing on Broadway is a gift

I mean, it's a gift. It really is a gift. So for me, I think that's what it feels like

It just feels like a big magical gift to be a part of this family and to be, you know

have been doing it for a while and been in this business for a while to know the difference

and what I have here and just in comparison to other things

It's just, it's magical. And living in the world of Aladdin, what a beautiful musical

Yes. Yeah. Oh, gosh, it's so good. The thing about Aladdin is so great is it's really the joy, right

Like the joy of Aladdin and what it brings to people. It is such a beloved story all over the world

And I've been very blessed to get to go around the world to play this role as the genie, you know

In my cave of Kiki. But it is so beloved. And I think that that has been such a another gift I really feel like to be a part of that

because people, not only do they know it, there's an ownership, there's like an ownership with it

And that, in the beginning, it kind of scared me just because I didn't, you know, it's like living up to that

But now it's just such a, it's such a rare thing and it's such a rare entity to have in this day and age

of something so beloved and so, like, held in such high regard to people around the world that it feels

it's just a joyful thing that people really, really love and they love it with all their hearts and they love to be able to show their families and, you know, their kids and their, and some of their kids' kids, you know, this show, introducing them to Aladdin and what it brings. I mean, it's the joy

You know, you talk about a worldwide audience. How many companies and how many productions have you done

Oh, gosh. Also, I've done four, so I've done here. I did Australia. I did London. I did the North American tour

And we're coming up on 3000. Honestly, it was like, it was in that moment where I was like, oh, wow

Like, what a, what a beautiful career thing that I will look back on in my life

Yeah. It's truly something that very few people can say they did

In this crazy business, as we both know, is very unpredictable on so much

many levels. So to be able to have this and be able to make this milestone with this show

and this entity, with this brand, all the things is like. I mean, it's a dream come true

No, because, you know, I'm sure there are other people in this show, I mean, who have been with the show from the beginning or maybe near the beginning, but to play a role like the genie

one of the lead roles like this. I mean, Kathy Rigby Peter Pan, Yule Brenner in the King of

Eye, and now you. So it's a fabulous milestone to have when you're playing with something

So take me back. What was it like, you want a big award in Australia? for playing the genie, didn't you

I did. I won the Helpman Award, which is, you know, it's considered like their Tony Awards there

which was, and the crazy thing about it. I mean, Australia was literally life-changing for me

I went there, that country just, like, embraced me. They opened their arms to me

and they were like, welcome to our country. And it was just such a beautiful thing

And I didn't expect, I mean, anything, being there in terms of that kind of

kind of a recognition. So when I was nominated, I thought I was

I mean, I was really floored because I was a foreigner. You know, I was kind of coming into their space

and coming into their, their world. And I just, you know, you, everyone

you're protective of your, your world, right? But it was, it was really, really special

And it was, it was awesome to be able to represent Disney on Broadway, you know, in a way that

you know, we, James Monroe, Igo Harrow, who won the Tony for playing the genie originating it on Broadway

I really feel, you know, this, it was so monumental on so many levels

but this is one of the most physically demanding roles in Broadway history

There is, like, the, what you physically have to do, all of it, all of it, is just, it's a lot

So to be recognized for that, of course you don't, you know, you don't expect that

But I just think it was such a really awesome thing to be able to feel

to continue the legacy on and down under, if you will, and be a part of that legacy that Disney on Broadway does all around the world

So, you know, I got to kind of put my stamp on it and won this big award

I've literally blacked out. I have no idea what I, I mean, people say it

They were like, do you have a speech prepared? I'm like, no. They're like, well, you should have one

And I was like, I don't even, what do you mean? the crazy thing about that

like so it happened and there I am I go up and we perform

you know we also perform that night so it was just like a whirlwind as

as the Tonys are as any big award show is it's just a lot you've been there

you know what the energy is like it's a lot but I think what I

what I loved was that it was representing something bigger I was representing

diversity representation inclusivity things that that country was needed, and they made it known that it was needed, and really, you know

told me that in so many ways. So that was actually a really cool thing. It was also made news

when I thank my husband on, well, then he was my fiance, but I said, I can't wait to marry you

you know, when I get back home, and it made news because, you know, it wasn't legal. It was still

fighting for, you know, equality and things there. And so it kind of made national..

There I am, national news! You know? Like, it was just... There was just a whirlwind

I cannot tell you, Richie. It was just like a... It just kept going and going and going and going

And I was like, oh my gosh, okay, and this and this and this. But, you know, when you get a platform like that

you better do something with it Yeah But you know that the Disney magic too Like you said you were in Australia Everybody over there loves Aladdin too Yes They love it

I mean, everywhere in the world. It really is... We've had productions in Hamburg

We've had productions in Japan. We've had productions in Mexico City. I mean, it goes on and on, the list of this production of Aladdin

And it is, what I say, it's the, you know, people are like, what are the differences

is what are the audience. It's like, what do you feel? And it feels the same because the energy is so vibrant

People want to love it. They want to love you. They want to love the show

They want to be there with the joy and feel that joy from the Broadway production

that was created here, you know, right in New York City. And what we did to sort of like expand out into the world

So they loved it. And from the very beginning, you know, there was an excitement about it

It was like when Lion King, was over there. There was an excitement when the first time it came over there and then cut to

you know, Aladdin got to be there. And it was just an excitement that I feel from the people

who really, really were excited that Aladdin was coming to their country. You know, so there

was an ownership over that. I feel was pretty awesome. And I was excited to step into those

shoes and be their genie for them there. Okay, you also did the North American tour. Yes. Everywhere

Like, what was it like? Favorite moment from doing the tour? What's one of your favorite moments

Oh, my gosh. I think, well, okay, one of them was, I opened it in Los Angeles

which was at the Pantages Theater, the Pantages is iconic and gorgeous and all the things

But it was like, I remember, like, driving on Hollywood Boulevard, and there was, like, this gigantic..

Photo of you? Photo, flag, if you are. It was just, like, gigantic thing of myself, Adam Jacobs, who originated Aladdin, Courtney Reed, who just took over

a sateen in Mulan Rouge, and they were, and she was playing Jasmine, and the three of us were up on

Hollywood Boulevard, and I was just like, I mean, in my head I was thinking, like, wow, like

when I think about that little chubby chocolate boy from Orlando, Florida, one day would look up

on Hollywood Boulevard and see his face on that, you know, right there

and all, there's flags all over the city as well. But, I mean, that to me was such a big moment

Because, you know, you're on the Hollywood Walk of Fame street, all the things

Like, it's all right there. And there you are a pun. And there I was, like, just looking over everybody, like, what's up

I hope you took a lot of pictures. Oh, yeah, so many. Are you kidding me? My mom and dad stopped everyone in the street to tell them that was

their son. I mean, you know, I couldn't stop them from telling literally everyone, we were in a

diner. And they're like, well, if you walk out on the Hollywood Boulevard, my mom, just like

I'm like, Mom, like, they don't care. And she's like, yes, they do. They only care

And they're going to the show. And they're coming to the show. Yes, she sold many tickets

I'm like, yeah, she needs to get a little percentage because the tickets she has sold

You got to go see my son. He's playing the Jeannie. I'm like, okay, okay

What about London? How exciting was that? Well, London was awesome because London was, I did, so I did Hair, the revival of Hair, and I also did that in London as well

You were the Dance Captain? I was the Associate Chirographer and the Dance Captain and in the show

I mean, I know, there's lots of things. Yes, thank you. That's good

But that was incredible because some of the same crew from Hair were at the theater when we, the Prince, it was a

the Prince Edward, Prince Edward, Prince Edward. Edward Theatre in London. And it was so much fun to get to go back, but play the genie, you know, in London

London is so special. I mean, it's such a, that theater district is so

Well, those are iconic theaters, too, like you said, besides playing the incredible New Amsterdam here, the Pantages there

Yes. You feel, like, and you feel that. The history, yeah. feel the history, which is really cool

And I brought over my in-laws. I brought over, you know, my parents

I brought them in to really experience London and, you know, a big, big old musical there in London

And London, the community there, the Westin Wendy's, if you will, they all were so wonderful and so welcoming, which was really great

But wait, I forgot to tell. So I got to go back to Orlando, Florida to play The Jeannie in my hometown

And when you're talking about the North American tour, because I was like, I can't forget about this moment

So Disney theatricals asked me to go back, you know, home to do this

And that was, to this day, will be, I mean, for me

we'll go down as, like, career highlight. To be able to get to do this role in Orlando

where Orlando is there like, this is our hometown. I mean, they are very, very, very proud, right

But like everyone came out of everywhere to see it, to see the show, to see me in the show

My, you know, who I call superheroes, angels who really helped me when I was a little boy growing up in the, in the, Orlando was a big arts community that really cares about their young artists

Really, really. And I was one of those, those young artists. So to be able to get to come back and them to like embrace it, me and embrace the show

I mean, it was, I mean, my mother had a full, you know

soul food dinner for us in between shows, one of the weekends that we were there for like the entire company

She's like, come on down! And she had a whole thing. We had church buses roll up, you know

I mean, it was insane. And something I will never, ever, ever forget

And I'm so thankful that, you know, the theatricals had made that happen for me

Okay, take me back to that first night on stage as the genius. was it here in New York

Yes. Well, so I was the original stand-by. So you want that night or do you want..

Okay, let's do your first standby night, yeah. Well, so... Well, I was actually on our very first weekend of previews

So we... I was actually on that Friday night. We started the show

Our first preview was on a Wednesday. So that Friday, the very..

The very first night where we had, like, most, like, a lot of new changes in the show was the night that I was on

So as you can imagine, the team, like, everyone was like, what do you need

Like, oh, my, and this is a funny story. And I love telling, like, this is a funny story because Tom Schumacher, the head of Disney theatricals, and Court, like, you know, they all, and Hacey Nickle, everyone, they were all, oh my gosh, Chad

Begglin, I mean, the list goes on. They were all, of course, of course

But my favorite thing was, before that, they were all in this dressing room

I was in this dressing room, and they were like, is there anything you need? You know, all the thing

And I was like, what I need right now is to be alone

And so we have this, so Tom is always like, do you remember when you kicked me out of your dressing room? I love that

I'm like, Tom, I didn't kick him out. And he's like, no, no, no. We all

But it was just like, it was such an interesting moment. It was like, that moment in my career, if you will, was like such a, kind of like

defining thing of like what I need, right? And what is it, like, what I need to do to prepare, what I need to, I'm going to be fine

I'm going to be fine. I know it's a lot. And it's a lot to think, oh my gosh, like, it's just a lot

It's the first night of changes. So that was, so that was that night

And it went well, you know. I mean, it was scary. You still here I still here I still here in the dressing room So that was amazing But my first night really as I really I really call that first night of me as the genie was my really was in Sydney was in Sydney Australia

I really feel like that was my, my night because, well, at least my, for me as the genie, because, you know, I had had a rehearsal process. I had had, it was my company

That was my, you know, Ainsley Mellum, who was our, my Aladdin, who was Australian

You know, he was like, we were paired together, like all the things, right

Ariel Jacobs, the sister of Adam Jacobs, who played our Jasmine. And the three of us were there

So it was just Ariel and I, Americans coming over. But that night was so special

And lots of the Disney team was there. They were all in Australia. You know, it was, it was, it was, there was so much emotion

But after friend like me, the audience still in their feet, which, you know, is very rare in special, I mean, it's rare anywhere

It's very rare in, in Australia. And it was, it was just a moment that I will never forget, you know, and just to see all those people who put their faith in me and what, you know, having trust in the thing that I do, my ability to me, for me

to be one of the leaders of their company in Australia, you know, it was a lot

And it was such a beautiful moment. And a moment that I really, and I always say this, it's like, you know, of course, being

at the right place and the right time, all those things are all important in this business. But if you're not ready for it, if you're not prepared for it, then it just goes by

I was ready. I was ready. I had worked very, very hard in my career for that moment

And so it was like, okay, you better step into your light, you know, and you better stand in it and don't be afraid of it

So that, it was that moment that felt like, all right, because then they all could leave the next day and know that the show was fine

You know, the team could leave. Everybody could be like, all right, we're good

We're good. We're all good. It's a great company. We're in there. And I took so much pride in being, you know, holding that special place for me

and being in that light for that company. Yeah. You know, there's nothing like a Disney audience either when you go

because like you said, it's people, it's grandparents, parents, kids, kids of kids

Everybody wants to have the best time. Yeah. And you get that when you see a Disney show

Yeah. You must have so many incredible, like, stage door memories of meeting audience members

Oh, gosh, yes. Well, you know, it is that nostalgia thing, you know

and people, when they come and, And because our show, what I love about our show

and I'm so proud of it, is it's for everyone. It literally is an everybody show

And that is so cool to see, you know, groups of girls out

groups of guys out, couples out, families. I mean, literally everyone. And I've seen it all

I think one of my, you know, some of my favorite, favorite memories and seeing audience members are a lot of, like

the little kids of color who see themselves on stage and see what the possibilities are

You know, and not just me, but like seeing the color that we have on stage, period

That is a beautiful thing. And I have the very luxurious thing in the show where I get to see and break the fourth wall

and talk directly to the audience and, you know, flirt with them

and you know, and give you and really connect with the audience

And when I see them looking around on the stage is pretty incredible

And sometimes I have to remind, I'm like, Michael, you're doing the shell. Because I'm literally, I'm like, oh, my gosh, look, like they're looking up, you know

It's like we, Michael Maliaquel, who's playing Aladdin right now is amazing

He's so, so wonderful. He also has, like, 12 packs of abs

It's very distracting. I'm like, Michael, you need to work out more

Like, what's going on? But it is so cool to sit for him

for me to watch a family, you know, who look like him and see the parents tell their kids

look, look, look, and then them fixated on him. And they literally watch his every move

I've gotten to see that firsthand. and see what happens to our audience members

When people are like, can you see us? Yes, we can see you in the audience

How dare you? We can see you, and I love it. But that's one of the most magical things about this show

is the color represented on stage, period. Well, that's why one of the greatest things about Disney shows

are Disney musicals. They're for everyone. Yes. That's why they can play all around the world in any country

and everybody has the same, like you said. Their same reaction doesn't matter what country you're in

Yes. It's the same reaction. Yeah. It does not matter. It doesn't matter

Joy is universal. And that, to me, represents everything that, you know, Disney on Broadway and, you know, it stands for

There is joy in all of their shows, you know, there is some kind of joy

Yeah. And that is, that's pretty. incredible. That's an incredible mark to leave on our industry

but it's also an incredible mark to leave on the world and that's

what they're doing. You are phenomenal in this role. How early did you get to the theater? What's your

daylight? Oh gosh well I am not I am preparing for the role like

what's you laughing at? I mean this it's such an interesting question

because it changes for me all the time. I go through periods

I'm like, you know, I swim a lot. That is my, like, my biggest warm-up

is a swim, a big old swim, and I actually warm up in the water. So it's a, you know

when I do trills and things, so if you're ever swimming by me. Oh, where do you go? Well, I won't tell you

off camera. Why will I go and watch you trill and do your free show? It's so funny

literally I've swim next to people and they're like, they're like, they're like

wow, like, are you singing in the water? I was like, oh, sorry. I am, yes

But I warm up in the water because it's the most amazing thing

for breath support. Okay. And for this role, you need breath support

I was, to prepare for this role, I was literally singing full out

Beyonce style on a treadmill, twice a day, like, full friend like me

full, full out. Like, that was, to prepare, to get myself, you know, in a state

At home or at a public gym? Well, it was a private gym

Private gym. Because I want to go, the private chin and watch you perform Beyonce and I want to watch you swim when you do your aerial

little mermaid warm-up before you come here to the new am. But so I get, so I have a makeup call at an hour before the show

Wow. And so I'm usually here a half hour before that. Okay

To just get myself in the, you know, in the state, I put on my, my reality television

I know. It's absolutely horrible. No, it's relaxing. It relaxes me. For me, I can't, like, the thing is that because I am at a 10 from the jump

to be able to just, like, not think about something. So I just put on, like, you know, a wheel of fortune

Like, you know, even Jeopardy sometimes too much for me to think about. So I don't know I love it, but I'm like, this is too much thinking for me

I got to, you know. My wheel of fortune, you watch them win money. And then you like I got to go on stage And on their own stage you know So it about an hour and a half And then and it really and I actually don I actually like to get in my I don like to

get dressed until pretty soon, pretty close to the show. Just to, it just gives me so that like, I'm kind of like, all right, let's go

So at five, really, well, at five, five minutes, we get, I get dressed

And then I go down. I know, it's, I know, it's people always like, oh my gosh, it's very soon

So then I get dressed and then I go down. But then I have a break

I have a little break where, you know, before I really come back and I'm like the train that is the genie

But it's when I put on that blue costume, like the iconic blue, it's now iconic

But I put on that blue costume and it feels like armor. Truly every night when I zip it up and my dresser like snaps the last snap on me

my incredible Greg Barnes designed gorgeous costume. It is like armor, and I am like, I'm the genie

No, because I was going to ask you, when do you see the genie coming around the corner? And it's when you're snapped into your outfit, right

That's it, right there. Because I'm, like, in the mirror. And so usually the way we're positioned in the dressing room

I'm usually positioned in that mirror right there. So we're looking at that mirror in my whole costume

and my amazing dresser Kathy Klein. Kathy Klein, she gets me into my costume

and so we look at it together. And she's an old school dresser

so she's very, very old school Broadway dresser and has dressed many, many incredible stars

And so it is really, really, really cool the way she dresses me and how she gets me

it gets me into my costume and how it's like a, it's like, It's really a ceremony, it feels like, before we go on

Okay, you've done a lot of performances. 3,000 coming up to. Anything crazy happened on stage for you during a performance that you would share

Oh, my gosh. I mean, well, you know, what's fun about the genies that I don't really, like

I can get away with a lot. Totally. I can get away with a lot of things

Missed lines, you know, random cues. I literally could just kind of get away with something, you know

and be like, oh, forgot that. That was me. You know, or whatever it is, and move on

But I think probably it might have been, there was a time where my, my genie, like, Lyft thing

we had a, my lord, our crews are all amazing. And sometimes those set pieces and things

they have a mind of our own. own. And it's like as much operating and as much testing as you

can do, it's like, it just something goes wrong. Which is the beauty of live theater, honestly

You know, and please, the audience loves it. But there was no, like

Jeannie Lyft. And I was like, okay, we're not going to stop. We're just going to move. We're going to keep going

So I was like, what do I do to like make it a thing? So I was like, well, I am a

dancer. Like, I can do something. So I was like, I shene, shane, shane from the wings, came in, did like a PK

shene, a turn, a jump up, down. And when you, you would think, in my head, I was like, oh, the audience is going to be like

oh, my God, this is amazing. It was like this. Like, it wasn't really special

Like, I thought it was special. Totally. Because it was just so, it was so antiquated, max

from what the buildup was, but I did have fireworks. I did have pyro to help the situation

With a Shaneh turns and everything else. But there's been always, you know, there's the beauty of

we have, knocking on all the wood, we actually have, we are, we are, and it's very rare when things go wrong

So, you know, that's a, I'm good with that. I've forgotten costume pieces before, you know

where I'm like, oh, Lord, okay. As long as you appear on stage

As long as I appear on stage, I'm good. So there's nothing crazy, but, you know, little things

One of my final questions is, if you could sum up the best part of being a part of the Disney family and being a part of the Aladdin family, what is it for you

Gosh, I think it is... Well, it is so special to be from Orlando, Florida, where Disney World is, and for it to be

such a part of my life growing up where, for example, you know, we couldn't afford to go

to Disney. And to fast forward and think. about where I am right now and the fact that I'm like we couldn't afford it and

there have been numerous times why I have just brought my family to Disney now I

know people rich I know I know some people I know some Disney people your mom

does too my mom does too but I think that it is it is not lost on me that

thing that is that that childhood you know I mean Walt Disney himself I mean it's

literally about the child right like it's like a child's eyes it is not lost on me

of the actual what I feel like magic I've gotten to be a part of and you know

I've always been I've been you know hashtag theater nerd for life like I grew up

in being wanting to do Broadway that was my my thing but what I

didn't realize, I don't think I knew that like adding Disney to Broadway would be like even

beyond my wildest dreams. Yeah. So I think it's, it is, it's the family that this legacy that I

I am a part of that I will, I'll just, I'll just never forget. It is, it's a, I mean, it's

also, it's also the fact that I am playing one of the, one of the

most iconic characters in the world. That to me is something mind-blowing. That was never on my

radar, was never a thing that I was even like after. So to be able to play the genie in

Aladdin on Broadway is that, that alone, I think, is what I will never not, I will never not believe that

It will still be unbelievable to me. Yeah. You know. So I'm grateful

I'm very, very grateful. And I'm grateful that I've lasted this long in my career

And all of a sudden, I've, like, crossed the corner where I'm like, I'm not the baby anymore in the company or in the cast where I was always like, you know

And that's really exciting. And it's great to be able to be, to have learned from all of the amazing people who before

me. And it is not lost on me on all of those incredible actors of color who were before me

where now to this day I can sit in this role being backed by one of the biggest entertainment

giants in the world and be the face of, well, one of the faces of a very big successful

Broadway show. Beautiful. It's always great to catch up with you. Thank you. Thank you for all the joy

you bring audiences. Oh, thank you. And come to my dressing. Whenever you, when you come by

just come on by. What do you call it again? The Cave of Kiki. I'm coming back

Good to see you as always. You too