COAL TOWNSHIP - Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary Chorus will present their fifth musical, "Aladdin-Kids" at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the school gymnatorium. Fifty students in grades four to six are involved in the production as cast and crew.
Vendors welcome the audience to the marketplace of Agrabah and the magic begins. Princess Jasmine (Katianna Lapotsky) must choose a husband by the following night or she will be forced to marry the Royal Vizier, Jafar (Tanner Farrow). Jafar hatches a plan with his parrot, Iago (Zach Honabach), to use the lamp from the Cave of Wonders to steal the throne from the Sultan (Carmine Picarelli).
As the Tiger Gods (Caycee Kalinoski and Frances Czeponis) pronounce that only the "diamond in the rough" can take the lamp, Jafar sees a vision of Aladdin (John Daniel Kerris) stealing a loaf of bread. While escaping from the angry mob of vendors, Aladdin runs in to Princess Jasmine in disguise. Finally caught by the palace guards (Nathan Grimes, Brent Barwick, Behret Steinbauer, and Connor Weaver), Jasmine reveals her identity trying in vain to save her new friend Aladdin. Jafar releases Aladdin from jail, on the condition that he retrieve the lamp in the Cave of Wonders.
The very hungry Aladdin takes a banana, which causes the cave to trap him inside. Aladdin rubs the lamp for some light, which releases the Genie (Zack Smith) who offers him three wishes. Aladdin wishes, first, to escape and, second, to become a prince. The flying carpet Avis (Ethan Sten) arrives and takes Aladdin and Genie back to Agrabah.
Jasmine argues with Jafar and the Sultan about Aladdin when a new suitor arrives. Although she is initially put-off by Prince Ali, Jasmine soon warms to him, and he takes her on a magical carpet ride. Back at the palace, Jafar has taken the lamp and become the Genie's new master. Prince Ali challenges Jafar who has used one of his wishes to turn himself into a powerful sorcerer. Jafar accepts Prince Ali's challenge, but reveals that he is really Aladdin.
Aladdin tricks Jafar into using his final wish to turn himself into a powerful genie. Bound by the laws of the lamp, Jafar is imprisoned. Aladdin then uses his final wish to set the Genie free. Inspired by Aladdin's selflessness, the Sultan changes the law, allowing the princess to marry whomever she would like. Jasmine chooses Aladdin.
The story is narrated by the Lamp Vendor (Giavanna Candelora) and features soloists Peter Long, Alexia Rawa, Sierra Coleman, Aaron Christiana, Stephan Bilyk and Jesse James. Other featured performers are Selina Albert, Peyton Baskin, Emma Gownley, Nora Rompolski, Krystof Lapotsky, Regan Scandle and Darian Wetzel.
Displaying their talents as gymnasts are Selina Albert, Mackenzie Catino, Anna Gownley and Mikayla Showver. Vendors are played by Bella Bach, Abby Doss, Kaitlyn Dunn, Cassie Honicker, Maria Maresca, Elizabeth Nyugen, Julianna Picarelli, Mary Richardson, Aaryanna Rodriguez, Elizabeth Ross, Gabrielle Tumolo and Lilian Yuschock.
Crew members include sound workers Anthony Getchey, Jessica DeLong and Grace Rompoloski; lights by Ty Klembara and Jacob Mestin and grips Amanda Horan and Ryam Mirarchi. Musical director is Bonny Klinger with LeeAnn Smith assisting. Sister Margaret Ann Quiin is the elementary school principal.
Donations will be accepted at the door; no tickets are being sold. Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. and the public is invited to attend.