'Aladdin Jr.' to take audience to a whole new world

IF YOU GOWhat: "Aladdin Jr."When: 7:30 p.m. today, Saturday and Aug. 3; 1 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4.Where: Catoosa County Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, Ga.Admission: $15 adults, $12 senior adults/students/children, $11 groups.Phone: 706-935-9000, ext. 103.Website: www.colonnadecenter.org.TEA PARTYThere will be a proliferation of movie princesses at the Disney Princesses Tea on Saturday, Aug. 4, at the Catoosa County Colonnade. The tea will begin at 11:30 a.m. The $25 cost will include a meal, photos with the Disney princesses and admission to "Aladdin Jr." at 1 p.m. For information, call the Colonnade at 706-935-9000, ext. 103.

What's a princess to do?

Dad, the sultan, has three suitors in mind for his daughter, Jasmine. And the evil Jafar would like her for himself.

But she's fallen for a poor but handsome street urchin who's under suspicion as a bread thief.

"Aladdin Jr.," a romantic comedy that is a scaled-down musical stage version of the 1992 Disney movie, will be offered by the Community Players at the Catoosa County Colonnade for five performances beginning tonight.

"It's the same story, the same characters, the same plot line" as the movie, said stage manager Kim Parrish. "It has all the songs you remember from the movie and a couple of new ones."

Among those songs -- composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Tim Rice -- is "A Whole New World," which won Best Song at the 65th Academy Awards and topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Other songs include "Prince Ali" and "Friend Like Me."

One of the new ones, "Why Me," sung by Jafar, was written for the movie but not included in it, she said.

Although "Aladdin Jr." may indicate a truncated version, Parrish said audiences will miss little from the movie. And with a piano, bass and percussion backing a cast of 35 actors of a variety of ages, it will be a full production, she said.

The bright and colorful set and costumes, she said, put you "right in the mood of downtown Agrabah."

Melissa Adams is directing the play, which is suitable for all ages.

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