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Aladdin: Performance Rights & Script

The Magical Lamp of Aladdin, adapted by Tim Kelly, is a play based on The Arabian Nights, featuring a cast of characters including Aladdin, a powerful magician, and various magical beings. The play requires a performance license from Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., and stipulates that one script must be purchased for each cast member. It emphasizes simple staging and continuous action without interruptions between scenes.
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
81 views54 pages

Aladdin: Performance Rights & Script

The Magical Lamp of Aladdin, adapted by Tim Kelly, is a play based on The Arabian Nights, featuring a cast of characters including Aladdin, a powerful magician, and various magical beings. The play requires a performance license from Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., and stipulates that one script must be purchased for each cast member. It emphasizes simple staging and continuous action without interruptions between scenes.
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The Magical Lamp

of Aladdin
By Tim Kelly

© Copyright 1993, Pioneer Drama Service, Inc.,


under the title Aladdin and His Wonderful, Magical Lamp
PERFORMANCE LICENSE
Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that a royalty must be paid for
every performance, whether or not admission is charged. All inquiries regarding
rights should be addressed to Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., PO Box 4267,
Englewood, CO 80155.
All rights to this play—including but not limited to amateur, professional, radio
broadcast, television, motion picture, public reading and translation into foreign
languages—are controlled by Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., without whose permission
no performance, reading or presentation of any kind in whole or in part may be given.
These rights are fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of
America and of all countries covered by the Universal Copyright Convention or with
which the United States has reciprocal copyright relations, including Canada, Mexico,
Australia and all nations of the United Kingdom.

ONE SCRIPT PER CAST MEMBER MUST BE PURCHASED FOR PRODUCTION RIGHTS.
COPYING OR DISTRIBUTING ALL OR ANY PART OF THIS BOOK
IN ANY MANNER IS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN BY LAW.
On all programs, printing and advertising, the following information must appear:
1. The full name of the play
2. The full name of the playwright
3. The following notice: “Produced by special arrangement with
Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Englewood, Colorado”
THE MAGICAL LAMP OF ALADDIN
Adapted and dramatized from
“The Arabian Nights’ Entertainment”
By TIM KELLY
CAST OF CHARACTERS
(In Order of Appearance)
# of lines
JAMMAL .............................. powerful magician, evil 104
HALIMA ............................... his wicked sister 50
GENIE OF THE RING ......... a magical creature who can 12
assume human form
SCHEHERAZADE............... teller of stories 13
NEELA ................................ Aladdin’s sister, same age 37
MOTHER ............................. a poor widow, Aladdin is her son 44
MERCHANT WOMAN......... angry with Aladdin 21
NEIGHBOR ......................... angry with Alakazam 18
ALAKAZAM ......................... Aladdin’s pet monkey, mischievous 4
ALADDIN ............................. a boy of the streets, always in 163
trouble
CHOP-CHOP ...................... royal executioner 28
PRINCESS JASMINE ......... daughter of the sultan 85
ZARA ................................... serving maid to the princess 34
SHEBA ................................ another 30
QUEEN SULTANA .............. wife of the sultan, a scold 58
SULTAN .............................. ruler of Shammar 67
ALI BUBBA .......................... distant relative to the queen, a 24
blockhead
DRAGON ............................ guardian of the cave 3
GENIE OF THE JEWELS ... another magical creature who can 16
assume human form
GENIE OF THE LAMP ........ another, most powerful of all 25
EXTRAS .............................. as citizens of Shammar, court
attendants as/if desired
SYNOPSIS
The action of the play takes place in old Arabia—at a time when a
dusty lamp was a good place in which to live.
There are two acts.
ABOUT THE SIMPLE STAGING
Individual scenes have been indicated as such for rehearsal
purposes, but the action should flow in one continuous panorama.
No stops and starts. Once one scene has ended, the next one
begins without delay.
This play can be performed very simply in terms of production.
However, if you have the resources for something a bit more
elaborate, fine and dandy.
For suggestions on dressing up the stage, bits of business,
costumes, etc.—See PRODUCTION NOTES at rear of playbook.

Common questions

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Performing "The Magical Lamp of Aladdin" in a simplified production format poses several challenges and benefits. Challenges include ensuring that the magic and essence of the story are not lost due to minimalistic staging. Maintaining audience engagement with limited visual effects might require more focus on strong performances and direction. However, benefits include reduced production costs and logistical ease, allowing more flexibility in smaller venues or schools. Simplified staging can also encourage creativity, challenging directors to innovate with limited resources while still capturing the story's enchantment .

"The Magical Lamp of Aladdin" is an adaptation that draws directly from "The Arabian Nights’ Entertainment," preserving the core narrative of Aladdin's adventures with the magical lamp. The adaptation retains the essential themes of magic, adventure, and transformation, presenting a stylized version suitable for stage performance. Character roles, such as Aladdin and the Genie of the Lamp, remain central to the plot, illustrating the timeless narrative of youthful endeavor and magical intervention. By simplifying and dramatizing the tale, the play makes it accessible while maintaining the enchantment and moral dimensions of the original text .

The setting of "old Arabia" is significant as it embodies a sense of timeless mystique and exoticism that is essential to the story’s atmosphere. This backdrop provides a suitable environment for the fantastical elements of magic lamps and genies, which are central to the narrative. The setting influences the play's themes by embedding them in a context rich with cultural and historical resonance, reflecting tales of intrigue, adventure, and destiny native to Arabian folklore. It allows the audience to suspend disbelief and engage with the magical and moral tales woven throughout the play .

The Genie of the Lamp is depicted as the most powerful of the magical creatures in the narrative, highlighting a central theme of ultimate power and its stewardship. Unlike the Genie of the Ring or the Genie of the Jewels, the Genie of the Lamp has the most profound impact on the storyline as he grants Aladdin the abilities that drive the main events of the plot. The Genie of the Lamp symbolizes untapped potential and the relationship between power and morality, serving as an instrument for Aladdin to navigate various challenges. This contrasts with the other genies, who have more specialized roles but do not possess the same overarching influence .

The legal requirements for performing "The Magical Lamp of Aladdin" include paying a royalty for every performance, whether or not admission is charged. Additionally, inquiries regarding rights must be addressed to Pioneer Drama Service, Inc. The play's rights, including amateur, professional, and other media formats, are controlled by the company, and no performance or presentation may occur without their permission. Each cast member must have a purchased script, and copying the book is strictly forbidden. Performance programs must include the full name of the play, the playwright, and a notice stating 'Produced by special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Englewood, Colorado' .

Alakazam, Aladdin's pet monkey, serves as a source of comic relief and mischief, contributing to the story's charm and appeal. As a non-speaking character, Alakazam's antics add humor and light-heartedness to the narrative. Alakazam's interactions often create light-hearted tension or inadvertently assist in advancing the plot, emblematic of the unexpected aid often found in magical tales. This character helps to balance the more serious elements of the story, such as confrontations with antagonists like Jammal and the power struggles involving the magical lamp .

The narrative structure of "The Magical Lamp of Aladdin" is designed to flow in one continuous panorama, meaning the scenes are intended to transition seamlessly without any breaks. This continuous flow is emphasized to avoid stops and starts, ensuring the action proceeds smoothly from one scene to the next. Although it can be performed simply in terms of production, there is flexibility for more elaborate staging if resources allow .

While the play can be performed in a simple manner, the production notes at the end of the playbook suggest possibilities for more elaborate staging to enhance the performance. This includes ideas for dressing up the stage and implementing bits of business or special effects that could utilize the play's magical elements. Suggestions also cover costume specifics to reflect the setting of old Arabia, aiming to immerse audiences more fully into the world of Aladdin .

Aladdin serves as the central figure representing youthful adventure and the struggle for empowerment. Described as a boy of the streets who is frequently in trouble, his character reflects themes of ambition, resourcefulness, and transformation. Through his interactions, particularly with magical entities like the Genie of the Lamp and characters in power such as Princess Jasmine and the Sultan, Aladdin's journey from a poor boy to one with influence and capability is depicted. His interactions drive the plot and explore the power dynamics between servitude and mastery, as seen in his evolving control over the magical lamp and his relationships with other characters .

The collaborative nature of the cast and character dynamics is crucial in driving the storytelling within "The Magical Lamp of Aladdin." Relationships between characters, such as Aladdin's dynamic with the Genie of the Lamp, Princess Jasmine, and antagonists like Jammal, create a complex web of interactions that propel the narrative. These dynamics introduce conflict, resolution, and elements of growth and change that are central to the plot. The interaction between magical and human characters explores themes of power and control, directing the story's progression and enhancing its engagement with the audience .

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