More than two decades after audiences fell in love with the Disney animated film “Aladdin,” the story continues to enchant all generations as a Broadway musical. Wharton Center in East Lansing will make way for the national tour of “Aladdin,” arriving December 4 and running through December 15. Click here for show and ticket information.
Hailing from Honolulu, Hawaii, Kaena Kekoa stars in her first national tour as Princess Jasmine. While her character is still the strong and independent woman we remember and love from the 1992 animated film, Kekoa is proud to say that the stage version has even more oomph to her.
I spoke with Kekoa about her experience leaving Hawaii for “Aladdin,” her favorite moment in the show, and what it’s like seeing a whole new world on the road.
STEFANIE POHL: Your co-star, Jonah Ho’okano (Aladdin), is also from Hawaii and you’ve performed together before back home. What is it like having Jonah on tour with you?
KAENA KEKOA: I’ve known him since middle school. We did shows together in middle school and high school, but being able to do something at this level has been really fun.
POHL: I can only imagine how proud your families and friends are to have you both representing Hawaii on this tour.
KEKOA: We’ve gotten a lot of support from people back home, and not just family and friends but people who we don’t even know from Hawaii. We’ve done a lot of interviews from back home and they’ll ask if we’re coming there on tour. Unfortunately we’re not, but we always say to let us know if they’re coming to a show. We always love having Hawaii people in the audience. We can tell when there’s someone from Hawaii in the audience. You know in “Moana” how Maui does a “Cheehoo”? That’s a saying that we say in Hawaii. It’s kind of like cheering someone on. We hear a lot of people doing that in the audience; we’re bowing and we hear a “cheehoo” and we say, “oh! Someone is from Hawaii so we have to throw up the chaka!”
POHL: What has it been like traveling the country? Had you done much traveling around the U.S. before joining the show?
KEKOA: Oh yeah, I never left Hawaii. The only time I left was for college. Even after that, though, I moved right back. I’m pretty much just discovering this all for the first time. It’s been a lot of fun finding new places to eat. I’ve never been an Airbnb person, but now I’m enjoying finding cute places to stay around the cities.
POHL: What are some of the favorite cities you’ve experienced so far?
KEKOA: Ooh. So far, Washington D.C. will have been my favorite city by far. There was so much to do, and a lot of great food. We’re in Baltimore right now and it’s really cute! I’m loving it. Those are my two favorites, but I’m definitely looking forward to East Lansing. I hear it’s going to be cold.
POHL: Oh yes, that’s true.
KEKOA: I’ve never really experienced cold-cold before. I think that’s going to be, for me, one of our coldest stops on the tour. I’m looking forward to it! I grew up with sun and beaches and sand, so it’ll be a nice switcheroo.
POHL: In playing such a well-known character in a beloved show, what is the balance you’ve struck between staying true to the Jasmine that we know and infusing your own instincts and personality?
KEKOA: It’s definitely been a challenge finding my own flavor for Jasmine, but staying true to the 1992 animated feature, a movie we all know and love and grew up with. It’s been a challenge, but a lot of fun. She has taught me a lot about myself, about being a strong, independent woman, going out and following your dreams. It’s what I’ve discovered on the road. I’ve always stayed at home, lived under my mother’s wing, and loved it. Now, I’ve had to grow my own wings and find my own way of living on my own on the road. We do travel together as a pack with our tour family, but a lot of it is doing things on our own. We’re making sure we’re taking care of our bodies, staying well for our jobs. She’s taught me a lot about being independent. The stage adaptation of the musical has definitely developed and evolved from the animated feature. Jasmine has a little more oomph to her which I kind of like. People will be happy to know that Jasmine is the same wonderful human being, and more.
POHL: Let’s say Aladdin lets you borrow the magic carpet for the day. Where in the world would you want it to take you?
KEKOA: I mean, that’s not really hard. I would go home to Hawaii. I know everyone would want to go home, but Hawaii is so near and dear to my heart. I love that place, and not just because my family is there. It’s because that’s where I grew up, it’s my one hānau, which means “sands of our birth” in Hawaiian. It’s where I learned who I am, and it’s a piece of my identity. I’m out here on the road representing them and trying to make them proud, so that would be the place I would go on that magic carpet.
POHL: Do you have a favorite part in the show?
KEKOA: I’m actually not in this scene, but my absolute favorite scene is the tap section of “Friend Like Me.” It’s all gold, and beautiful dancers, these beautiful people that I’ve grown to know and love and they’re pretty much my family. That’s my favorite part, to watch them doing a scene that they love. The first time I saw that whole number, I just cried my eyes out. I thought, “wow, I get to be a part of something this special, and work with these talented people.”
POHL: You got the part of Jasmine when you auditioned during a Disney on Broadway open casting call in Hawaii. What was your audition song, and what was that process like?
KEKOA: Funny story. I didn’t decide to audition until the day before. I had just moved back home, had a job as a teacher, and thought that I had no intention of leaving this place that I love. Performing is one of my many passions, so I thought I would just walk into this audition and whatever happens happens, leaving it in God’s hands. I put together a resume, and took a headshot with my brother’s camera. I sang a song from “The Last Five Years” called “We Can Do Better Than That” and I just had fun with it. I usually hate auditions because they’re nerve-racking. I sang the song and surprisingly, they liked me. They were looking for a Jasmine, so they called me back for another reading and to sing “A Whole New World.” Then they invited me to New York City for a final callback with all of the creative team and producers from Disney. Jonah was actually there too, so that was a lot to fun to have someone from back home be in New York City. I was so nervous singing in a historic theatre for Disney producers and directors, but the moment that I saw Jonah, I knew everything was going to be okay. The nerves went away, and I knew that this was going to be a good thing. We like to say that it’s a like a hug from home, having him with me here.
POHL: Did he say, “do you trust me?” before you auditioned together?
KEKOA: Yes, he did actually! A little corny, cheesy Aladdin-Jasmine action, yeah.
POHL: I have a six-year-old daughter and told her I would be talking to Jasmine. She wanted to ask you how you feel after a performance is over?
KEKOA: The initial feeling is exhaustion. A big exhale. Because it is still work, but it doesn’t feel like a job every night. I love it, it’s my passion. But after that, when I take off the costume and wig and crown, everything after that is thankfulness. I’m just blessed to be here. So exhaustion, then thankfulness.
Don’t miss Kaena Kekoa and the rest of the cast from Disney’s “Aladdin,” arriving at Wharton Center December 4 and running through December 15. Click here for show and ticket information.