The Mouse and Me

Jonathan Freeman, the voice of the Disney villain Jafar, returns to The Mouse and Me this week!

In addition to the 1992 animated “Aladdin” movie, Jonathan went on to sneer in the subsequent Aladdin films and originated the role of Jafar in the Broadway production in 2014, where he wielded his cobra staff in thousands of performances, having played the role for nearly eight years.

Disney on Broadway Credits:

Beauty and the Beast (Cogsworth)

The Little Mermaid (Grimsby, original Broadway cast)

Mary Poppins (Admiral Boom and the Bank Chairman)

Other Broadway credits:

She Loves Me (Tony Award Nomimation), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, On the Town, 42nd Street (Revival), and The Producers. 

Last week, Jonathan shared stories about how he got into theatre, his experiences working on the original Aladdin movie, and what it was like bringing the role of Jafar to the Broadway stage.

This week, Jonathan talks about what production(s) he'd like to go back in time and see, the time he rode a camel down Main Street USA at Walt Disney World, and so much more!

We hope you enjoy the rest of Scott's conversation with the incredible Jonathan Freeman!

Jonathan Freeman voiced the Disney villain Jafar in the 1992 animated “Aladdin” movie and he continued to sneer in the subsequent films. Jonathan then went on to originate the role of Jafar in the Broadway production in 2014, where he wielded his cobra staff in thousands of performances, having played the role for nearly eight years.

Some of Jonathan's other Broadway credits include She Loves Me (where he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical), How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, On the Town, the revival of 42nd Street (during which his caricature was drawn for Sardi’s restaurant), and The Producers, where he played the role of Roger De Bris. 

Also for Disney on Broadway, Jonathan played Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, he originated the role of Grimsby in The Little Mermaid, and was Admiral Boom and the Bank Chairman in Mary Poppins.

And that’s just some of his theatre work! He has an impressive list of television, movie, and soundtrack credits as well. Scott rubbed the Genie’s lamp and wished to talk with him and here he is for your listening pleasure. Enjoy Jonathan Freeman - Part 1!

Hello Guests and welcome to Disneyland with Mom and Dad - Part 2! If you listened to last week’s episode, then you heard all about Scott's first day and part of his second day in the parks with his parents including the warm chocolate chip cookies they had at Harbour Galley, the Monorail ride, the Flag Retreat Ceremony that Dad took part in, and so much more. 

Disneyland with Mom and Dad Part 1 ended with the Flag Retreat Ceremony and Scott picks up right where he left off. You'll hear about Soarin' Over California, Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, Radiator Springs Racers, meeting Mickey Mouse, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, The Disneyland Railroad, Rise of the Resistance, the classic attractions, meeting up with more incredible friends, and the list goes on!

We hope you enjoy listening to the rest of Scott's trip with his parents to the happiest place on earth!

A conversation between Scott and his Mom...

Mom - “Dad and I are sitting here talking and we think we’re ready to travel again and we want to know if you’d help us plan the trip because you’re really good at that stuff.”

Scott - “That’s great! Where do you want to go?” 

Mom - “Dad said he wants to go to Disneyland.”

Scott was surprised because Dad isn’t a let’s go the Disney Parks type of guy. He doesn’t dislike it or anything….it’s just not what Scott expected to hear.

Scott - “Disneyland?” And then joked, “When are we going?”

Mom - “Oh, will you go with us? Please go with us.”

Scott - “Mom, I was just kidding. I’m not crashing your vacation.”

Mom - “Please go with us. You know your way around Disney. You’ll be able to help us. We love you and we don’t get to see you that much. Please go with us.”

So back in April of 2015, Scott, his wife, and the kids did a California trip with some friends. They started in San Diego and then made their way up to San Francisco, making stops in Anaheim and Monterey. Scott's parents came in from Las Vegas and joined them in San Diego and at Disneyland but that was a while ago…so when his Mom asked him to join them on this trip, these thoughts raced through his mind:

Mom recently turned 75, Dad just turned 82, things aren’t getting easier for them, and time keeps on moving despite Scott's best efforts to stop it. His parents live out west and Scott lives on the east coast. The three of them get along and they love spending time together. Scott also thought that Mom and Dad walking and navigating the parks would be a challenge...and he didn’t know if or when he'd have this chance again.

And that’s how this trip came about.

Enjoy Disneyland with Mom and Dad - Part 1...with some special surprises throughout!

Expedition Everest, frozen bananas, Liberty Tree Tavern in Magic Kingdom and a new Disney ride concept are just a few of the things that Scott and Lisa talk about in this week's episode.

Be sure to check out Lisa Leonard - Part 2 where Lisa and Scott talked about her long and incredible career as a singing and dancing Cast Member in Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and Tokyo Disneyland and she also shared what it was like riding on Walt Disney’s private airplane.

And now, we give you the rest of Scott's conversation with Lisa Leonard! We hope you enjoy it!