So New York Comicon was a lot of fun. Had my picture taken with Clark Gregg.
Met an entire cosplaying Young Justice, including Empress, Slo-Bo and Secret whom I’ve never seen cosplayed before.
But here was the high point.
Two guys came up to my table at Artists Alley and had me sign some books. They seemed genuinely enthused to meet me, which was nice. And they were about to leave when I noticed one of them was wearing a t-shirt with what looked like a stylized Jafar on it. I’d never seen it before and asked about it.
And the other guy said, “This is the stage manager for the Disney show ‘Aladdin,’ and I’m the genie.”
It took a few moments for what he was saying to register on me. I looked at him closely and realized that, yeah, this guy was James Monroe Iglehart, the Tony-award winning actor. I said, “My God, you were great on the Tonys!”
James actually jumped back, startled. “You saw the Tonys?!” he said in genuine astonishment, as if the Tonys were broadcast on Hulu or something.
I also praised him for his tribute to Robin Williams that I’d seen on Youtube.
We chatted eagerly. I realized that he was as thrilled to talk to me as I was to him. I told him we hadn’t seen “Aladdin” yet because every time I’d tried to get tickets, I hadn’t been able to. He immediately said, “I have four house seats every show. Just tell me when you want to come.”
I wound up taking him up on it immediately and the following Sunday I was there with Kathleen, Caroline, and Caroline’s friend (nicknamed “Pixie.”)
So there James is on stage, knocking “Friend Like Me” out of the park. And when he was done and the massive ovation kept going, he shouted out thanks to the orchestra and something else and then added, to my shock, “And Peter David, I love you!” Don’t misinterpret–James is married to a lovely woman. This was a shout out. Still, it was pretty astounding. Kathleen and Pixie didn’t hear it but I turned to Caroline and said, “Did he just–?” and Caroline nodded.
Afterward we all went out to dinner. We got to the restaurant and were told that there would be a wait of 45 minutes to an hour, and there was a ton of people waiting. In a low voice I said to the hostess, “Just FYI, we have a Tony award winning actor in our group, if that makes a difference.” She looked at me skeptically and I nodded toward James. “He plays the Genie in Aladdin.” She looked at him and recognized him.
We were seated in ten minutes. So that was nice.
Over all it was a great day and we now have a new family friend. One who is a huge Batman fan, so anytime he wants to come out here and see my Batcave, he’s welcome.
PAD
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Dang it, we were at the Evening show. My jealousy, it is much!
And he does KILL that song.
What did you think of the Carpet scene?
Loved the carpet. Very well done.
I dunno when you went, but there was no evening performance Sunday.
PAD
Too Cool. I wish I could get to New York and see the play.
Very cool. I find it even gives me a warm glow (for some unknown reason) when I learn that two people whose talent and work I admire have a mutual admiriation society. Maybe because on a subconscious level it validates my tastes…
I was at DragonCon 2001. I managed to get an autographed Polaroid from Richard Kiel (and when he saw me searching for it after it was knocked away in that very crowed room, he graciously gave me another). After the second picture, I looked over and saw Robin Atkin Downes. Just at that moment, the crowd parted. He looked over, saw Kiel, and in a high girly voice said “OHMIGOD, IT’s JAWS! I became an actor because of him!” He then shut his booth down and ran over to stand in line to get an autograph. Seeing that was awesome, and shows that people we admire also have people they admire.
Did anyone get a pic of those Young Justice cosplayers? Would love to see it!
Yup. Check my Facebook page.
PAD
Peter, didn’t you get to meet Clark Gregg at the Epic Mickey launch party at the Times Square Disney store back in 2010?
Glad you enjoyed NYCC too. 🙂
Yes, I did, but I didn’t get my picture taken with him. Which is why this time I simply said I had my picture taken with him.
PAD
I would’ve gladly have snapped a pic of the two of you had you asked. But hey, you got one now, so it’s all good. 🙂
Completely off topic here, but I was reading this post and looking at the pictures for about 10 minutes before it dawned on me – dámņ it PAD but don’t you look good!
You look so good in these that I had completely forgotten about your health issues of the last year or so. I realize that you might still have some issues that you’re working through (and from your perspective they’re probably “front and center” in your attention), but I have to point out that you’d never know it from how you look in these pictures.
I’ll say it one more time because this is the kind of stuff that a person just can’t hear enough – you look great!
And your daughter also looks great and very happy to be with her daddy!
I saw “Aladdin” on Broadway a month or so back and I agree – it’s a great show. (They integrated the demo songs nicely with the show.) Don’t know that I would have recognized the Genie in person without one his many costumes on, but that’s really cool that he’s a fellow geek. And a great singer. And actor. And all around nice guy, by all accounts.
Oh, and did I read the playbook right — was that really the original voice of Jafar playing the part of Jafar in the Broadway show?
It is indeed Jonathan Freeman, whom I also met when we went to the show!
If (and likely when) you see James again, PAD, tell him that I’ve still got very fond memories of seeing him in MEMPHIS four years back or so. Really solid performer … and a great story for you, too!
Have never been to New York, but I never miss the Tonys, which I consider the most consistently entertaining awards show there is.
And he’s wearing a classic Macho Man shirt! Awesome!
It’s nice to see that, every so often, life doesn’t suck.
Glad you had a great time, man.