Theater lovers in Trenton have an opportunity to support young artists and to enjoy a unique version of a classic tonight and tomorrow. Trenton Central High School is performing Disney’s Aladdin this weekend, but with a twist. The dual-language version tells the classic tale, but presented in Engl ish and Spanish for an immersive experience with some of the audience speaking one or the other language, while others speak both. “Disney’s Aladdin DLE features a revamped plot that creates dramatic necessity for the bilingual script,” according to the show’s website. “Our story begins centuries ago, when the royalty of Agrabah spoke one language, and the citizens another. Communication is impossible without translation… which is controlled by the evil vizier, Jafar. When the rebellious princess, Jazmin, and a delinquent street rat, Aladdin, meet in the marketplace, they find something special in one another. Together, they work to transcend the barriers between them and, with a little magic, help create a better future for themselves and for Agrabah.” “I hope people feel that way and get swept up in the storytelling,” said Felicia Brown, theater teacher at TCHS. “Audience members might only speak English, Spanish, or both languages. The Royal translators, animal characters, and a few others bounce between languages to help the audience (and our characters) understand what is happening.” “Trenton Central High School is almost 60% Hispanic,” Brown said. “This show gave our students a chance to connect across cultures in a beautiful way that we hope the audience feels as well. One of my favorite moments was when my native Spanish-speaking students cheered for my native English-speaking students when they said a line in Spanish correctly. There is something truly beautiful when young people cheer each other on in their learning. I had a tech student tell me that he was singing in Spanish at home and his mom asked him when he learned how to speak Spanish. He got the words because he worked on this show and heard songs. I can’t say this show built a bridge wide enough to cover all barriers. Still, it definitely touched lives, encouraged understanding, and brought a group of diverse students together in a beautiful way.” Tickets to shows Friday night and Saturday afternoon are still available at the show’s website, eight dollars for adults, five dollars for students. ...read more read less