Jodi Benson Sings "Part of Your World" for Howard Ashman's 75th Birthday and Aladdin's 4,000th Performance

Published: May 21, 2025

The original Ariel, Jodi Benson, surprised the audience with an emotional rendition of "Part of Your World" in honor of Howard Ashman's 75th birthday and Aladdin's 4,000th performance on Broadway.

On May 17, Disney Theatrical Group staged a post-show tribute to Ashman, recognizing his contributions to musical theater, as well as the Disney canon. The event was attended by 1,700 people, who gave Benson a standing ovation for her heartwarming rendition of "Part of Your World".

The celebration was led by Caleb B. Barnett, who plays Genie in Aladdin. The evening featured performances from the title songs of Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid.

Jodi Benson, donning a sparkling green gown, sang "Part of Your World" from The Little Mermaid, earning a standing ovation from the crowd. Alan Menken ended the evening with a performance of "Proud of Your Boy" on the piano.

Menken told the crowd, "The truth is, this wasn't contrived to be like, '4,000th performance and also we're going to celebrate Howard's 75th.' They literally fell on the same day.

Ashman passed away in 1991 at the age of 40 due to complications from HIV/AIDS. He did not live to see the release of Beauty and the Beast or Aladdin, nor see how those films, and The Little Mermaid, would usher in a new era of animated musicals for Disney and create a legacy that's lasted for over three decades.

Aladdin has set 17 New Amsterdam Theatre house records and spawned 11 productions on four continents since it opened. Worldwide, the musical has welcomed over 21 million people and can be seen currently on Broadway and in Tokyo, Madrid, and Seoul.

Tickets for Aladdin are now on sale.